Tiger to Tigers: Captive Wild Animal Management minor at MU
by Jamie Floyd, posted Nov. 16. 2007
MU students can now go from being Tigers to taking care of tigers. Any student who has dreamed of becoming a zookeeper or marine biologist now has the chance to make his or her dream come true at MU.
Beginning this semester, MU is offering a minor in captive wild animal management to students majoring in animal sciences or fisheries and wildlife sciences through the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The minor is intended not only for future zookeepers and marine biologists, but also for students who want an extra advantage when it comes to finding a career in animal sciences or fisheries and wildlife sciences.
Mark Ryan, director of the School of Natural Resources, was instrumental in establishing this new minor.
“This minor was created primarily out of students coming to us with an interest in this area,” Ryan said.
Rodney Geisert, director of animal sciences, also notices the number of students interested in captive wild animal management at MU.
“A huge number of students who are interested in animal sciences are also interested in captive wild animal management,” Geisert said.
Students who have a passion for wild animals and want to expand their career opportunities in that area are a perfect fit for this minor, according to the MU CAFNR captive wild animal management Web site. The curriculum covers material such as conservation biology, animal nutrition, genetics and wild animal ecology. Currently, there are two captive wild animal management courses, an introduction course and a senior capstone course. There is also a required internship. The remainder of the curriculum for the minor is made up of a combination of animal sciences and natural resources courses, which is why the minor is recommended for students already majoring in one of these two areas.
“Students will take courses specifically geared to captive wild animal management, but will also have a background in animal husbandry, conservation and wild animal ecology,” said Trista Strauch, coordinator of the captive wild animal management minor program. “This should only broaden their future job opportunities.”
Although a zookeeper may be the first job that comes to mind when people think of captive wild animal management, other career opportunities include: animal rescue operations, endangered species management, captive animal breeding and nutrition and working in zoological parks and aquariums, according to the Web site.
“From zoos to deer farming to multiple animal farming,” Geisert said of the job opportunities available within this minor.
Kelsey Sibley, a sophomore majoring in biological sciences and minoring in captive wild animal management, said she would like to use this minor to help her become a veterinarian at a zoo.
“I feel like this minor will help me become a very well-rounded zoo veterinarian,” Sibley said. “I won’t just know about veterinary medicine; I will know about animal behavior, the nutrition of various species, genetics and all of the other subjects covered in the required courses for the captive wild animal management minor.”
Elizabeth Matye, a sophomore dual majoring in fisheries and wildlife sciences and forestry and minoring in captive wild animal management, agrees with Sibley about the advantages of this minor.
“I have always been interested in conservation, which I will be learning much more about with the fisheries and wildlife curriculum, and the ‘Introduction to Captive Wild Animal Management’ course has brought about an increased interest in different career aspects of captive animal management,” Matye said.
MU may be one of the only colleges offering a minor program like this.
“Having both the School of Natural Resources, with a Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Department, and a Division of Animal Sciences located with the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, this interdisciplinary minor seemed a perfect fit,” Strauch said. “This should be a very attractive recruitment tool for the University of Missouri and should help strengthen ties with animal management facilities within the state and around the country.”
Along with creating a new program came the challenge of finding an instructor for the program. Ryan said the University wanted someone local to teach the course who also had experience in both animal sciences and natural resources. Strauch fit all of the criteria and was available.
"Dr. Strauch brings strong leadership to the captive wild animal minor; she has great enthusiasm,” Ryan said.
Strauch, an MU alumna, also enjoys teaching the courses in the captive wild animal minor program.
“My favorite part of teaching the Introduction to Captive Wild Animal Management course is the interaction with the students, and observing their excitement for this field,” Strauch said. “Their enthusiasm clearly demonstrates that there was a need for this minor to be offered.”
Although it will be a few years before any students graduate from MU with the completed captive wild animal management minor, the future is already looking bright for these students.
“There is a shortage of people who actually have the qualifications for the management of animal parks,” Geisert said.
The introductory course has also had a variety of guest speakers, which has given students an idea of the job opportunities available to them.
With any luck, the next Jack Hanna or Steve Irwin may be an MU Tiger.
