Excerpt: Where to Begin: Training Animal Ambassadors

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This webinar was recorded on November 18, 2025 on Where to Begin: Training Animal Ambassador. Our fantastic speaker is Lara Joseph, founder of The Animal Behavior Center.

Not every wild animal that wildlife rehabilitators care for can return to the wild. Sometimes, caretakers must make a difficult choice: is captivity a humane and ethical option for this non-releasable animal? Using the science of behavior known as applied behavior analysis and positive reinforcement principles, Lara will discuss the how she evaluates wild animals as candidates for different types of permanent captivity, while centering animal welfare. She will also explore the early stages of transitioning suitable non-releasable wild animals to captivity and share strategies that she has found valuable for succeeding with diverse species of injured and/or apprehensive wildlife.

Lara is the owner of The Animal Behavior Center, an international educational center that teaches people how to understand behavior through training animals using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. She is a professional animal behavior consultant, speaker, and trainer with a focus on undomesticated and exotic animals. She is a member of IAATE and ZAA, and sits on the advisory board for All Species Consulting, The Indonesian Parrot Project, and is a past board member of Nature’s Nursery, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Ohio. She is also the president of the non-profit Sam, I Can Foundation, raising awareness for animals and animal organizations in need. For more information, visit her website at theanimalbehaviorcenter.com or contact her at [email protected].

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