Animal trainer Katja Hawliczek explains why people are often the more unpredictable part when working with animals.
Animal trainer Katja Hawliczek has been working with four-legged friends for over 20 years – both in front of the camera and on stage. A breeze compared to working with many a two-legged performer. “In my job you sometimes need psychological skills – with the actors. You can’t steal the show from them. Or I have to first take away their fear of animals,” she says about her everyday work. The only thing that applies to the animals is that they must not feel any stress. Donkey Elli has the rest away. Together with sheep Flocki and goat Clara, she plays a leading role in the festival production “The Greek Passion”. Well, singer Charles Workman actually holds a carrot and lures Elli across the stage with it. “They like each other. But Elli likes anyone who gives her a carrot,” laughs Hawliczek.
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