Monday Abstracts

Strengthening Connections between
Field Conservation Projects and
​Zoo Ambassador Effort

Craig Bickel,
Busch Gardens Tampa

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The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund since its inception in 2003 has been able to support over 1,000 conservation projects in 70 countries. Representatives from the SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove parks have traveled to these projects to work with and support the conservation efforts being done in the field. This presentation will highlight some of the ways that we have incorporated the knowledge that our animal care specialists gained from their travels into the daily care of our animal collection. The information we have been able to bring back home to our parks has been a huge success in two major areas. The first area we saw an impact in was increasing the variety of animal enrichment through food options and physical environmental changes. Food options were added or modified to include new or more native food and also to create a more natural way of obtaining those food items. Many of the physical enrichment changes were to create a more natural environment and the ability for more natural movement within the animalÍs environment. The second area that we saw a huge impact in was the increased ability to relay information to our guests as well as our fellow keepers. The detailed information about specific animal species and how they exist in wild, face ongoing challenges and how we can help and conserve them was invaluable.

Thinking outside the Shell
for Conservation: Inspiring Zoo Guests
by Training Behaviors in Tortoises
for Public Encounters

Lauren Etzkorn,
Columbus Zoo


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Tortoises have survived successfully for well over 200 million years. Due to human activity, however, they are now amongst the vertebrates most at risk of extinction. Despite their historic and intrinsic value they are not commonly appreciated by the public for their relatability in the same way as many of their mammalian counterparts. It can be difficult for many guests to empathize or identify with species of the cold-blooded variety. At the Animal Encounters, animal care staff aims to provide opportunities for the public to relate to reptiles in a way that might change their perspective. Zoo-goers can visit a number of tortoises of various species in the VillageÍs Tortoise Yard. One of the most popular occupants there is Grouchy, the Sulcata tortoise who has been target trained for daily walks with zoo guests. During GrouchyÍs trainer-accompanied treks, guests observe positive reinforcement training-in-action and sometimes have the opportunity to reward Grouchy with grapes. Radiated tortoise Ted, a member one of the most endangered species in the world, was trained to enter through a door onstage and slide down a ramp in order to get close enough for guests to touch his shell. Each of these experiences gives the zoo guests a chance to see these species making choices and demonstrating control over their environments. This paper outlines the ways in which training behaviors for guest interaction, in unexpectedly ñintelligentî species such as tortoises, allows the public to relate to and ultimately become invested in their long-term protection.

Mariana Fruit Dove:
​The Journey from Exhibit to Show


Rebecca I. Grimm,
Disney's Animal Kingdom


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Last year, Disney's Animal Kingdom introduced many new species into our animal population. One of those species
is the beautiful Mariana fruit dove, a native of the Mariana Islands. DisneyÍs Animal Kingdom¬ is involved with the Marianas Avifauna Conservation (MAC) project that works to conserve this species and many other species on the Mariana Islands. We wanted to share this speciesÍ conservation story with our guests. Our Mariana fruit dove, Smithers, came from an institution where he was housed individually due to his incompatibility with other birds and potential mates. We brought Smithers into our collection hoping to make him the first Mariana fruit dove ever to be an animal ambassador. The challenge seemed a little daunting, but positive reinforcement got us there. We started by building a positive relationship with Smithers and creating clear communication through reinforcement. Consistency
and patience are key in training any species. Join us on the journey from exhibit to show as we share with you the successes and challenges in training the first Mariana fruit dove to be an animal ambassador.

Positive Reinforcement Training
Increases Positive Behavior in
​Red-Tailed Hawk

Ellen Dreyer,
Brevard Zoo


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Brevard Zoo houses 0.1 red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), a rehabbed bird with an old fracture to her left wing, preventing her from being released. She was previously tethered to a perch during the day and placed in a small mew overnight. To improve her welfare, she was transferred to the zooÍs vulture aviary where she could have the choice to move around and fly. After transferring her, keepers noticed an increase in negative behavior including screaming excessively, footing staff, charging staff, and biting the equipment when she was on the glove during daily walks. Keepers immediately labeled her as unhappy in the new exhibit. But before moving her back to her old perch and reducing her ability to make meaningful choices, an ethogram was created and behavioral observations began in order to collect data to determine exactly when the negative behavior was occurring and what variables could be changed to decrease the behavior. Observations revealed the behavior was exclusively directed at staff or at other birds when staff was present. The largest amount of negative behaviors occurred when keepers were handling
the hawk. At these times, keepers were using a very low rate of reinforcement for behaviors including flying to the glove and staying still while equipment was put on. Increasing opportunities for positive reinforcement during handling resulted in a decrease of negative behavior and an increase in positive behavior. Her demeanor changed as staff increased their trust accounts with her and she is now called a happy bird.

