Slewths/ Animal Training and Research, Intl

Animal Training and Research International is a world renowned institution of animal behavior management for all species across all areas of animal behavior. ATR is lead by its Director, Dr. Jenifer Zeligs, a scholar of animal behavior having worked with dozens of species of animals across many disciplines. Dr. Zeligs is the author of Animal Training 101, the new industry bible on animal behavior modification.

ATR uses a transformative learning model to teach behavior modification using a comprehensive understanding of behaviorist, cognitive, ethological and other psychological sciences with a best outcomes model from a pros and cons analysis of techniques and approaches. ATR believes in encouraging robust, thoughtful and respectful discussions about behavior techniques with a focus on relationship and reinforcement history and choices.

ATR International has a varying collection of marine animals (especially sea lions) as well as domestic animals for that have been adopted when they could not survive on their own in the wild. Each of these animals brings their own individual and unique personalities to our family.

SLEWTHS (Science Learning and Exploration with the Help of Sea Lions) is an innovative project of sea lions and people working together to further marine education, research, and conservation. Together with its parent company Animal Training and Research, International, the project’s range of interests and goals encompasses all major areas of the marine mammal industry. SLEWTHS, as the non-profit arm of ATR Intl., has three main program directions: Research, Classes & Internships, and K-12 Programs.

Formal internships are available to any high school graduate, ages 16 and above. For younger participants, similar opportunities are also available through our Jr. Internships program. Interns will receive personalized attention designed to give them a feel for what it’s like to actually care for, work with, and train sea lions. All interns learn animal care, feeding, husbandry skills, and much more!

As well as being a teaching lab, the SLEWTHS program is also an active research laboratory. All research projects have the common denominator of utilizing the trained cooperative participation of the animals, but beyond that projects vary widely in scope and subject. Cooperative Research occurs in laboratory tanks as well as in the open ocean. Open to collaborative research ventures from fellow colleagues as well as student participants, SLEWTHS is currently participating in and planning such diverse projects as hydrodynamics, comparative physiology, and feeding and growth studies.