Page 17 - Gateways_2019_SPRING

Following these principles help even the most
unlikely animals to be trained.

For instance, to train a goldfish, staff place a
stick with a red tip (a “target”) in its habitat.
They give the goldfish the chance to come up
to the stick and check it out on its own—again,
all training is voluntary. When the goldfish
decides to mouth the stick, it is rewarded
with food. Soon, it begins to seek the stick
out, and will follow it around its habitat.

“The next thing you know, it’s swimming
through a hoop and wowing guests,” said
Maggie Chardell, lead keeper at Hamill
Family Wild Encounters. “But
just like with any animal, it’s really
just a matter of being consistent
and of building that trust.”

The animals aren’t the only ones
who are trained—the humans who
work with Animal Ambassadors
are trained to all interact with
the animals in the same way
to help build that trust.

Most Animal Ambassadors
are handled only by animal care
specialists, but those that reside in
the Play Zoo’s “Zoo at Home”—
such as the domestic cats, guinea
pigs, and chickens—interact directly
with many different people, including
guests. They are picked specifically for
their social personalities, so that they will
thrive in their homes and in their role.

Trained staff and volunteers ensure that
guests follow appropriate procedures—which
helps the animals become comfortable with
being pet or handled. Staff and volunteers
also are trained on signs of stress, so they
can immediately remove an animal from a
situation if it is experiencing discomfort.
Animal Ambassadors serve a special and unique
purpose: connecting individuals with animals
they otherwise would not have the chance to see
up close. When possible, staff like to prepare the
animals for their role as early as possible—not only
are baby animals a fan favorite, but young animals
often adapt easily and quickly to new situations.

Tamanduas (top) and cockatoos (bottom) are two animals guests might see participating 17
in Zoo Chats throughout the park.

BROOKFIELD ZOO | SPRING 2019