ABMA 2011
Tuesday Abstracts
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INTEGRATING A GERIATRIC CHEETAH (ACINONYX JUBATUS) INTO A POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM
Sarah Colman, Dallas Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
In May 2010, the Dallas Zoo opened Giants of the Savanna, a new exhibit area featuring animals of the African savanna in naturalistic habitats designed to showcase the natural behaviors of the inhabitants. One of the most innovative features of Giants of the Savanna is Predator Rock, which houses 2.3 African lions (Panthera leo) and 1.2 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). This area was designed to showcase natural behaviors of large carnivores and to highlight the exemplary level of care zookeepers are able to provide using a positive reinforcement training program to facilitate daily husbandry and medical care. Predator Rock has a public demonstration area where guests can watch behaviors such as voluntary injections, voluntary blood draws, and body exams from just feet away in a protected contact environment. Demonstrations take place twice per day, seven days a week and require frequent, reliable, and often complex shifting routines. One of the cheetahs housed at Predator Rock is ten year old female “Kisutu”. “Kisutu” had a history of shifting poorly, showing aggressive behaviors toward caretakers, and of choosing not to participate in training programs, all of which made Predator Rock’s daily routine very challenging for her. This paper will discuss the process of desensitization, trust-building, empowerment, and positive reinforcement zookeepers used to integrate “Kisutu” into a daily routine that includes reliable shifting, training daily in front of guests, decreasing frequency and intensity of keeper-directed aggression, and making progress in learning husbandry behaviors that improve the quality of her daily care. |
FACILITATING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN A MULTI-TRAINER SYSTEM Becky Wolf, Dallas Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The Dallas Zoo’s Giants of the Savanna exhibit, opened in May 2010, features many species found on the African savanna in large, naturalistic habitats. Predator Rock houses 2.3 African Lions (Panthera leo) and 1.2 Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in two exhibits which are connected by a common demonstration area. This area allows visitors to observe keepers as they use positive reinforcement training methods to teach these intelligent carnivores behaviors such as presenting for oral exams, voluntary injections, and voluntary blood draws all in a protected contact environment. Instead of using a traditional primary trainer system, the keepers implemented a multi-trainer system within the Predator Rock area in July 2010. This system allows all trainers to act as primary trainers for all the cats and for all new and maintenance behaviors. For this to be effective, trainers have pre and post-training session meetings, fill out daily training logs for each animal, as well as utilize behavior turn over logs to allow each trainer to know the status of each new behavior. Partnering with consultants from Natural Encounters, Inc., keepers learned the value of coaching, communication, and consistency in creating a successful training program. This paper will discuss the implementation of the new training system, challenges with using the system, the effectiveness of the system for this situation, and the successes keepers have achieved using the system. |
TRAINING PRZEWALSKI'S HORSES IN A FACILITY WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, USING PROTECTED CONTACT Amanda Faliano, Denver Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Denver Zoo currently houses 1.3 Przewalski’s Horses, also known as Mongolian Wild Horses, whose training had traditionally been limited to shifting into stalls and a stud pen for daily cleaning. 0.1 Bernia has lived in Denver since 2001, 0.2 Yisun and Saikan moved to Denver in 2006, and 1.0 Bataar moved to Denver in 2008. We currently cannot do hoof trims or any medical procedures on any of the four without chemically immobilizing them. Initially, none of the animals allowed keepers near or would eat from their hand. While in quarantine, however, Bataar began showing interest in human contact, so technicians at our hospital began the first steps of what evolved into our training program for these horses. We began working formally with Bataar in September 2009, and he progressed more quickly than we anticipated. He currently presents both sides for keepers, pressing his entire body against a chain link fence, and allows injections into his hip, application of fly spray and will pick up each foot when asked. All behaviors have been trained through a chain link barrier, in a protected contact setting, using positive reinforcement based operant conditioning. Bernia has now begun this training as well. This paper talks about the how we got to where we are today and the planned next steps to continue to build this program and work creatively within our existing facilities so that we can reduce the need to use chemicals for medical procedures. |
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: MODIFICATION OF FOOD GUARDING BEHAVIOR IN ANIMAL SHELTERS Lindsay A. Wood, MA, ACAAB, Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Director of Animal Training and Behavior Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
A primary endeavor of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley is to save animal lives through the implementation of a behavior modification program for shelter dogs. The objective of the program is to decrease euthanasia, share effective and efficient strategies with other shelters, and encourage momentum in shelter behavior modification across the country. Due to the nationwide prevalence of dogs who display food bowl guarding during behavior assessments and the subsequently high rate of euthanasia for this behavior problem, rehabilitation of food guarding is a strong focus area of the Society’s program. Our aim is to advance shelter animal welfare by providing shelter workers and dog trainers with a food guarding modification protocol to efficiently rehabilitate a large number of dogs in a short period of time. The Humane Society’s six-step protocol provides rehabilitative treatment by applying force-free, scientific principles of desensitization, counterconditioning, and the differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior to modify a dog’s existing negative association to food bowl removal and to install behaviors incompatible with aggression. Current program results indicate an average treatment time of 11 days with 89% of participants (129 out of 145) successfully passing re-evaluation by a novel tester and entering our adoption center. The program’s success and ease of protocol use may facilitate behavior rehabilitation in shelters across the country, thereby increasing the number of lives saved and advancing the welfare of shelter animals. |
