The Biome
The ZEC promotes strong links to conservation awareness and regularly encourages small-scale research amongst students and staff. Sustainability is a focus for the ZEC, whilst they are incorporating the growing of animal feed and effective waste management systems with the long-term vision of minimal waste provision.
Staff at the ZEC aim to inspire the naturalists of the future, who will go out into the world and make a difference conserving and preserving the natural world.
Carl Groombridge, Centre curator and lecturer at Shuttleworth College, said the Zoological Education Centre is a ‘dream come true’ and describes the excitement of seeing ‘students and visitors walking through the tropical rainforest and smelling a coffee tree whilst listening to the beautiful song of a tropical starling or observing a hummingbird darting back and forth whilst feeding from a honeysuckle bush’.
In June 2021, the ZEC applied for a zoo licence which will further enable students to work towards saving endangered species and confirm the status of the ZEC as a learning environment to a standard that prepares students to work in zoos or conservation projects around the world. The ZEC is not a public visitor attraction.
Amphibians
Amphibians are some of the world’s most threatened species due to diseases and destruction of their natural habitats. The ZEC houses over 50 amphibian species.
Some of the popular species include the Giant African Bull Frog, which are being studied by Level 3 Animal Sciences students to discover alternate methods of survival, and the Aquatic Blue Caecilian which is housed within the rainforest environment. Meanwhile, Giant Cane Toads can be found in the dedicated amphibian room, whilst Salamanders can be seen hidden in the undergrowth.
Birds
The state-of-the-art tropical biome is home to birds from across the world, from small tropical finches to the brightly-coloured lorikeets of Australasia and parrots and parakeets from South America.
It is not just small species, as the ZEC also houses larger birds such as the great flightless birds emus and greater rheas.
Reptiles
The College also supports a range of reptilian species including tortoises and turtles. Students are able to work with the college mascot, ‘Pig Nose’, who is a Fly River Turtle, the closest species to a fresh-water sea turtle, from Australasia and Indonesia.
Large lizards and crocodilian species are also located within the ZEC. These reptiles are valuable in enabling the students to learn and gain industry experience to tackle modern challenges of mixed collections in which animals from the same climate and countries can be housed together.
Primates
The Common Marmoset also enjoys life at the ZEC, where students study the behaviours and enrich the lives of these intelligent South American primates.
Check out our Animal Sciences courses
Our courses will enable you to develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to pursue a successful career working with animals.
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