Ambassador Animals | Keeping Wildlife Wild

Keeping Wildlife Wild Ambassador Animals banner featuring a zoo educator walking a cheetah on a leash through a landscaped enclosure. Introduces an examination of the roles, responsibilities, animal welfare considerations and conservation claims associated with ambassador animal programs.

LOOKING BEYOND THE ENCOUNTER
Ambassador animal programs are often presented as opportunities to educate, inspire and connect people with wildlife. Across zoos, aquariums, wildlife facilities and educational programs, animals may be handled, transported, displayed or brought into close proximity with the public in the name of conservation education.
But these encounters also raise important questions.
What do people actually learn from close encounters with wild animals? How do handling, transport and repeated presentations affect the animals themselves? And what messages are communicated when wild animals are presented in ways that may resemble pets, performers or props?
This section examines ambassador animal programs through the lenses of science, animal welfare, education and accountability—looking beyond the encounter to consider both the animals involved and the messages we send about wildlife.
Because how we teach people about wild animals matters.

A Closer Look:

Examining the animals, the science and the messages behind the encounter.

› When the Conservation Claim Outruns the Evidence

Ambassador animals, captive breeding and the gap between a memorable encounter and demonstrated conservation

› When The Public Keeps Paying
Myrtle Beach Safari—and the responsibility behind the demand

› The Ambassador Animal Business

ZAA accredited Tanganyika Park's viral hippo story—and what its cited research actually establishes

› When America's National Bird Becomes A Team Mascot

Education, Entertainment and the Welfare Commitments Behind AZA Accreditation At The Elmwood Zoo

› The Ambassador Animal Business
A child’s injury during a sloth encounter at Aloha Safari Park raises questions about animal welfare and public safety. Explore the exotic animal encounter business at Aloha and its sister facility, Zootastic Park.

› Exotic Animals Are Not Pets-
So Why Present Them This Way?
Chase Sanctuary’s Serval Media Appearance Raises Questions About Ambassador Animal Use

› The Ambassador Animal Business In Rhode Island

When Exotic Animals Become Entertainment

From Private Possession to Public Exhibition

› When Animals Need Rescue From A Rescue

CDE Exotics Owner Faces Animal Cruelty Charges in Pennsylvania

› Program animal welfare:

A scoping review of animal interaction programs

and their welfare impact on zoo-housed animals.
When Ambassador Animals Generate Revenue

› When A Wild Animal Becomes An "Ambassador"
What Exactly Are We Teaching?

› AZA Accredited Cincinnati Zoo
When The Animal Becomes the Add-On
Ambassador Animals, Private Events and the Commercialization of the Zoo Experience