"This book has been a long time coming - not least that its production has hit a variety of hurdles resulting in work stopping on its publication. Life happens. And it certainly has for us as editors and also for our different contributors. But a long time coming as the journey to the production of this book, or its very inception dates back to the 1st Animal Learning and Management meeting which was organised by Vicky Melfi and hosted by Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, UK back in 2004. The meeting was small, with speakers from Copenhagen, London, Paignton, Whipsnade and Woburn Zoos, talking on topics related to training elephants, rhinoceros, primates, sealions and ungulates. The cherry on top was that with funds raised from a local business initiative and the RSPCA, it was possible to bring Bruce Upchurch over from the USA to facilitate workshops and generally inspire and teach us about implementing zoo training programmes"-- |