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD PLUCKS: FEATHER DAMAGING BEHAVIOR IN CAPTIVE BIRDS AND ITS POSSIBLE LINK TO SEXUAL MATURATION Alexandra Zelazo-Kessler, National Aquarium in Baltimore Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Feather damaging behavior (FDB), the destruction or removal of a bird’s own feathers, is a common problem in some captive bird species. Possible causes of FDB include poor nutrition, allergic reactions, stimulus poor environments, and chemical imbalances. Due to the numerous proposed etiologies, there are many treatments for FDB, none of which works in all cases. Here, I present a case study of a female eclectic parrot that has lived in a zoological setting from the onset of FDB to present time. The application and results of treatments including increased socialization and foraging opportunities, diet modification, and use of the drug Lupron, are documented. None of these treatments resulted in a lasting decrease of FDB. Next, I examine a possible link between FDB and puberty. Data was obtained through a survey sent to North American institutions housing species identified by the AZA Avian Taxon Advisory groups as being prone to FBD: Waldrapp ibis, cockatoos, and ostrich. Participants were asked to provide information on age and social situation at the onset of FDB. The survey results indicate that a significant proportion of birds developed FDB at the suspected onset of puberty. There are also some indications that inappropriate social groupings at the onset of puberty may also play a role in the development of FDB. The case study and survey results support my hypothesis that changing the way birds are housed at the onset and during puberty may lead to a decrease in feather damaging behavior. |
DEVELOPMENT OF A BEHAVIORAL CONDITIONING PROGRAM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUSBANDRY
AND VETERINARY CARE FOR 3.3 ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES Chelsea Williams, Oakland Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The Oakland Zoo has developed an operant conditioning training program to advance husbandry and veterinary care for its 3.3 Aldabra giant tortoises. We have trained three core behaviors: cooperative nail trimming, open mouth behavior, and voluntary blood draws. This approach is novel in these animals and demonstrates that operant conditioning training provides a powerful tool to improve the care of giant tortoises. Cooperative nail trim behavior has been established using a lie down behavior and then desensitization to a rotary tool. An open mouth behavior has been conditioned to facilitate veterinary exams in one individual who has exhibited difficulty biting through standard food. A voluntary blood draw behavior is in progress using a neck extension and hold behavior and desensitization. At the outset of the training regimen we also developed a protocol for desensitization of our female tortoises, because they exhibited avoidance behaviors towards keepers (our male tortoises already exhibited affiliative behaviors and could immediately begin the operant conditioning program). This desensitization process focused on developing stronger reinforcement histories and cooperative relationships; resulting in one individual exhibiting affiliative behaviors towards keepers and participating in the operant conditioning program. The operant conditioning program has elevated our level of behavior management by improving keeper relationships with all tortoises, improving our ability to provide husbandry care, enables more frequent veterinary examinations and will improve our veterinary staff’s ability to diagnose and treat illness in our Aldabra giant tortoises. |
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RECORD, REWIND, REVIEW…HOW THE FLIP® TURNED OUR TRAINING WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Patricia Shoemaker, Downtown Aquarium Houston Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Part of the culture at Landry’s is “Be driven, work smart; if you are not teaching or learning, you are not getting it done.” Teaching and learning can be difficult to maintain with an animal staff’s daily and dynamic schedule. By purchasing an inexpensive, high quality and easy to use video camera, the Animal Training Staff at the Downtown Aquarium Houston has been able to conduct self-evaluation, peer-evaluation and document cues and criteria. Additionally, the staff has used the camera for reviewing animal husbandry, public presentations, recording marketing materials, and staff training. This presentation will use case studies to show how the Flip® camera turned our animal and people training world upside down. |
OPPORTUNITIES WITH USING BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT FOR BREEDING BIRDS Kimberly Konrath, Tracy Aviary Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Behavioral management and training applications have long been used with birds in zoos to enhance visitor education and presentation opportunities, now within more recent years the value of using behavior training to enhance husbandry routines such as shifting, scaling and veterinary procedures has also been widely realized with great appreciation. By comparison the use of behavior training techniques in the management of breeding birds has been one of the least explored areas. Zoo curators typically have an understandable reluctance to disturb or risk altering the behavior of birds that are in the process of trying to breed, and therefore less behavioral management has been applied to birds in breeding situations. This presentation explores opportunities where the use of behavioral training techniques can positively assist zoo staff working towards breeding priority birds. Discussion includes opportunities for improving the management of bird introductions, better managing the exhibit environment and improving the way that keepers work in the vicinity of breeding birds. |