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Clockwise from left: prehensile-tailed porcupines, servals, When is Animal Ambassador training
and sulcata tortoises are among the animals that have been complete? It never is, Eberhart says.
trained in our Animal Ambassador program.
Continual training keeps them sharp—
For instance, Quilbert, a 9-month-old much like daily exercise—and serves as an
prehensile-tailed porcupine, has been part important form of enrichment. It’s also an
of the Animal Ambassador program since important part of keeping relationships
he was just about a week old, and it’s strong. The animals enjoy working with
clear how much he enjoys being in front the animal care specialists, and so getting
of a crowd. to participate in daily training sessions is
somewhat of a treat for them.
“He just loves participating in chats, it’s
amazing,” Chardell said. “He knows he’s Staff is pleased with how the program
going to be with all his favorite people, and has expanded in just a few years, and is
get a treat, and get to explore a bit. It’s so continually looking forward to the future.
fulfilling to see how much he is thriving.” In addition to continuing to train our
animals, they look at possibly expanding
However, no matter the animal’s age, the program, often looking to see what
it’s possible to work on building the other animals participate in similar
necessary trust and relationship to train a programs at institutions accredited by the
creature to become an Animal Ambassador. Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
A lot of the zoo’s birds of prey are older,
and came from rehabilitation centers after “We do have to pick species very care-
they were injured in the wild. fully,” Chardell said. “We wouldn’t pick
an animal that traditionally doesn’t like
“In these cases, it might take a long loud sounds or crowds—while we aim to
time to build up all the necessary trust— connect people with animals, the animals’
the animal has gone through some rough happiness is at the top of the list.”
experiences,” said Paul Eberhart, lead keep-
er for the Animal Ambassador program.
“But with time and patience, and by not
pushing the animal too quickly, it’s still
definitely possible. And these cases are
especially rewarding.”
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