Animal Keepers Association of Africa is an African Network For Ethical & Competent Animal Keepers. This initiative began as a working group of PAAZAB with the task to identify and drive the process forward for animal keepers that handle animals on a daily basis.

The vision of AAKA is ‘to develop a sustainable network for professional animal keepers of Africa to enhance animal welfare through knowledge & communication’. The mission statement is to develop ‘an African network for ethical & competent animal keepers’.

The objectives include the uniting of people who subscribe to the core values of AAKA; to represent members motivated by respect and concern for our surroundings, who are constantly improving their ability to sustain our animal collections, serving our community and conserving the world in which we live; to utilize all communication methods to provide and encourage the use of the latest animal care and behavioral management information, technology and techniques and lastly to develop effective networking opportunities for African animal keepers.

AKAA's core values

These are the core values which the Animal Keepers Association of Africa adheres to:

    * NETWORKING- To provide a forum to ensure productive and constructive interfacing, equity and communication between individuals in the field of animal care.

    * WELFARE- To provide the best care and most ethical animal management practices for animals in human care.

    * KNOWLEDGE- To generate information sharing amongst the membership so that the industry as a whole remains professional and progressive.

    * SERVICE EXCELLENCE- To exhibit animals in an ethical, educational and inspiring manner that serves to preserve their dignity and inspire the public to holistic conservation action and informed animal welfare.

    * CONSERVATION- To ethically and responsibly care for animals in our collections in a manner that serves and promotes conservation.