Use of Fission-Fusion to Decrease Aggression in a Family Group of
​Western Lowland Gorillas

David Minich, Grace Meloy, Ron Evans,
​Ashley Ashcraft, Eric High,
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden


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Captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are commonly managed as harems, a social structure characterized by one silverback male overseeing a group of females and sired offspring. This reflects the speciesÍ typical social structure, contrasting with the model of fission-fusion by bonobos (Pan paniscus), for example, in which group members leisurely disperse and rejoin the larger commune. In 2014, Asha, a female gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, gave birth to her first offspring. Consistent and protective support of her offspring from the silverback allowed Asha to gain dominance. Asha became fixated on a two-year-old in the group, often grabbing and displaying aggression towards her. This behavior, in combination with a lack of discipline from the silverback, resulted in numerous aggressive incidents between Asha and other females, increasing stress within the group. Although considered state of the art in 1978 and still manageable today, the linear style holding of the current gorilla facility (scheduled for a comprehensive renovation in 2017) catalyzed group disturbances. This unique dynamic along with a potential pregnancy within the group prompted the need for an innovative behavior management structure. To maintain the well-being of all group members, keepers adopted a fission-fusion system. Spending short times in subgroups, the complete group was still maintained as a family led by the silverback male. Overall, there was an immediate decrease in the amount of aggressive behavior and frequency of incidents initiated by Asha while the cohesiveness of the family group was preserved.

The Watering w"Hole" Experience:
​Training Multiple Species to Tell a Conservation Story

Stephanie Shop,
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium


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The Watering Hole in the Heart of Africa at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a unique exhibit where guests can stop throughout the day and watch multiple African species actively using the space around them. While this alone draws in a lot of visitors, there is no denying that the most popular moments at the Watering Hole are the cheetah runs. Though guests come for the "cheetah run" what they see is a cohesive story showing multiple levels of the African ecosystem through the use of additional species. In an effort to take our guests on an African safari, we begin with a prey species (warthogs) grazing and conclude with scavengers (black-backed jackals) cleaning up anything that might have been left behind. Our interspecies cheetah runs demonstrates that the African savanna is not only about apex predators like the cheetah, but instead about the many species that exist and function cohesively to make a complex ecosystem. As the guests are watching this story unfold, we interject with our conservation message and educate guests about how they can help both now and in the future. This paper will focus on what goes on behind- the-scenes and underneath our guestsÍ feet to make the experience come together; the methods involved in shifting and training behaviors that help us engage guests and help spread our conservation story.

Senior Living:
The Challenges of Working with
Geriatric, Blind, Critically
​Endangered Pinnipeds

​Noel Buurman,
Minnesota Zoo


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Five visually impaired or otherwise compromised, twenty-year old, female, Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in May 2015. With them came a unique set of challenges created from their age, visual impairments, medical concerns, and natural history of the animal. The Minnesota Zoo's marine mammal staff was further challenged by a newly modified habitat space and with how to create educational opportunities as designated by their permitting.Over the last 2 years, the Minnesota Zoo's marine mammals training team have worked closely with each other and experts in the field to better understand the seals and support their care. Staff have worked to accommodate each animalÍs individual behavioral needs which have included start of session locations, medical behaviors, and end of session signals while being mindful of each sealsÍ behavioral history. These training initiatives and experiences have been applied in the sealsÍ daily care, to establish training goals and during daily public demonstrations. Through these public training demonstrations staff have successfully bridged a 1,800 mile gap between Hawaii and Minnesota to bring the message of Hawaiian monk seal conservation to the forefront of the Minnesota Zoo's mission.

