An internationally known animal trainer, Steve Martin has pioneered the art of training free-flighted birds and other animals for engaging and inspiring conservation-driven shows and voluntary participation in their own care using positive reinforcement techniques. With over 50 animal trainers on staff, Steve Martin’s Natural Encounters, Inc. has become a premier animal behavior consulting and educational show production company around the world.
In 1976, Steve set up the first of its kind: a free-flight, natural behavior bird show at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (now called the Safari Park). After the show gained international acclaim, he went out on his own in 1980 to set up shows around the world. In 1983, he branched out to apply his positive reinforcement training strategies to all types of animals in the zoo and aquarium world, beginning with the production of the primate, sea lion, elephant and reptile shows at the Singapore Zoo. With a 40-year history as a master falconer, and over 50 years training nearly every taxa of animals found in zoos and aquariums, Steve Martin has now served as a behavior consultant at over 135 zoological facilities in 34 countries.
Steve is a founder, past president and current emeritus board member of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE), and a member of Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK), a professional member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is a Trustee with the World Parrot Trust. Natural Encounters, Inc. is an accredited member of AZA and a Corporate Member of the World Zoo Association (WAZA).
Steve Martin is also President of the non-profit company, Natural Encounters Conservation Fund, Inc. (NECF). With support from NEI, NECF exists to raise money for in situ conservation programs through donations from guests at the shows NEI produces. To date, NECF has raised and donated over $1.9 million to more than 70 in situ conservation projects around the world. NEI and NECF have partnered with the World Parrot Trust to help save the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw. Found only in Bolivia, there are less than 400 of these critically endangered birds remaining in the wild. NEI has raised over 80 Blue-throated Macaws and in September of 2024, NEI trainers took 14 of these endangered birds to Bolivia to set up a breeding and release program to help save this critically endangered species.
Steve ‘s greatest passion is for driving animal welfare and conservation action through his work. His goals are to teach animal care professionals how to empower animals with a voice and a vote in how they work together and to produce shows that inspire caring attitudes that lead to conservation action.