Friday Abstracts

Training Sloth Bears (Melusus Ursinus), Grizzly Bears (Ursus Arctos Horribilis) and Andean Bears (Tremarctos Ornatus) for Voluntary Blood Draws in a
​Restricted Contact Setting at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Curt Gindlesperger, Angel Mitchell, Patty Young, Kevin Roxbury, Michael Murray, 
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo


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At Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (CMZ) sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) are all involved in an intensive behavior management program including a training program utilizing operant conditioning with positive reinforcement in a restricted contact setting. The Wilderness Trek and Veterinary Services teams at CMZ now have the ability to collect voluntary blood samples from all three species in a restricted contact setting using positive reinforcement training. In concert with an innovative training program, teamwork, problem solving and communication, the 1960s era bear holding facilities at CMZ were modified to make our blood draw program safe and successful. The ability to routinely obtain blood samples to monitor bear health or provide diagnostic blood samples for future research is invaluable. The impact of this successful program has to
potential to benefit individual animal health, population welfare studies, and in-situ conservation.

How Many Trainers Is Too Many?
​Managing Behavior of Education Raptors with 45 Trainers

Daniel Hnilicka, 
The Raptor Center - University of Minne


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How many trainers is too many to work with an animal? 2? 5? 10? 45? At The University of Minnesota Raptor Center, we have 30 education birds and each bird has anywhere from 1-45 handlers/trainers. Our handlers range from full time staff with 30 years of training experience to volunteers learning to handle raptors for the first time. Similarly, our education birds have a wide range of experience and behavior fluency. Some birds are trained for educational programming on the glove, some are trained mainly for display, and some are trained for both. Due to the many variables of our education department, we are always trying to set both animal and handler/trainer up for success. This paper will cover how the University of Minnesota Raptor Center manages its layered behavior management system, maintains behavior of both handlers and birds, and utilizes our diverse trainers to help educate the public on raptors and conservation

Choice-Based Training Improves
​Animal Welfare and Program Participation in Ambassador Animals

Sarah Dugger and Stefanie Keshock, 
Denver Zoo


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Animal ambassador keepers often face pressure to meet program needs that can lead to adverse behaviors within the collection for which they care. When an animal has no choice but to participate, responses sometimes emerge including learned helplessness, aggression, and escape or avoidance. However, animals in programs greatly improve our ability to reach audiences with conservation based messaging. With choice-based training, a strategy that allows animals a voice in their level and quality of participation, keepers are able to not only meet the program needs but also increase their animalsÕ welfare. Keepers at the Denver Zoo observed behavior change in multiple species within the Animal Ambassadors collection after taking a step back and modifying their approach to their program participation. Three case studies will be presented: A prehensile-tailed skink that was biting the glove, a fennec fox who fled from keepers, and a Patagonian cavy who was uncomfortable with keeper interaction. The specific roadblocks, discussions and strategies employed will be discussed, as well as application of the concepts to other animals in the collection. Through increased participation of these ambassadors, Denver Zoo is able to provide quality programming for conservation messaging while optimizing our animals welfare

How the Results of a Pilot Study
of Captive AZA Orangutan Preference
​Can Inform the Care, Training,
and Future Conservation of Orangutans

Shelly Donohue,
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden


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It is well known that the orangutan is adapted to life in the trees. It is the largest living arboreal mammal and it is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and wildfires. This is largely in part due the palm oil industry which is an incredibly lucrative crop that covers millions of acres of land in Indonesia and Sumatra where wild orangutans reside. With this in mind, I conducted an interview based pilot study in 2015 to better understand captive orangutansÕ preference for the different vertical structures in their zoo exhibits. The goal of this study was to gain a better understanding of captive orangutan preference so as to increase our knowledge of how to provide the best care for captive orangutans. The results of this study were slightly different from my hypothesis which was based on the natural behaviors of wild orangutans. This paper will discuss how the results of my pilot study can be utilized to inform the care and training of captive orangutans, future studies, and the possible reintroduction of captive individuals in the future.

Engaging the Public and Animals Alike: Innovative Training of the Barnyard Inhabitants at Santa Barbara Zoo

Melanie Baudour,
Santa Barbara Zoo


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Domestics are an important part of many zoos. They can engage our youngest visitors when the rest of the zoo may still be a bit overwhelming. However, can they do more? Utilizing the barnyard animals and guests together, Santa Barbara Zoo has recently expanded the role of training. This last summer, zoo campers, with one on one guidance from a keeper, practiced reading the body language of animals and reinforced desired behaviors. They conducted a variety of husbandry based activities including giving a practice vaccination to Guinea hogs and luring a single sheep or goat from the main yard to step onto a scale in the side yard. With the passing of summer, the methods utilized during zoo camp are still being practiced with the general public. Thus far feedback has been positive. The barnyard animals are at the zoo regardless, with the ability to be a free contact experience, can they provide resonating hands on learning? Shaping kids and adults alike, can we give them ideas that they can retry with their own pets at home, possibly improving animal welfare beyond zoo grounds?

