Join us for our biggest annual event, hosted this year by the one of the UK's largest and most popular visitor attractions - Chester Zoo.

The Chester Zoo team have pulled out all the stops to deliver an amazing selection of workshops and behind the scenes tours. The Symposium will have the usual two days of presentations with expert speakers, debates and the opportunity to network with fellow animal keepers.

Workshops

• An introduction to diet reviews
  • A chance to discuss animal diets with Chester Zoo's in-house nutritionists and tour some of the animal and plant logistics facilities.
• Carnivore facility tour
• Conservation and breeding management area tour
  • Tour of Chester Zoo's purpose built off-show breeding areas to include ectotherm, bird and small mammal facilities.
• Conservation physiology
  • Meet Chester Zoo's science team and tour the laboratory.
• Elephant facility tour
• Emergency animal first aid
  • Theory and practical demonstration.
• Enclosure design
  • Theory presentation and practical design exercise.
• Enrichment considerations for very young and geriatric animals
  • With expert guest Matthew Shackleton.
• Free time to spend within the zoo
• Heart of Africa tour
  • A tour of Chester Zoo's new African savannah development, due to open Easter 2025.
• Hoofstock facility tour
• Population management and the role of an EEP co-ordinator
  • An overview of how EEP programmes are run.
• Primate facility tour
• Rhino facility tour
• Welfare assessment
  • Approaches to welfare assessment across all taxa.

Please note that workshop titles, content and capacities are subject to change.

COVID Safety

Please read our COVID safety guidance for attending our events.