Notebook

Training animals humanely

Moscow’s famous Durov Theater has been charming audiences for a full century. Founded in 1812 by world-famous clown and animal trainer Vladimir Durov, the theater featured Durov’s unique approach of casting animals as actors in plays, after extensive training that involved rewards rather than punishment.

Along with his brother Anatoly, Vladimir was also a talented clown who gave performances abroad, but eventually focused entirely on working with animals, even experimenting with animal telepathy and collaborating with psychologist Ivan Pavlov.