Four-day training from the Academy of European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (ЕАZA) on animal welfare took place in the Regional Landscape Park. It was carried out for the workers of Feldman Ecopark by the trainers from Israel and Finland, who have a considerable experience in management of animal collections and are the experts in the field of environmental enrichment for various representatives of fauna.
“The training programme for 17 our representatives was very rich: the lessons started at 9 a.m. and lasted till 5 p.m. every day. We learned to perceive the environment from the point of view of our animals, we defined their motivation and searched the mechanisms of its support, and then we proposed own ideas concerning the improvement of animal welfare,” Feldman Ecopark’s deputy director of zootechnics Valeriia Ivashchenko told. “In addition to theory, we also had practical course – together will trainers we performed the tasks aimed at environmental enrichment for parrots, bears, and some other residents of Feldman Ecopark, which were selected beforehand. All of the workers, who took part in the training, obtained EAZA’s certificates of professional training.”
According to the representatives of EAZA, who delivered training, they were surprised by the high level of competence and motivation of the staff of the Regional Landscape Park, as well as with the comfortable conditions provided to the animals.
“All of the animal keepers we worked here with love their animals very much and have a constant close contact with them. It is apparent that all of them are big enthusiasts and are seeking to improve the life of living creatures they are responsible for,” the instructor of the ЕАZA Academy from Finland said. “As for Ecopark, I am just captivated with its size and beauty, as well as the attitude to people and animals that may be seen here everywhere and in every detail.”
As the result of training, in addition to the advanced training of the workers of Feldman Ecopark, the Regional Landscape Park obtained guidelines concerning the improvement of qualitative indices of the animal collection.
It should be reminded that the EAZA Academy provides professional training and educational courses in management of animal collection for all members of EAZA. The training in animal welfare is aimed at rendering assistance to zoos and aquaria in their further development with use of the best practices in the field of animal care and environmental enrichment.
It should also be reminded that the Regional Landscape Park Feldman Ecopark is a candidate for membership in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (ЕАZA) and the member of Ukrainian Association of Zoos and Aquaria (UАZA).
