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Animal Enrichment
Learn to design environments that promote good psychological and emotional health. Students learn to create novel outlets for natural behaviors, reduce stress, and prevent problem behaviors before they develop.
Train for a Career Working with Exotic Animals
Why Students Choose Us
All of our courses are 100% online
Complete your classes from anywhere through our interactive programs, designed to fit around work, school, or other commitments.
Small classes taught by professionals
Courses are limited to small class sizes so you can learn directly from instructors who have trained dolphins, wolves, big cats, and exotic species at zoos and aquariums around the world.
Field experience with real animals
Apply what you learn by completing a hands-on field experience at a zoo, aquarium, sanctuary, or wildlife organization in your area.
Request Additional Program Information
Tell us where to send your program brochure, and we’ll email you the full details including courses, career paths, and how to get started.
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Is This Program Right for You?
This Program May Be a Good Fit If You:
- Dream of working with wild animals — big cats, marine mammals, birds, primates, and more
- Want to work at a zoo, aquarium, sanctuary, or in the film industry
- Are passionate about improving the welfare of exotic animals through training and enrichment
- Want to specialize in the species groups that interest you most
Many of our students are:
- Aspiring zoo and aquarium professionals
- Animal care staff seeking to specialize
- Wildlife and sanctuary volunteers
- Career changers passionate about exotic animals
Inside the Exotic Animal Training Program
Wild animals retain a measure of unpredictability that makes them fundamentally different from their domestic counterparts — and trainers who work with them must be deeply attuned to the emotions and behaviors of the species in their care. ABI's Exotic Animal Training Program is the only accredited online program of its kind, and it's built around choice: two foundation courses plus three specialized electives you select based on the species that interest you most.
Animal Training
Learn to apply operant conditioning to increase preferred behaviors and eliminate undesirable ones — including training animals to voluntarily cooperate in veterinary care, physical exams, and educational programming
Then Specialize: Choose Three Electives
Tailor your program to the species you want to work with:
- Behavior & Training of Marine Mammals — dolphins, sea lions, and other marine species
- Avian Training — birds from parrots to raptors
- Carnivore Training & Behavior — big cats, wolves, and other carnivores
- Primate Behavior & Enrichment — apes, monkeys, and prosimians
- Animal Behavior — the science of behavior across species
Hands-On Learning Through Field Experience
In addition to online coursework, students complete 40 hours of hands-on field experience as an employee, intern, or volunteer at an approved institution of their choice. One of the strengths of our program is that you choose where to complete your fieldwork — the facility is never assigned.
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Learn From Experienced Professionals
All courses are taught by instructors with professional experience in fields such as:
- Zoo and aquarium animal training
- Marine mammal training and conservation research
- Training animals for television and film productions
- Habitat design and animal welfare science
- Behavioral research across exotic species
Their real-world insights help students understand both the science behind exotic animal behavior and the practical realities of working with wild species.
Flexible Online Learning Designed for Animal Careers
- Structured 10-week courses
- Fully online classroom environment
- Small class sizes (maximum of 12 students)
- Field experience completed with a local organization of your choice
Students from across the U.S. and internationally complete the program while balancing work and personal commitments.
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Exotic Animal Trainer
Exotic animal trainers work with wild species — dolphins, birds, wolves, big cats, and more — at zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and wildlife facilities. Their responsibilities may include training voluntary cooperation for veterinary care, developing behavioral programs, and presenting animals in educational programming.
Marine Mammal Trainer
Marine mammal trainers work with dolphins, sea lions, and other marine species at aquariums and marine parks. Their responsibilities may include husbandry training, enrichment, public presentations, and supporting research and conservation programs.
Animal Ambassador / Wildlife Educator
Ambassador trainers prepare animals for educational programming, working with schools, zoos, and conservation organizations. Their responsibilities may include training animals for public presentations, developing educational content, and inspiring audiences to care about wildlife conservation.
Movie & Entertainment Animal Trainer
Trainers in the film and entertainment industry prepare animals for television and movie productions. Their responsibilities may include training complex behaviors on cue, managing animals on set, and ensuring welfare standards throughout production.
Building Experience for Competitive Careers
Employment in animal care and service is expected to grow 15% over the next decade — faster than the average for all occupations. Competition for positions in zoos, aquariums, and the entertainment industry remains strong, and success requires both formal education and hands-on experience.
ABI's program is designed to give you that competitive advantage, combining structured academic training with specialized species electives and practical field experience — from the only institution offering accredited online programs in Exotic Animal Training.
Meet Bernadette Willers
Exotic Animal Training
I've always been drawn to animals, and one of the most rewarding aspects of animal care is witnessing the trust that develops through patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency. ABI gave me a real foundation in animal behavior, enrichment, and training techniques — and just as importantly, how to tailor training to each individual animal rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
I completed my field experience at The Emirates Park Zoo in the Carnivore Division, training Eurasian Brown Bears and Spotted Hyenas, and designing enrichment programs using the S.P.I.D.E.R. principles. I'm currently volunteering there, continuing and expanding on that work.
"Training isn't about commanding an animal — it's about earning a conversation."
Take the First Step Toward a Career with Exotic Animals!
Tell us about your goals and we'll help you determine if the Exotic Animal Training Program at Animal Behavior Institute is the right fit for you.
