Welcome to ASZK   Welcome to the website of the ASZK – a society based on improving the welfare of wild animals in captivity by allowing members to communicate achievements and advances in the areas of primarily animal husbandry.   Husbandry Manuals are on the ASZK website. Please feel free to contact us if you have any comments or additions to these pages.   If you have any queries regarding ASZK please email eo@aszk.org.au     Upcoming ASZK events     ASZK Conference 21-23 May 2010 Adelaide    Call for Papers - click here for more information. Call for papers closes 4 April.   Registrations Now Open - click here to download Registration Form. Earlybird rate applies until 11 April.                 "Animal Husbandry Communicating the Science"             Bowling for Keas - First week of March 2010! - See you branch coordinator or contact jochoc@bigpond.com.au for more information. Help support this New Zealand Parrot as we try & help save it from extinction.     ASZK Annual Awards for 2009 - call for nominations - Nominations close 15 March 2010.   Nominations for 2009 covering period 1 January - 31 December 2009 and will open in December 2009.   Heidi Hellingman Award - Professional Achievement Award This award is open to individual members of ASZK or institutions for outstanding achievement in the Zoo industry. This can be either within the past year or for individuals who have contributed to the industry over a long period of time. Examples of achievements include developing husbandry techniques, training, breeding programs, educational programs, facility development. Enrichment Award – this is an area that keepers should be improving – the award is for developing & implementing enrichment plans. Nominations may come from institutions or individual members of ASZK.   Certificate of Recognition – for ASZK members who have contributed significantly in that year to ASZK either as a committee member or done something else outstanding ie organized a conference, bowling, most sponsorship money raised at bowling etc. Certificate of Appreciation – for non ASZK members who have assisted ASZK .   Excellence in Journalism – for outstanding writing that is published in thylacinus. There can be more than one.   How to nominate Please include name of award nominated for, name of person nominating, contact details as well as details on the achievement and why it is significant. Please send all nominations to Liz Romer - at eo@aszk.org.au. Please contact me for details if you need to post any hard copy.   International Congress of Zookeepers (ICZ) Newsletter new version August 09   Click here for new "Keeper Notes" the newsletter of the ICZ     Important industry events   4th International Congress on Zookeeping 2012, Singapore! Information coming later   Shape of Enrichment Conferences - click here for information     Keeper Funding Opportunities - Grants and scholarships   Announcing the ASZK Des Spittall Scholarship for Keeper Research Named in honour of the late Des Spittall, a life member of ASZK, the ASZK committee has launched the Des Spittall Scholarship for keeper research. This is open to people who have been a financial member of ASZK for 12 months or more. This is an annual scholarship up to the value of $2,000. Applications closed. Congratulations to Wendy Gleen from Taronga Zoo for her winning submission for 2009 on “A study of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in wildlife reintroductions: bush rats and urban bushland remnants”   ISS Institution http://www.issinstitute.org.au/os/index.html - provides funding that may be suitable for keepers looking to work overseas.