How to Become an Apprentice @ T.I.G.E.R.S.

Do you want to learn to work with some of the most amazing animals? Do you want to get up-close and personal with a variety of animals on a dialy basis? Do you want to know what it takes to train animals for movies and television? Then look no further, join the T.I.G.E.R.S. apprenticeship program today.

The Apprentice Program is a 2 year minimum live in program at the T.I.G.E.R.S. ZOOLOGICAL PARK grounds in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and abroad.

This is a full time, 365 days a year task. It takes all of your time, with no vacations and no free time off except in the evenings, a few times a year for the first year or two. There are always animals that need your help, care, feeding and cleaning at all times of the day and night. Animal training is more of a life style than a job. Trained (not tame) animals need to be with you personally for thousands of hours in order for you to establish a working relationship with them. It takes many years of dedicated work to become a trainer.

In two years of the apprenticeship, you will begin to understand the basics of training. It will probably take 5 to 10 years to become a novice trainer, but only if you have what it takes and work very hard at it all the time.

T.I.G.E.R.S. generates all of its income from the animals. In return for this, we do not eat them. We eat only vegetarian food on the parks grounds. On your own time and place you may eat what you want. The use of drugs/never, alcohol (except on special occasions) and tobacco is not allowed. The apprentice program is basically a specialized school.

We start pay at $100 per week and give you a place to live with pool and hot tub. We pay all utilities/ phone, electric, gas, cable and laundry .We also provide a car for you to drive. We also pay for all of the food when traveling. This all equals to about $1000 per month+. You may make more money as you become a trainer. We have paid up to $3,500 per week to trainers on jobs that they solely operate.

We have never had a death or a long hospital stay due to animal injury but the job is not without risk as you are in direct contact with wild dangerous animals daily after you have completed various levels of training.

T.I.G.E.R.S. has 45 full time big cats including: the Golden Tabby Tigers (white tigers with red stripes), which are the rarest cats on earth, white tigers, giant ligers (12ft 900lbs), and normal lions, tigers, leopards, pumas, one African Elephant, 4 birds of prey, bears and many other animals.

A big cat trainer is a professional athlete. You must be in good physical and mental condition. You must have strength, speed and compassion for your animals and co-workers. We have trained animals for the Jungle Book, Forest Gump, Ace Ventura 2, The Client and 500 other movies, television shows and ads.

This is a job/lifestyle for animal lovers or people who truly want to train. If what you want from life is to have lions, tigers, bears, elephants and eagles and a whole zoo of other animals to be your friends and constant companions and travel the world living half of your life in comfort half in hardship then this is for you. If you want something else then you don't want this job as it takes everything you have to do this and their is no time for other pursuits. If you do not love all of nature, this is not a job for you. If you cannot handle a spider, pick up a cockroach, or sweep up a bug, you should reconsider your application. No pets, you have 50 plus of ours that will take all your time from personal pets.

The only qualifications you need are:

• to be of sound mind and body,
• at least 18 years old,
• able to give up 2 years of your life and devote them only to your training,
• to be free of attachments to persons, places and things that will distract your focus,
• you do not need previous experience or education for this program but; further education is valued,
• you need only undying devotion to becoming an animal trainer!!!

For anyone considering the apprenticeship program, we recommend that you read the book Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. You can check out the Ishmael website here.

Thank You,

Dr. Bhagavan Antle
Director of T.I.G.E.R.S.

These are two other resources to help you decide if this is the right job for you:

Wildlife Careers
Unusual Animal Careers

Those who are interested in the rare opportunity of becoming an Apprentice Animal Trainer here at T.I.G.E.R.S. should send a written Resume and a photo of themselves to the following Address:

T.I.G.E.R.S.
ATTN: Personnel
PO Box 31210
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29588

Interested Applicants can also E-Mail a Resume and Image of themselves to:

Send your Resume to Doc @ T.I.G.E.R.S.

For Frequently Asked Questions and an insider view on what being an apprentice is like, Click here for a peek into Chris' exciting life.