Need to know
Where: Taronga Zoo Sydney
Who: Ages 16+
When: Sat 7th June
Time: 8am-4pm
Cost: $259 per person
Zoo Friends get a special introductory offer of 20% off short courses until 31 May, instead of the standard 10% Zoo Friends discount.
Inclusions
- Online modules introducing basic concepts and terms
- Face-to-face day at Taronga Zoo with one of our expert trainers, where you can practice and hone your reptile skills
- A certificate of participation
- Parking
- Behind-the-scenes experiences
How to prepare
- Participants must complete an online module prior to the workshop at Taronga Zoo.
- Each course will access the Zoo by foot therefore requires participants to have a moderate level of fitness and good mobility.
- Day courses are an all-weather experience so please come prepared for any inclement weather. Taronga reserves the right to cancel the course at any time due to unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters or in the event of severe weather. In the unlikely chance that this situation should occur, Taronga will contact you prior to your participation date
Meet the trainers
Lisa Cavanagh
Starting in 2003, Lisa started out as as volunteer with the reptile team as a fun thing to do, given her love of reptiles. However, it didn’t take long to realise this was the career she was meant to pursue. Whilst volunteering she completed her Captive Animal Management course at TAFE.
Since then, Lisa as worked in many sections across the zoo, gaining experience working with a wide variety of animals including reptiles, Australian fauna, birds and ungulates. Her first full time position was on the Australian Fauna Precinct working closely with koalas, Tasmanian devils and dingos.In 2011 she secured work with the Reptile team and has remained there ever since! She works with all reptile species including lizards, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, tortoises, frogs and tuatara.
Lisa also contributes heavily to the conservation of reptiles though her involvement in some special projects, including the Christmas Island Conservation Program. Lisa is the lead senior keeper and is conducting research on an insurance program for two species that are extinct in the wild, the Christmas Island blue-tailed skink and the Listers Gecko.
Chris Dryburgh
Chris started in the professional animal care industry in 2006 and has been working across Taronga since 2009 in several varying roles. Initially starting through the volunteer keeper program, Chris soon secured work as a casual working across different animal divisions, and later on, a permanent keeper on the Herpetofauna Team. Chris has worked his way up over the years, to become a Level 2 Senior Herpetofauna Keeper.
Chris’ roles in the industry, and at Taronga, have taken him all over Australia including several island territories (Lord Howe Island, Christmas Island and Cocos-Keeling Islands), as well as New Zealand, Indonesia and Fiji. In 2014, Chris represented Taronga to lead an inter-agency practical skills workshop for National Parks rangers and NGO Conservationists in Indonesia, identifying local frog and reptile species in the Park.
Chris maintains the Australasian Komodo Dragon studbook and breeding program for Australia and New Zealand, convening a husbandry and captive breeding workshop in 2019 and bolstering growth in the program to the largest population the region has ever held.
Chris is heavily involved in the upskilling and professional development of emerging and current keepers in the industry across the region, having been on the Committee of the Australasian Society of Zookeeping (ASZK) since 2013. Chris was elected President in 2019 where he currently remains. Chis is also a Trainer for Taronga’s accredited courses, Certificate III Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care.