A Taronga Zoo Initiative is helping Australians overcome their fear of spiders and reptiles.

Fearless

“I feel free! A phobia affects your life in a much broader way than you can ever imagine.” – Jacqueline, Fearless at Taronga participant

Most of us are afraid, wary or nervous about something – even if we won’t admit it. In many instances those fears are justified as we should be scared of things that might injure or kill us.

But what do you do when your fear becomes more powerful, even irrational – when it becomes a phobia? There are people in our community who have fears and phobias that have become debilitating, impacting on their ability to live normal lives. In recent years, an innovative program at Taronga Zoo has had enormous success in tackling some animal-related phobias.

Fearless at Taronga

The Fearless at Taronga program is an Australian first, featuring short courses developed to address particular animal-related fears and phobias through education and increased awareness.

Pioneered by Warrick Angus, Taronga Zoo’s Australian Fauna Manager, it incorporates professional ‘Mind Training’ techniques presented by Alistair Horscroft, Director of The Mind Institute.

The Fearless at Taronga program is designed around two major phobias – spiders and reptiles – and the courses have three major objectives: 

• To dismiss many of the common misconceptions surrounding reptiles, amphibians and spiders;
• To give participants the skills to respond in a rational and educated manner when encountering these animals; and
• To provide educational experiences detailing the benefits and values of having these animals in and around our homes.

The results have been outstanding.

True Fearlessness

There have been 24 Fearless at Taronga courses run since the program’s inception.

You may remember David Harris’s excellent article in the December 2005 edition of ZooNooz, introducing us to the initial Fearless at Taronga program, which was for those with a fear of spiders. Since that time, the program has continued to thrive and expand.

With 350 people now having completed a Fearless course, and through dedication and hard work – on behalf of both participants and presenters – the programs have had an amazing 99 per cent success rate. When you understand the depth of the phobias many participants had prior to one of these courses, this result is nothing short of amazing.

As Warrick Angus explains, “At the start of these courses, we have had people who would say that only a miracle could help them overcome their phobias. And we deliberately use that word ‘miracle’, as in ‘it would be a miracle if they could catch a spider in their house and release it outside’.”

“We then ask them, ‘If you can achieve a miracle today, would you be willing to commit to a positive environmental action like planting a native garden or attracting birds to your backyard?’.

“All participants agree to do this, which is another great way Taronga Zoo is encouraging pro-wildlife behaviours.”

These courses are a great example of the way Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos continue to help with the preservation and conservation of the world’s wildlife. The Zoos are not just about breeding and research programs, but are also actively helping people to understand and live harmoniously with wildlife through dynamic programs like Fearless at Taronga.

Did you know?

The word ‘phobia’ comes from the Greek word phobos, which means ‘fear’ or ‘morbid fear’. There are literally thousands of known phobias covering everything from solitude to string. Here are a few relating to Fearless at Taronga: 
•  Zoophobia is the general fear of animals;
•  A fear of spiders is called Arachnophobia;
•  A fear of reptiles is known as Herpetophobia;
•  A fear of snakes is called Ophidiophobia; and
•  Ranidaphobia is a fear of frogs.

Success Story

“At the mere mention of the word snake I’d get sweaty palms, watery eyes, shortness of breath and general feelings of panic and anxiety. I’d conjure up excuses to take a different route when I was out walking because I was scared of seeing a snake. Some people are too frightened to look at a squiggly line on paper – I was never that bad – but it still interfered with my daily life. Fearless at Taronga taught me to see reptiles in a different light. The trainer would say things like, ‘Isn’t she beautiful? Don’t you just want to feel how smooth she is?’, and I found myself agreeing and thinking ‘Yes, look how beautiful she is... yes, I want to touch her’.”Jane Robertson

The Huntsman

If there’s one animal to chill an Arachnophobic heart, it’s the Huntsman. One of the stars of the Fearless at Taronga program, this spider belongs to the Sparassidae family. With brown hairy bodies, leg spans up to 15cm and a habit of hiding out in houses and cars, Huntsman spiders have been the cause of many terrifying moments. Yet, if undisturbed, they are completely harmless and great at keeping insect pests under control.