Podcast Episode 2: Nathan Andrews

March 7, 2022

#2 - Nathan Andrews:
Compassionate Problem-Solving in Zoos

Download the episode – Download the transcript

In our first interview episode, we are joined by Nathan Andrews, a Senior Zookeeper at Happy Hollow Zoo and Park to discuss the utilization of enrichment in the zoological setting, creating effective enrichment plans, and assessing your plans efficacy.

In this episode we talk about:

What enrichment is and isn’t about (spoiler: it’s not about boredom!)
Enrichment for dogs and bears
Why data collection is a gamechanger for you and your animal
Using natural history to make decisions
The cutest monkey social enrichment ever

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

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Meet the Guest

Nathan Andrews

Nathan Andrews (he/him/his) is one of two Senior Zookeepers at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, CA. He was worked in animal care and welfare for over 15 years. Over this time, he has worked with dozens of species of many taxa and has co-published two peer-reviewed articles on Ursid behavior under human care and management and maintains a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner designation.

Meet the Hosts

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

Allie Bender is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, and a Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 2006 and professionally training since 2012. She is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

While in the animal sheltering industry, Allie realized that her passion lied in helping pets with maladaptive behaviors. Specifically, she wanted to help prevent animals with rehabilitatable problems from being euthanized. She loves working with dogs and cats displaying stranger danger, resource guarding, and leash reactivity. Her favorite thing about working with pets and their people is seeing relationships grow and seeing harmonious households develop.

Emily Strong, CDBC, SBA

Emily Strong is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 1990 and has been a behavior consultant since 2008. She is the co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

Emily started working with animals at a young age and struggled with the notion that you have to hurt, scare, or intimidate animals to help them. When she discovered the behavior sciences and learned that it wasn’t necessary to do so– that we can care for emotional, mental, and physical health simultaneously– she plunged headfirst into animal behavior. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

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#2 - Nathan Andrews: Compassionate Problem-Solving in Zoos