BLACKPOOL Zoo could become a pioneer in animal care training.

Zoo bosses are currently in talks with Myerscough College to develop an exotic-animal care course unique in Britain.

Zoo manager Iain Valentine explained: "The zoo is already an important work placement location for second-year students at the college and zoos and colleges have worked together before on research projects, but this would be the first time a zoo has been used as a place of work for the students, using our expertise to enhance their training."

At present, he said, the only animal management course available to zoo-keepers is by correspondence.

This new practical course would provide a sought-after qualification usable not only in zoos and wildlife parks but in the pet trade.

This year Blackpool Zoo turned in a profit for the first time, which is being ploughed back into developing the penguin pool and children's zoo, completing a reptile enclosure and providing a PA system to expand the keepers' talks.

Previous news story

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.