ABMA 2015
Tuesday Abstracts
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When Scent Training Makes Sense:
Seeing The World through a Dog’s Nose Anna Oblasser-Mirtl, Animal Training Center Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Some may say that dogs “see” the world through their noses, and there are many well-known ways in which people utilize the extraordinary canine sense of smell. One lesser-known application of this particular talent is as a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD). DADs are trained to detect abnormal blood sugar levels and to alert the diabetic or another person when these levels occur. For the diabetic, as well as their family, having a DAD is a life-altering experience that greatly reduces the constant fear that accompanies Type 1 diabetes. As in other areas of dog training, the methods used to train DADs have not always been entirely positive. At the Animal Training Center (ATC), we sought to change that by developing a program that not only fully utilizes positive reinforcement methods of training and ensures a reliable alerting behavior, but that also allows the dog to truly become a happy member of the diabetic’s family. This program has been used with dogs bred and raised at the ATC, in which case training begins when the puppy is only two days old. It has also been effective, however, with dogs rescued from shelters at various ages. To date, we have successfully trained and placed 23 DADs and continue to be amazed by their abilities, such as night alerting and remote alerting. The ATC program has resulted in extraordinary partnerships that bring safety and joy to diabetics, as well as to the dogs by their sides. |
A Chicken’s Choice:
Positive Reinforcement Training Versus Free Food Anaka Nazareth, Maymont Foundation Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
As the use of positive reinforcement training (PRT) becomes popular to effectively and humanely manage animals in human care, studying its effects becomes increasingly important. Past studies have focused on measuring the behavioral and physiological responses of animals trained using PRT. However, very few studies have attempted to address the preferential response of animals towards PRT, or to examine whether, if given the choice, an animal would choose to participate in a PRT session. In this study, the degree of prefer-ence and strength of motivation that animals exhibit towards PRT was measured. Thirty-four laying hens participated in three tests: a conditioned place preference test, a choice test, and a consumer demand test. Each of these tests compared the hens’ responses towards two treatments: (a) obtaining food by participating in a PRT session and (b) eating “free” food out of an easily accessible bowl. Overall, the results indicated that the hens showed no strong preference for either treatment and were equally motivated to access both a PRT session and free food. Thus, the hens did not find PRT aversive, which in combination with results from other studies with hens, suggests that PRT is effective and humane for animal husbandry and management. |
Operant Conditioning in an Elder and Wounded Striped Hyena Rodrigo Salas Moncada Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
This paper presents the case of a striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) that was admitted to the veterinary hospital because of multiple health problems, therefore we needed to apply medical treatment several times per day. We developed a training program that allowed us to teach different medical routines without any physical restraint, and because they are dangerous and unpredictable, we decided to do it by protected contact. The chronic health problems that the hyena presented sadly produced the necessity of isolation for long periods of time, limiting its options for behavioral development. Operant conditioning as a basic tool for management of captive animals and for offering physical and mental stimulation is very useful, but it is a lot more complicated when injured or sick animals presents some discomfort or pain which requires daily treatment. That’s why using training programs with healthy animals pre-pares them and us to resolve future problems. This is where the importance of this paper is reflected, the hyena was an old and non-trained animal and yet it was able to learn the exercises needed for the treatment while he was in soreness. Being in discomfort scenarios for long periods of time creates stress episodes on individuals and predisposes unwanted behaviors, so the training and enrichment are excellent occupational therapy. The hyena showed a magnificent response to training and enrichment and we can supply the medical treatment efficiently. |
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Operant Conditioning in
Bats Helps Study Their Vision Clément Cechetto, Annemarie Surlykke, Dept. Biology, SDU, University of Southern Denmark Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Bats use echolocation to hunt and navigate. Most bat species have developed complex laryngeal echolocation and due to the effectiveness in terms of perceptual detail that is available to bats through echolocation, their use of vision has largely been ignored. In fact, all species of bats possess eyes, which presumably are of adaptive value to bats, since eyes that are of no use have been shown to disappear in other vertebrate species (e.g. Astyanax mexicanus). Few experiments exits, but a few species of echolocating bats seem to be able to use vision in dim light as a navigational cue or even, in rare cases, as a hunting cue. We aim to shed light on this understudied field of bats’ sensory ecology. We started by assessing vision in two species of vesper-tilionid bats (Myotis daubentonii and Nyctalus nyctalus). We use operant conditioning to first determine the intensity threshold in these bats. The bats were trained and tested while crawling on a Y-shaped platform in a psycophysical 2AFC paradigm with a weighted staircase method (one down/three up). The first results sug-gest that these bats are able to see green light (~540 nm) at intensities as low as moonless starlight (i.e. 0.03 lux). This experiment will be expanded with different wavelengths and backed up by physiological and anatomical data. |
