Animal Ambassadors: 21st Century Conservation.

I, Doc Antle have spent more than 30 years of my life developing safe proven training programs for both handlers and animals. At TIGERS and the Rare Species Fund, we endorse an interactive approach to animal ambassadorship. Our highly structured program of intensive socialization, careful breeding and cutting edge enrichment ensures that well adjusted and happy animals become model citizens who are flourishing in a human environment. These captive-born animals will never be introduced into the wild. Understanding their species-specific needs and the employment of carefully designed, interactive husbandry techniques allows them to thrive in captivity. Scientific research has shown a myriad of benefits captive wildlife can experience through regular human interaction. Animals who have not had the opportunity to become comfortable and trusting in human interactions can become stressed, anxious, and possibly problematic in the execution of the simplest captive care and veterinary tasks. We are invested in training well socialized ambassadors, comfortable in their lives, to represent species that we are actively working to conserve in the wild.

Untrained, unsocialized animals are stressed and fearful and don’t make good ambassadors. Only the most tractable and well trained animals become the Animal Ambassadors of TIGERS/RSF. Our ambassadors provide a window to a world that most Americans will never witness first hand. Our program creates a powerful experience that engenders the human-animal connection. People who feel connected to animals in a tangible way are much more likely to support conservation efforts in the wild. The TIGERS/RSF Animal Ambassador program has raised more than $1,000,000 for small on-the-ground conservation projects we support around the globe.

Read more: https://docantle.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/animal-ambassadors-21st-century-conservation/