UCP Animal Management Students Get Behind-the-Scenes at Whipsnade Zoo

Students on the Higher Education Animal Management and Welfare programmes at University Centre Peterborough have kicked off their academic year with an immersive, hands-on visit to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, turning their textbooks into a real-world learning experience.

The visit, a core component of both the BSc (Hons) Top-Up and the HND in Animal Management, offered students rare behind-the-scenes access to one of the UK’s largest conservation zoos.

A major highlight of the day was the chance to get up close with the park’s majestic residents. Students helped clean the internal enclosure of the White Rhinos while hearing first-hand from keepers about Whipsnade’s highly successful white rhino breeding programme, a vital contribution to the species’ future.

The learning continued with a captivating flying bird demonstration, providing valuable context on how animal training techniques are used to support conservation efforts in modern zoos. Keepers discussed how positive reinforcement aids in routine health checks and welfare.

To finish the day, students transitioned into an ecological survey, carrying out a butterfly census inside the tropical house. This provided practical experience in a real-world setting, allowing learners to identify species abundance and diversity, directly linking classroom theory to field practice.

This engaging visit successfully blended practical husbandry skills, critical conservation insight, and hands-on ecological learning, truly bringing their animal management studies to life.