Wildlife Assisted Therapy (8)

While Animal Assisted Therapy is well known for the usage of dogs, as service animals and working animals, however, working dogs and cats only make up a portion of animals used in therapy. All around the world people participate in wildlife assisted therapy. Wildlife therapy mainly consists of the usage of dolphins, capuchin monkeys, varies birds and reptiles, along with elephants. These therapy animals are used around the world for different reasons.

Dolphins and elephants are used because they are keystone species, they are seen as animals with healing powers. They are believed to cure differences, disorders, and disabilities. Capuchin monkeys are used for quadriplegic people, they're used to replace human assistance by completing daily tasks around the house. then various birds and reptiles are used as a comfort and calming agent for those that have differences.

There are many concerns surrounding wildlife assisted therapy as well as companion animal assisted therapy. there are hundreds of thousands animals that are purchased as well as rented four people with disorders or differences, during these experiences welfare and husbandry are not a main concern. The care and well being of animals are not put at a priority. when animals are working in a therapy setting it creates a new role of that animal they are not human but they are not animal, they become an object, an experience. Not only that, wildlife assisted therapy was invented to help those in need of it, however, 21% of people complete wildlife assisted therapy to obtain the status the snapshot of the experience.

Overall, there are many concerns surrounding wildlife assisted therapy. The ideas and thoughts people have on this section of therapy is damaging to the animals health and future generations to come. By having the public believe the animals can cure or heal people it tears down all walls and thoughts that should be in place when thinking about wildlife.