Working Safely with Dangerous Animals

Ensuring keepers meet the highest standards of safety during their work day is critical to a successful zoo program. Animals such as venomous snakes, large carnivores, intelligent primates, or strong hoofed animals come with a variety of defense mechanisms that can harm those working around them. Basics covered in this course include identifying the most dangerous taxa, using proper safety protocols, recognizing the three basic steps for handling a dangerous situation, and knowing the rules for reporting injuries.