Best practice guidance for use of firearms in Zoos & Wildlife Parks

Accredited by LANTRA and developed specifically for those involved with Zoos & Wildlife Parks, CDS delivers an online firearms training course designed to comply with the requirements of UK Legislation and BIAZA guidelines.
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Nationally recognised and Accredited course

Best practice guidance for use of firearms in Zoos & Wildlife Parks sets the industry standard for the use of firearms in Zoos and is a nationally recognised course, that has been accredited by the UK’s largest, land-based awarding body LANTRA.

A few more words about this course

Regrettably, there are many incidents of people climbing into dangerous animal enclosures and of dangerous animal escapes, many of which have resulted in serious injury and even death.
 
CDS Firearms Training for Zoos & Wildlife Parks is accredited by the UKs leading land-based awarding body LANTRA. It is the UK’s leading, go-to firearms course for zookeepers and zoo managers, and is designed to empower zookeepers with the skills required to deal with these types of emergencies, and zoo managers with the knowhow to select the correct weapons and implement the correct procedures, to ensure compliance with BIAZA and UK regulations concerning the use of firearms in zoos.  

Coming from an extensive Police background and with over a decade of experience delivering firearms training to zoos & wildlife parks, lead instructor Peter S Jones has spent his career dealing with emergency situations and dangerous animals.

Read more about the instructor here
Here through the ‘Hunting Academy’, he delivers a comprehensive, high quality, certificated zookeeper course via a convenient online platform that is available to zoos and wildlife parks throughout the UK.

The course offers easily accessible, affordable access, and an invaluable insight into subjects such as the appropriate choice of weapons, firearm licensing, how to liaise with the emergency services, how to approach dangerous animals, the relationship between shot placement and shot reaction along with and a whole wealth of additional expertise that is delivered by an existing trusted provider of zookeeper training.

And that’s not all! - Zoos & Wildlife Parks that employ this fabulous means of training their staff, are also afforded a 1 hr free telephone consultation with our CDS lead instructor, to help ensure that they have in place all of the procedures and equipment that is required to deal with emergencies concerning dangerous animals. For those that want ongoing practical training CDS is also available to assist.

Too many zoos and wildlife parks are woefully ill equipped and ill prepared to deal with emergencies concerning dangerous animals. Enrol today, and get your zoo back on track, by taking the UK’s premier firearms course for zoos & wildlife parks.

Course contents

Meet the instructor

Peter S Jones

Peter S Jones is a nationally recognised authority on deer management and one of the most influential voices in the UK today. He is widely consulted by government bodies and industry organisations and is regarded as a leading public ambassador for UK deer management across both professional and recreational contexts.

With over two decades of experience, Peter operates at a strategic and representative level while maintaining direct, practical involvement in deer management. He is the Founder and CEO of the Shooting & Hunting Academy and author of the Proficient Deer Stalking Certificates (PDS1 & PDS2) and Deer Management Certificate Level 3 (DMC3), qualifications widely recognised as the UK’s leading vocational awards in deer management.

Peter is also Chairman of the prestigious Capreolus Club and leads County Deer Stalking Online Magazine and County Deer Stalking YouTube, central reference points for deer management practice and commentary in the UK, encompassing professional practice, publishing and media.

Additionally, Peter acts as a trusted expert witness in UK courts and has provided independent technical opinion in cases involving deer stalking, firearms use and professional standards. He is involved in Parliamentary focus groups advising MPs on conservation hunting and wild food production, and regularly contributes to consultations with DEFRA, the Food Standards Agency and NatureScot.
Peter’s authority is reinforced by a previous ten-year career as a Detective with the Metropolitan Police Service, where he received a Commendation for Bravery and Professionalism following his handling of an armed incident and retired with an Exemplary Service Certificate. Through his combined work in practice, training, policy and as an expert witness, Peter S Jones is widely regarded as the one of the UK’s most recognised and trusted voices in modern UK deer management.

Course reviews

The CDS Firearms Training course for Zoos was very professional both in terms of content and delivery.
J.Merrington Zoo Manager
The content ensured that our zoo was up to date with UK legislation and BIAZA guidelines, I would strongly recommend this course to other zoos and wildlife parks.
Chessington World of Adventures

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE FIREARMS TRAINING COURSE FOR ZOOS & WILDLIFE PARKS?

The Firearms Training Course is an accredited online programme designed specifically for individuals working in zoos and wildlife parks. It offers best practice guidance on the use of firearms, complying with UK legislation and BIAZA guidelines. The course is developed to help zookeepers and zoo managers handle dangerous animal emergencies effectively.

WHO IS THE COURSE INTENDED FOR?

This course is intended for zookeepers, zoo managers, and wildlife park staff who are involved in managing dangerous animals and require knowledge and skills in firearms use for emergency situations. It is suitable for both new and experienced personnel looking to enhance their firearms handling and emergency response capabilities.

WHAT BENEFITS DOES THE COURSE OFFER TO ZOOS AND WILDLIFE PARKS?

Enrolling in this course provides zoos and wildlife parks with essential training in firearms use, enhancing their ability to manage dangerous animal emergencies. Participants also receive a 1-hour free telephone consultation with the lead instructor to review and improve their emergency procedures and equipment.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN TOPICS COVERED IN THE COURSE?

The course includes the following modules:
• Module 1: Introduction
• Module 2: Firearm safety and understanding the component parts
• Module 3: Selecting the right weapons & optics
• Module 4: Choosing the right calibre & ammunition
• Module 5: Marksmanship & Shooting positions
• Module 6: Shot placement & shot reaction
• Module 7: Contact & Cover and Reactionary gap
• Module 8: Following up on shot animals
• Module 9: Important procedural guidance