The Top 10 Behaviors
of
​Expert Animal Trainers

Steve Martin,
Natural Encounters, Inc


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Think of a trainer you recognize as an expert. Now, think of the characteristics that inspire you to call that person an expert. It is the person's knowledge, skills, charisma, confidence, reputation or ... something else? The presentation will operationalize some of the most important characteristics that animal trainers exhibit who achieve the status of expert in our field.

A Tale of a Tail:
Choice and Control with a Male Lion

Amanda Ista,
Milwaukee County Zoo


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Providing choice and control is a basic building block to providing optimal welfare for animals in captivity. Giving animals the option to participate in training but also decide on their own terms when they are comfortable being touched or moving the behavior to the next step can instill a level of confidence that will grow exponentially. Our male lion, Themba, once labeled as aggressive and uncooperative, spent the early years of his life being tricked into shifting and pan fed with little keeper interaction. By giving him control over his environment and choice to be in holding or on exhibit at night, keepers started to slowly gain his trust. As this trust grew, keepers were able to get him on a scale and work as a team for more advanced behaviors such as injections and tail treatment. Once again keepers employed choice and control to train Themba to give his tail as opposed to keepers hooking his tail out. When given this option, the behavior not only solidified but also gave him the confidence to trust veterinarians and to begin to approach strangers during tours, two things that keepers have not seen in the last 4 years. His tail tip, which had been broken open and bled intermittently when he would whip it around, was treated daily and finally healed after years of not being able to treat it and he now thrives on keeper interaction. By employing basic behavior modification techniques, keepers were able to greatly improve Themba's welfare.

A Little Bit of
Country-Radio Choice
​for Equine Enrichment

Tara Gifford,
Ohio Animal Training


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Allowing animals choice in their environment is a prime component of animal welfare. Horses in human care commonly have few choices regarding their environment. What if the horses could choose to have the radio on or off? If a horse has been trained using operant conditioning to turn on a radio set to a country music station, how much time will he choose to have it on? In part A, seven horses were trained to push a panel which would turn on/off a local country music radio station. Each horse was videotaped for 72 hours when the pushpanel activated the radio and 72 hours where the push panel resulted in no radio volume. Six of the 7 horses had the radio playing for 43-64% of the time. In part B of the study, two horses had the choice to activate the push panel to hear a classical music. The horse that listened to country music for 58% of the time, listened to the classical music for 14% of the time. The second horse who did not turn the country music on at all, listened to the classical music for 61% of the time.

This preliminary study indicates that these horses may have individual preferences regarding how much and when they choose to listen to music. The concept of teaching an animal to activate a radio, light, fan, water mister, etc., could have many applications to improve animal welfare by increasing their control over the environment.

Bridging the Gap between Theory & Practice: Current Research on the Relationship between Live-Animal Interactions and Pro-Environmental Behavior Change

Nicolette Canzoneri,
Oregon State University


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This presentation seeks to contextualize current research in conservation education that targets programs in zoos and aquariums, with an emphasis on pro-environmental behavior change theory. As climate change and other environmental issues become increasingly more critical, the role zoos and aquariums play in educating the public also becomes critical. The majority of zoo and aquarium facilities in the United States dedicate their practice to conservation and conservation education in some capacity. Often these same facilities employ animal ambassadors to forge a connection between audience and animal, intending for this relationship to lead to some level of behavior change that supports conservation practices. The existing literature and research on this link is shaky at best, with little in the way of scientific support for such conclusions. My research is focused on bridging this gap, both theoretically as well as practically, to bring scientific support to education practices which utilize animals to communicate pro-environmental messages to the public. My presentation will summarize current and existing research that attempts to address these issues while providing support for my specific research questions. The review of current and existing research will include behavioral approaches and education theories, as well as studies such as "Why Zoos & Aquariums Matter: Assessing the Impact of a Visit to a Zoo or Aquarium" (Falk, et al., 2007). Additionally, my presentation will seek feedback from industry professionals and researchers to continue to improve my research and ensure its relevancy to the community in which it is intended to serve.

What Can You Do With Your Monkey?

Jenyva Fox,
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo


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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's (CMZ) staff is passionate about taking animal training to higher levels to improve the lives of the animals in their care. This includes out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to training basic husbandry behaviors or veterinary care techniques. Furthermore, our unique natural behavior shows inspire guests to become involved in conservation by connecting them to our incredible animals.
One of CMZÕs original natural behavior shows features a troop of black and white colobus monkeys leaping through trees, balancing on ropes and even leaping straight towards mesmerized guests! A WOW Factor for sure! This show remains popular with guests each summer and allows zookeepers a great opportunity to weave in important, simple conservation messages, such as purchasing FSC-certified products. Our show continues to evolve as we observe the strengths of our monkeys and train new behaviors such as crossing over a "colobridge". This behavior connects our guests to the challenges these animals face in the wild and how they can help them right at home.
Our training with our colobus monkeys doesn't stop at training natural behaviors for our shows, but continues into our day-to-day care. CMZ staff trained a basic crate behavior in a novel way to allow the monkeys more power during their crating session. The monkeys get to choose when they want the crate door closed, closing it themselves, even picking up their tails and bringing them inside first!
We are proud of how eager our colobus monkeys are to train and engage with us as zookeepers and we firmly believe that this is through the power of positive reinforcement, allowing the animals to make choices, and giving them fun opportunities to show off their strengths.