Infancy to Adulthood:
The Growth, Development and Nurturing of a Behavioral Husbandry Program Michelle Skurski and Katie Leighty, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
In 1998, Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened and our Behavioral Husbandry program was in its infancy. In the 17 years that followed, much like raising a child, our program has gone through numerous life stages. In the early years, we were busy developing and implementing a programmatic framework; SPIDER. Through our clumsy toddler years we were there for every step, assisting animal care teams anywhere needed, from training new shifting behaviors to participation in medical procedures. This was a time when we were building capacity in our animal keepers. The rebellious teenage years were a handful to manage; keepers were more independent and at times hesitant to ask for help when facing new challenges. Together we worked through our growing pains and are now entering adulthood. Given the age of our park, our animal care teams are now strategically managing both geriatric animals in the collection while also planning for growth in their areas including bringing in new animals, new species and modifying exhibits. Over this time, our Behavioral Husbandry team moved around quite a bit in terms of its leadership and structure within our animal care team. It has now happily found its home in the Science department. This grounding in science has provided the perfect opportunity to review our program, documents and procedures much as we did in the early days of SPIDER. This presentation will discuss the natural transitions in the life of a behavioral husbandry program and provide tips for dealing with the inevitable bumps in the road. |
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Whole Carcass Feedings
Kirstin Anderson Hansen1,2, 1University of Southern Denmark, 2Odense Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Whole carcass feeding often comes with a discussion or debate about animal ethics. Arguments are often that the public can’t or won’t understand, it is inhumane and unethical, or it is gross and disgusting. In Odense Zoo, the carnivores are fed with whole carcasses every week. Horses, cows, and goats that are donated to the Zoo, or other animals that are culled from the Zoo’s own population, are used during these feedings that occur during the Zoo’s open hours so the guest can see and enjoy carnivore behavior. More importantly, this kind of enrichment allows for the establishment of social behavior, social hierarchy, stimulates hunting behavior, and provides excellent physical stimulation, as well as the nutritional benefits. In the presentation I would like to present the advantages and disadvantages of whole carcass feeding and how the carnivores and guests are able to reap the benefits of this type of enrichment every day. |
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Full Abstract
Touch tanks and elasmobranch training are both hot topics in the public aquarium industry. This presentation discusses training methods employed with stingrays and skates acquired for a National Aquarium touch exhibit opening in 2015. At concept development, there was a clear expectation that guests would readily be able to touch animals in an exhibit that supported exceptional animal health. Staff identified deliberate respondent and operating training pre-opening as critical to meeting these goals. Purposeful training was identified as the only way to increase the likelihood animals would voluntarily participate in touch interactions. Multiple staff members from quarantine, animal programs, veterinary, and husbandry groups were involved in training approximately 25 animals over a period of 18 months. In the shallower tray systems, techniques included staff putting hands in water during feeding and offering food by hand. Most animals readily approach hands, touched hands, and permitted acceptable levels of tactile interaction without detailed positive reinforcement training plans. For animals that did not meet behavior goals, more detailed plans were utilized. In the deeper holding systems, target training with artificial hand targets was used. Additional work with one ray in particular has focused on the goal of training this ray to swim onto a platform, be lifted towards the surface and stay on the platform while being touched. Challenges included staffing levels/training experience, quarantine/medical needs and enclosure access. This presentation focuses on how these challenges have been addressed, the training methods employed and the animals’ progress on each of these training goals. |
Training of American Alligators
in Randers Tropical Zoo Birgitte Pedersen, Randers Tropical Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
When I, in 2010, was given the responsibility of the American Alligators in Randers Tropical Zoo, I had absolutely no experience working with these animals. Therefore I was trained by experienced keepers, who taught me to work with them in "the traditionally way". By this I mean, looking at them from a distance, throwing some food in the water, where the alligators could fight for it. If a medical check or a shipment to the veterinarian were necessary, the normal procedure would be to catch them by jumping onto them and restraining them. At some point, I thought there must be another way. Therefore, I started station training them, to be able to work with one individual at a time, giving me the possibility of medicating them. The biggest goal was get-ting them to go on shore voluntarily, and into a transport box, so I could move them safely and exercise them at the same time. All this to make the general management less stressful and safer for the animals as well as the keepers. I would like to show and tell about the process, thoughts, challenges, problems etc. from the beginning until today, where three out of five animals can go on land, into a transport box and back into the water. Many people don´t believe that you can train a reptile and work cooperatively with them. I would like to show them otherwise. |