Animal training at Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo

Ritstjórn
Eva the animal trainer giving medication to a horse
Eva the animal trainer giving medication to a horse

Swedish animal behaviorist Eva Bertilsson has been working at Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo this week. She has many years of experience working with and training animals. Today, the public can visit the park and observe Eva's work.

Eva Bertilsson has traveled extensively to teach and provide counseling on animal training to professionals who work with animals and has also delivered educational programs to the public. She uses positive training methods with the goal of improving the animals' quality of life.

During her visit to Iceland, Eva has been sharing her expertise with the zoo staff. For the first three days, she conducted a class for the park's staff and taught various methods of animal training. Eva says that animal training is beneficial for those who work with animals, "animal training can help staff strengthen their connection with the animals and enable them to train the animals positively for veterinary examinations and more."

Weighing the foxes at the zoo
Eva kennir starsmanni að lokka ref í Húsdýragarðinum á vigtina

Eva has a YouTube channel where she demonstrates diverse training methods on various types of animals. As an example of Eva's training, a giraffe at the Kristiansand Zoo in Norway needed eye drops for an eye infection. It's obvious that such medication administration can be challenging when dealing with such large and tall animals. Through training, they managed to get the giraffe to bend forward so they could administer the eye ointment.

The park staff was very enthusiastic about the training and Eva's methods, which will add new skills to their work with the animals in the park.

Working with sheep at the zoo
Þjálfun sauðfés í Húsdýragarðinum.

Class for the public

Yesterday, a class was held for veterinarians and others who work with animals in their professions. Today, Friday, March 14, the public will have an opportunity to peek behind the scenes of the training.

Space is limited, and people are asked to register.

Schedule for March 14. Public (10-year age minimum)

  • 3pm to 5:30pm. Participants will follow Eva and the park staff to the animals and receive insight and detailed information about what the park staff has learned from Eva.
  • Light refreshments will be offered at the end along with discussion about the training.
  • Price: 6,000 króna, and interested participants can register and/or get more information by sending an email to namskeid@husdyragardur.is.