Behind each of these decisions stands a professional with specialised expertise in animal behaviour, welfare, management and conservation.

The Bachelor's Degree in Animal Care at the University of Padua is designed to educate these professionals. The programme provides the knowledge and competences required to observe and interpret animal behaviour, understand the biological and ethological needs of different species, and apply the scientific, ethical and legislative principles that underpin animal welfare.

The focus extends beyond the individual animal. The programme also explores the relationships between species and their environment, the role of humans within ecosystems, and the principles governing biodiversity conservation. This integrated perspective links the welfare of individual animals with the health of populations and ecosystems, adopting an approach that ranges from the individual to the ecosystem.

The programme complements the Degree in Veterinary Medicine. While veterinarians specialise in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases, Animal Care graduates focus on animal management, welfare assessment, environmental enrichment, behavioural evaluation and the design of husbandry practices tailored to the biological and behavioural needs of different species. These complementary competences contribute to multidisciplinary teams involving veterinarians, biologists, zoologists and other professionals.
Throughout the three-year programme, students develop a solid scientific background in animal behaviour, animal welfare, nutrition, ecology, behavioural neuroscience, physiology, pathology, bioethics and research methodologies.