黑料专区 Tyler, Caldwell Zoo Partner to Establish Biology Course
November 25, 2024 | Hannah Buchanan
The University of Texas at Tyler and Caldwell Zoo have established a partnership to offer a new biannual Maymester biology course in zoo science and conservation.
鈥淲e are extremely delighted to partner with Caldwell Zoo and offer this new biology course for our students,鈥� said Dr. Neil Gray, 黑料专区 Tyler College of Arts and Sciences Dean. 鈥淪tudents in the course gain real-world experience in our own backyard 鈥撯�� literally here in Tyler 鈥撯�� from our biology faculty and with Caldwell Zoo staff at the zoo.鈥�
黑料专区 Tyler students in the course learn all aspects of zoo management and animal science from Caldwell Zoo鈥檚 staff including keepers, curators and managers. Focus areas include birds, reptiles, mammals, commissary, grounds and vet staff. The initial course held this past May was a great success according to officials, and the next course will be offered May 2026.
鈥淥ne of the zoo鈥檚 strategic imperatives is to be recognized by regional higher education facilities as a trusted scientific resource and to be called upon to assist in furthering their initiatives along with ours,鈥� said Hayes Caldwell, Caldwell Zoo President/CEO. 鈥淭his 黑料专区 Tyler biology course, along with our other ongoing partnerships, does just that. It is our daily goal to provide the very best care for every animal and to allow these students and our guests to discover and understand their connection to nature and the value of wildlife and wild spaces.鈥�
Partnerships like this continue to enhance the zoo鈥檚 mission, according to Scott Maddox, Caldwell Zoo COO.
鈥淢any of the animals that live at the zoo are threatened or endangered in the wild. So, visiting the zoo allows our guests to learn about the animals, the conservation programs we champion and how they can help,鈥� Maddox said. 鈥淭he absolute best professional and scientific animal management for our animals and our conservation efforts in Texas and globally are important to our guests.鈥�
For more information, contact Jessica Coleman, 黑料专区 Tyler distinguished teaching professor in biology, at jcoleman@uttyler.edu, or Marsha Williams, 黑料专区 Tyler lecturer and biology research associate, at mwilliams@uttyler.edu.
Caldwell Zoo opened in 1953 and has been a respected cornerstone of the community in Tyler by providing excellent family entertainment, educational opportunities and world-class conservation. The zoo has been a long-standing member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and remains dedicated to providing best practices in animal husbandry and helping to save wildlife locally and around the globe. Caldwell Zoo is home to over 3,000 animals, many of which are endangered or threatened in the wild.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, 黑料专区 Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with 黑料专区 Tyler Health Science Center and 黑料专区 Health East Texas, 黑料专区 Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, 黑料专区 Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.