Kicked, Bitten, Scratched

[LostinVA]

Subtitled: Life and Lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers, by Amy Sutherland.

**************

You can read the review at Amazon, but I instead I'm posting what the The Significant Other asked me to post on DU concerning Steve Irwin and working with wildlife and exotic animals. She is a huge advocate of conservationism, and a huge fan of Irwin's efforts in this area:

"Tell those people saying Steve "asked for it" to read 'Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched'...and that any animal can be dangerous, no matter how careful you are. Zookeepers will attest to that, and yet they all continue to work with animals in spite of the injuries and possible fatality because they love them."


(From Publishers'' Weekly
Graduates of the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at California's Moorpark College land jobs in prestigious zoos, animal sanctuaries and research facilities, and they can be found in high-profile positions in Hollywood studios, the U.S. Navy and the organization Guide Dogs for the Blind. Sutherland (Cookoff: Recipe Fever in America) chronicles the intriguing year she spent with students at this "Harvard for exotic animal trainers," accompanying the "first years" as they interact with the exotic and not-so-exotic animals in the teaching zoo

[Critters2]

1. I thought about this last night.

The beagle and I were playing, wrestling as we often do. She hooked my hand with one of her canine teeth--not trying to bite, just overenthusiastic. I wasn't hurt, but I easily could have been. Later, my cat who is visually impaired bit my finger--not hard, stopped when he knew what he'd done--when he mistook it for the treat I was giving him.

If these two mishaps took place in my home in the space of a couple of hours, well, of course those who work with wildlife are going to have their share of missteps.

Or maybe I was askin' for it...:shrug:

[KurtNYC]

2. Well to me, Steve Irwin

raised awarness and did no harm to the animals he interacted with. He had a contagious passion for life in all forms.

But I'm not sure he was a "trainer" of exotic animals nor did he think that they needed to be trained in order to achieve what he was after (awareness,and conservation of NATURAL habitat).

[LostinVA]

5. The SO's point wasn't that they needed to be trained n/t

[Lisa]

3. sure brings back memories of being bitten, scratched, clawed ...

... and urinated upon! I used to volunteer at a veterinary clinic which handled some domestic, but mainly wild animals. I am sure the fawns would have kicked and trampled me, if they hadn't been so short. Actually we were happy when the wildlife were strong enough to struggle ... it was the ones that just lay there limply that worried us the most, because they usually didn't make it. Like the beautiful bald eagle that died in my arms after being poisoned.

People's dogs and cats (and one freaked-out hamster) created more havoc than the wild creatures, though.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. I can very close to going to Moorpark...

but I opted for another career instead. I still sometimes regret that I didn't go. :(

[LostinVA]

6. The SO said the same thing...

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. I actually never even heard of Moorpark.

I really thinking about applying there now. I've been regretting that I didn't go to school for a job where I could work with exotics, preferably herps or marine animals.

[LostinVA]

8. See how helpful I am???

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Well, I always thought you were helpful.

:)

I'm definitely going to check out that book now and see if it's not too late to sign up for a public speaking class at county college (the one course required for application, that I never took).

[LostinVA]

13. I told the SO what you wrote, and she's all excited for you

She said: GO FOR IT!

[LostinVA]

10. There was/is a TV series about Moorpark on Discovery or Animal Planet

Very interesting.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

17. It really IS the place to go...

I can't recommend it highly enough. It is an arduous program and you WILL be picking up lots of shit, it just isn't playing with the fun animals. ;)

If you think you can swing it, check it out -- you might find yourself on a new and exciting path.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. I got to work with a lion for a few years...

We loved each other but I was a mass of scratches...

Even from his fur.

He ended up in a preserve and when I went to visit him two years later, he went apsolutely nuts (in a good way) when he heard my voice and went into frisky kitten mode... We would wrestle until he hit 100 pounds in weight. I wished that I could have played with him again, but discretion and respect for his size made me think otherwise.

Awwww. I miss him!

[flvegan]

11. Linking Irwin to Moorpark is a disgrace.

Seems that "landing jobs" is the important thing here. Research facilities? Yeah, that's humane. Hollywood studios? Even better. How about Ringling? Landing a job there's probably pretty enticing.

Doubtful that Irwin would have been into beating animals into "obey" mode. Moorpark grads have worked with trash like Beronsini that BEAT his animals into falling into compliance.

[LostinVA]

14. Totally didn't get the point about my post.

And, do not even berate me about "disrespecting" Steve-O. I've been one of his most stalwart advocates the last few days.

Your post also shows you apparently don't know as much about Moorpark as you think. They've developed many well respected programs.

Get over your self righteousness. Geez.

[LostinVA]

15. I reread this post of yours, and it really pisses me off

What a fucking insulting post to me -- get over yourself.

[KurtNYC]

16. I posted along the same lines and the OP

perhaps doesn't see our point. Irwin advocated and funded preserves and natural habitat. Zoos and movie sets are a whole different thing. People that are advocating for and raising awareness for animals like sharks, snakes, crocs and other of the less lovable species (eg. non-furry, not cute, etc) are trying to get people to see that these animals have a key function in their respective habitats. Our reaction to them should not be guided by fear or disgust but rather by understanding why they are key to the balance of their habitats.

I don't know about Moorpark specifically but I am familiar with some of the more infamous abuses of animals on movie and television stages. Take for instance the movie "Project X" (starring Matthew Broderick, 1987). Not less than 3 chimps were killed during the making of that movie. It is not uncommon for chimps to be shocked, punched and held down. They take off the diapers, throw poop at their trainers, trainer gets pissed off... Even the chimps that survived were given cigarettes to smoke and generally made neurotic. There is a facility in North Hollywood that cares for animals who have been retired by the industry--they are a non-profit and if they didn't take the animals many would simply be put down when the business is done with them. I don't think there is any evidence that Irwin advocated animal training like that which is done regularly for movies, television and live shows.

For more on Circus training:
http://www.animalsvoice.com/PAGES/writes/editorial/news/features/elephant_geographic.html