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​The 10,000 Pound Elephant in the E.R.D.
Training an Adult Bull Elephant to
Allow Containment in an
​Elephant Restraint Device.

Eric Duning, Rickey Kinley,
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden


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The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden's bull Asian elephant, Sabu, is one of the most genetically valuable elephants in the country. He has no offspring and collecting semen from him is very important. To safely do this he needs to be secured in the Elephant Restraint Device (E.R.D) and unfortunately Sabu has developed reluctance to being closed inside of the ERD. The elephant staff has developed a multiple step training plan to incorporate tether training, desensitization to the mechanical motorized doors, and re-building Sabu's confidence in the ERD.

The first step has been to train Sabu to allow keepers to attach bracelets/tethers to both of his front legs, then to allow tethering him in place using the bracelets. Secondly, keepers have continued to work with Sabu in the ERD. He is being asked to present various previously trained behaviors while in the ERD. This is to allow Sabu time to become more comfortable in the ERD before the tethering is introduced into this area. The third step is desensitizing Sabu to the sound of the opening and closing of the mechanical doors. This is being done by reinforcing the behavior of stationing near the ERD while operating the doors. When it is all combined in the ERD the goal is that Sabu will willingly allow himself to be tethered in the ERD for semen collection.

Wolf Animal-Assisted Therapy

Gaby Dufrense-Cyr,
Dogue Shop / Park Safari


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The human-dog relationship is well documented. Recent studies have demonstrated C. familiaris has the ability to interpret and understand human emotions (Udell, Dorey & Wynne, 2003 and Guo, Meints, Hall, Hall & Mills, 2009) which confirms humans and animals form attachments. The human-animal bond is documented in Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) literature (Fine, 2010) as an inter-species connection which has the potential to promote human physical and psychological health. Anxiety, autism, Alzheimer, and learning disabilities are some of the conditions improved with AAT programs. Furthermore, positive physical results include a reduction in blood pressure, heart rate, and triglyceride levels (Barker and Dawson, 1998). Potential negative outcomes of dog AAT programs are thought repression, cognitive distraction, and reduced empathy; consequently, prolonged dog AAT sessions can be expected. The creation and development of the wolf animal-assisted therapy (WAAT) pilot program serves to establish a positive attachment between participant and wolf in order to reduce the number of intervention sessions, increase communication skills, improve self-esteem, and enhance empathy. During sessions, participant perception of wolves as dangerous predators decreases; conversely, the empathy connection establishes the desire to protect wolves through conservation efforts. As discussed by Guo, Meints, Hall, & Mills (2009), wolf reactivity to humans diminishes with exposure. WAAT is the ultimate management, training, conservation, enrichment, and therapeutic program for both human and animal. This innovative program has the potential to reduce both wolf and human undesirable behaviours, develop effective management and training strategies, promote conservation efforts, and overall enrich each other's lives.

Variances in Behavioral Conditioning of Releasable and Non-Releasable Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser Fulvescens)

Zac Reynolds,
SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium


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Repopulating the threatened lake sturgeon into their native waters has been a focus of MichiganÕs Department of Natural Resources and local conservation groups. Through partnerships with the SEA LIFE Michigan aquarium, one juvenile lake sturgeon originating from a state hatchery will be conditioned to be introduced to MichiganÕs waters. The releasable sturgeon is the recipient of an environmental enrichment plan focused on the introduction of environmental stimuli replicating the changing of seasons while reinforcing foraging behavior.
The goal of this program is to prepare the juvenile lake sturgeon with the physical and mental wellbeing necessary to thrive to a reproductive age in MichiganÕs waters and ultimately contribute to a diminished population. The releasable fish is housed in an exhibit in the aquariumÕs classroom. While at SEA LIFE Michigan, the sturgeon is able to be the subject of educational workshops attended by local school groups.
The behavioral conditioning of the releasable sturgeon differs from that of the aquariumÕs resident (non-releasable) sturgeon. Unlike the releasable juvenile, the non-releasable sturgeon are trained to participate in their husbandry. They respond to a conditioned reinforcer as well as a vibrating target- stimulating their ampullae; one of their most powerful sensory modalities. On the contrary, the enrichment of the releasable sturgeon has an emphasis on the relationship between the animal and its environment.

Data will be collected in regards to physical health. Additionally, observations will be conducted to determine if a change in behavior under varying environmental changes can be noted.