Choice, Control & Conservation with Olly Jacobs & Calum Torcasio [Episode 61]

episode

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

More from Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

Shifting Perspectives in Wildlife Rehabilitation with Debbie Sykes [Episode 73] 47 min · 06 Aug 2026

Beyond the Training Plan: Prioritizing the Human-Canine Bond with Jimmy Maxwell [Episode 72] 1h 6m · 02 Jul 2026

From Microchips to Mutts with Alamelu Sankaranarayanan [Episode 71] 56 min · 04 Jun 2026

All episodes from Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples →

Report any issue

Source

Recorded31 Jul 2025

Publisherata-ripple-makers.libsyn.com ↗

Handlerec:8112246

Show notes

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Olly Jacobs (he/him) and Calum Torcasio (they/them) from Moonlit Sanctuary - two zookeepers whose passion for animal welfare and behavior science shines through every word. From early dreams of working with animals to becoming key members of Moonlit's show and mammal teams, their parallel journeys are filled with curiosity, grit, and deep respect for the animals they care for. Olly and Calum share their unique entry points into zookeeping, the roles that education, volunteering, and community played in launching their careers, and how their love for Australia's diverse native wildlife continues to grow. We dive into their creative and thoughtful approaches to animal training, with heartwarming and educational stories - from target and station training a potoroo named Pikelet, to building trust and voluntary cooperation for dingo toothbrushing. This episode highlights: ✅ The power of relationship-based training and consent-driven interactions ✅ How show animals are given choice, control, and a starring role in education ✅ Why tailoring communication to the individual matters - no "one-size-fits-all" ✅ How storytelling, humor, and hope create meaningful conservation messages ✅ Their hopes for connecting audiences, especially children, to native species With humility and humor, Olly and Calum show us what it means to train with intention and heart - making waves not just for the animals they work with, but for the future of conservation. Links https://moonlitsanctuary.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/moonlitsanctuary/ https://www.facebook.com/moonlitsanctuary/

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.