Using Radio Frequency Identification (Rfid) Tags to Measure Swimming Behavior in Little Blue Penguins While Monitoring the Treatment and Prevention of Bumblefoot (Pododermatitis)

Rickey Kinley, Kathryn Kalafut Ph.D.,
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden,
​Antioch College


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Bumblefoot, or pododermatitis, is the inflammation of the foot caused by an initial infected site in connection with pressure necrosis (AZA Penguin Husbandry Manual, 2003). Factors that have been related to the prevalence of bumblefoot in penguins have included sex, weight, enclosure substrate, and behavioral factors (Erlacher-Reid, et al. 2012; Reisfield, et al, 2013). The purpose of this research is to quantify the behavioral changes necessary to reduce, prevent, and potentially eliminate bumblefoot from the little blue penguin colony housed at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Radio-frequency identification technology is implemented in order to collect the continuous and instances of swimming behavior for each individual penguin. Bumblefoot severity in the little blue penguin colony is measured during baseline and across multiple treatments that involved behavioral and environmental enrichment. Results are pending.

Let's Get Physical: Physical Therapy Training for Two Otters with Metabolic Bone Disease

Christine Montgomery,
Downtown Aquarium Denver


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In 2016, the Downtown Aquarium Denver received 0.2 North American river otter pups. These pups were orphaned from their mother at only a few weeks old. As they grew, their gait was observed as abnormal. After labs and X-rays, it was determined that they were suffering from metabolic bone disease. Once the otters arrived in our care, we began to format their care to allow them properly heal and grow.We began working with an animal physical therapist and orthopedic surgeon veterinarian. We devised various exercises that would strengthen their muscles, thus helping their bones grow stronger and straighter. We trained exercises to support their legs in a ñnormalî position, strengthen core muscles and teach them to pull their legs from a splayed position to an upright position.We currently train them six times a day on their physical therapy circuit. All the training is done through free contact. We train them to run a treadmill, pivots, back up, run in a chute and wobble logs. We are also training medical behaviors to assist with their immobilizations for X-rays. These include voluntary injection and voluntary inhalation of anesthesia. Each subsequent X-ray we take shows more bone density and the bones are correcting by growing straighter. We are learning more about their conformation at each immobilization and that allows us to create exercises tailored precisely to their needs. Their physical therapy elevates cooperate healthcare training to a whole new level of preventative and medical management for our otters.

Back to Basics:
Applying Enrichment and Training
​to Small Pets

Elizabeth Durkin


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In 2016, there were an estimated 1 million pet rabbits, 0.7 million pet guinea pigs and 0.4 million pet hamsters in the United Kingdom. With the pet shop being the most popular place to purchase these pets, it is evident that pet shops have a fundamental role in educating pet owners on correct animal care, including leading by example. This education is of key significance, considering the rabbit is one of the most neglected pets in the United Kingdom. Beyond basic husbandry, enrichment is a key element to improving welfare, with opportunities to provide mental and physical stimulation. Dobbies Garden Centre incorporated shop-bought and recycled enrichment into daily husbandry and uses these examples to educate and inspire pet owners on providing opportunities for their pets to perform natural behaviours. The introduction of treat balls, cardboard boxes, paper bags and tubes has shown to enrich the animalsÍ lives in the pet shop and can reduce "problem behaviours" through promoting natural behaviours. Additionally, training and enrichment encourages pet owners and children to play a more active role in improving the welfare of their pet and enjoy their pet more due to increased activity. This presentation will also consider how positive reinforcement training can improve handling and reduce stress associated with husbandry and veterinary care for small pets, as this is often overlooked. It is hoped to collaborate with welfare organisations in the future, to provide more information for pet owners with regard to improving small pet welfare through enrichment and training.

Every Successful Bridge
​Starts With a Solid Foundation

Jeremy Dillon,
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo


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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has a very unique way of bridging the gap between the conservation messages we want our guests to discover and showcasing our animals amazing abilities. This is most apparent in our natural behavior shows where you might see a leopard attacking a fake prey item or a goat showing off its amazing climbing abilities all in their own exhibit! However, none of this would be remotely possible without a solid animal behavior program to set the foundation for all of this amazing work. Part of this foundation is built from the comprehensive training and mentorship program designed to develop the entire keeper staff into solid behaviorists. This presentation will share the successes that we have developed with our program including details about our in-house training workshops and our peer trainer mentorship program.