The Wild Enrichment Podcast

In this episode I am joined by Dr. Rhiannon Schultz. Rhiannon is the Project Manager and Welfare Consultant at Animal Welfare Expertise, and her background is incredibly diverse—spanning wildlife rehabilitation, certified dog training, and conservation research. She has recently completed her PhD at the University of Georgia, focusing on western lowland gorilla health, nutrition, and physiology.

In this episode we span what a holistic welfare program might look like for Gorillas in human care. Enjoy!

 

Resources: 

• https://www.animalwelfareexpertise.com/who-we-are
• https://www.instagram.com/animalwelfareexpertise/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-welfare-expertise/posts/?feedView=all
• https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWelfareExpertise/

In this episode I am joined by Ali Crumpacker, Executive Director of Project Chimps. We discuss the great work that is being done at The Project Chimps Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the unique challenges they face as well as some of the exciting plans they have for the future! Enjoy!

Resources: 

• https://projectchimps.org/about/about-project-chimps/
• https://www.instagram.com/projectchimps/
• https://www.facebook.com/projectchimps/

Today on the Wild Enrichment Podcast, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Emma Lethbridge, a horse trainer, equine behaviour expert, and passionate advocate for science-based, ethical horsemanship. In this episode we discuss positive reinforcement in horse training, how to look holistically at equine husbandry to ensure optimal welfare and much more! Enjoy!

Resources:

• Meller 5 domains 
  • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7602120/
• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs 
  • https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
• Emily Kieson inter species relationship theory 
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40559823/
• Understand horses 
  • https://www.understandhorses.com
• Andrew Hemmings 
  • https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Hemmings
• Study on horse society and structure
  • https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article-abstract/293/2063/20252468/479648/Spatial-strategies-in-non-territorial-societies?redirectedFrom=fulltext
• Emma Lethbridge 
  • https://emma-lethbridge-horsemanship.com/about-me/
  • https://www.facebook.com/emmalethbridgehorsemanship/
  • https://www.instagram.com/emma_lethbridge_horsemanship/?hl=en
  • https://courses.understandhorses.com/courses/trauma-informed-horse-trainer-certificate

In this episode I am joined by Alan Toyne, former great ape keeper at Bristol Zoo and Author of the new book- Gorillas in our Midst: A Zookeeper’s Tale of Hand-Rearing Baby Gorillas. In this conversation we discuss the challenges and experiences associated with hand rearing two baby Gorillas as well as some of the other great experiences from Alan's keeping days. Enjoy!

Resources: 

• https://www.thebksagency.com/alantoyne
• https://a.co/d/9mEMqTv
• https://summersdale.com/titles/alan-toyne/gorillas-in-our-midst/9781837995264/

Today I am joined by Mark Kingston Jones and Chris Hales of Team Building with BITE. The discussion covered the impact of their team-building activities on corporate participants, the expansion of their business into enclosure design and construction ("bite builds"), and the importance of prototyping and risk-taking in creating enrichment devices. Key talking points also included the value of external collaboration and communication for keepers, the challenges of team dynamics within the zoo industry, and the company's future goals.

Resources: 

• https://teambuildingwithbite.com
• https://www.facebook.com/TeamBuildingWithBite
• https://www.instagram.com/teambuildingwithbite/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-building-with-bite/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkingstonjones/

In this episode, I am joined by Sabrina Brando. Sabrina the director of Animal Concepts and is a world renowned consultant and animal care professional who helps organizations all over the world with all things wellbeing- human and animal. In this wide ranging conversation we talk about how Sabrina got into the industry, common themes and approaches to helping animal care organizations work together more effectively as well as how you can show up to work and lead up the chain of command. Enjoy!

References:

• https://www.animalconcepts.eu/
   
  https://www.animalconcepts.eu/resources
   
  https://www.animalconcepts.eu/247-approach-to-animal-wellbeing
   
  https://www.animalconcepts.eu/wildaboutselfcare
   
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinabrando/
   
  https://www.skool.com/animalconceptsinterbeing/about
   
  https://www.animalconcepts.eu/human-wellbeing
   
  https://www.animalconcepts.eu/caringtogetherinwildanimalwellbeingandconservation

My guest today is Dr. Marion Desmarchelier, a veterinarian with a rare blend of expertise in both zoological medicine and animal behavior. After graduating from the Veterinary School of Lyon, Marion pursued advanced training and board certifications in zoological medicine and later in veterinary behavior, making her one of the few professionals dually certified in these fields. She’s worked across Canada and France in clinical, academic, and research roles and currently teaches at the Université de Montréal. Today, we’re exploring her work on stereotypic behaviours in zoo animals—what they are, why they happen, and how science-based approaches can help improve welfare. Enjoy!

Resources: 

• https://fmv.umontreal.ca/etudes/personnel-enseignant/fiche/in/in29915/sg/Marion%20Desmarchelier/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/marion-desmarchelier-dvm-daczm-deczm-zhm-dacvb-731020a8/?originalSubdomain=ca
• https://www.nightowlvetspecialists.com/about

My guest today is Sharon Joseph. In this episode we talk about Sharons impressive career working at zoos across the United States from Zoo keeper to Vice President. We also discuss structuring animal welfare programs for institutions large and small. Enjoy!

 

Resources: 

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-joseph-300b32164/
• sjoseph@birminghamzoo.com

In this episode I am joined by Daniel O'loughlin and Arun Benty of the Life Sciences Education Trust. We discuss a wide range of topics from animal care staff training to using AI to advance animal welfare practices. Enjoy!

Resources:

• https://lifesciencetrust.org/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-o-loughlin-/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/abenty/
• https://www.instagram.com/lifesciencetrust/?hl=en

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Fiona French, to discuss "Playful" technology and how it can be used to benefit animal welfare. We discuss several ways animal care staff can use technology in their animal welfare programs as well as several real world examples of how Fiona has used technology to enrich the lives of animals. Enjoy!

Resources: 

• https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/profiles/staff/fiona-french/
• https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wmQhO5oAAAAJ&hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionafrench
• https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3357236.3395445