ABMA 2019
Monday Abstracts
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Working Together Through Training to Improve Animal Welfare For Orangutans in Borneo
Colleen Reed and Cydney Sines, Oregon Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
What happens when operant conditioning becomes more than just an element of your work, and instead could help save lives in the wild and in sanctuaries? The Oregon Zoo teamed up with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation to do just that. Primate keepers Colleen Reed and Cydney Sines joined training and behavior consultant, Barbara Heidenreich, in the Bornean rainforest to better the lives of orangutans through positive reinforcement training. The team worked with a range of ages, from unreleasable adult orangutans to younger animals who may one day be released back to the forest. Their work included body presentation, target train- ing, wound treatment, nail treatment, injection training, separation training, decreased aggression, reducing fear response, and physi- cal therapy. The program was a challenge, but both the trainers and the trainees achieved measurable benefit and a lasting impact. Now, armed with the experience and knowledge of what is required to succeed, the team is planning to expand this collaboration with involvement and support from other facilities. They need your assistance to have a lasting impact on the individuals being cared for in sanctuary, as well as help to ensure the future of the species in the wild. |
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Kolmårdens Wildlife Park is established in 1965, the Zoo became quickly the largest zoo within the Nordic countries. The Zoo has over 600 individuals and is 300+ acres big. In 2014 the zoo started to look at their ways how we handle the animals, it wasn’t until 2015 that we started to change the animal handling throughout the whole zoo. A Zookeepers day consist of many different tasks. Many of the teams have a challenging animal/ keeper ratio. This is the moment where keepers come with reasonings why they are not able to train their animals. At Kolmårdens Wildlife Park we try to help the keep- ers to discover how we can overcome those challenges such as what can we do so we are able to train the animals and help the daily tasks for the keepers. We gave a lot of time back since we have developed our training program, the important part we have focussed on as first steps is the basics of husbandry. How can we get animals to come quicker, how can we reach them individually for a training session, how do we separate animals when we don’t have so many keepers? All questions we try to tackle in our training program here at the zoo, so far with a lot of success. Back to basic isn’t always that easy. There are a lot of ingredients that has to be placed into a program to make it work. |
On the Rebound:
Rebuilding a Trust Account With a Brush-tail Rock Wallaby Jade Fountain, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Ambassador animals can be an important face of a species, particularly for animals that are shy, elusive and rarely seen in the wild, but also allow delivery of key conservation messages to visitors, students and the media. Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve has been an integral centre for breeding and release of brush-tail rock wallabies over the past 20 years. Shadow, an orphan brush-tail rock wallaby joey thrown from his mum's pouch, was hand raised by wildlife officers. Our goal was for him to meet people during animal encounters, with an aim to provide a unique and educational opportunity to see rock wallabies up close. The team encountered challenges when Shadow started biting staff, and showing anxiety-related aggression. After conducting functional assessments, we created an operant training plan focused on positive reinforcement, reinforcement of incompatible behav- iours and set up his environment to promote desirable behaviours. The training program included voluntary injections, stationing and building cooperative relationships, ultimately improving our ability to care for him. As a result of the team’s dedication to the plan, Shadow has been a huge success for the endangered species program at Tidbinbilla and the face of the brush-tail rock wallaby recov- ery program. He has contributed to knowledge of the species and has inspired stake-holders and important ministers who make key environmental protection decisions. Through improving a relationship with behaviour management, for well-being check-ups and ani- mal encounters, we can not only change the world for a single animal in care, but change the future for a species. |
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Transitioning Research Beagles
into Retirement Utilizing a Positive Reinforcement Training Program Heidi Moomaw and Rachel Beall, Charles River Labs Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
At Charles River, we are committed to ensuring all animals have the highest level of care and welfare. A canine adoption program was de- veloped to satisfy our desire to retire the research beagles. After receiving feedback from previous adopters, we saw a need to provide the beagles with skills to help transition them into their new life. The training program focused on the following areas: harness and leash, basic manners, new locations and experiences, novel floor textures and novel sounds. The dog training area included a functioning bathroom, an office area, and garage doors. In addition, items were procured to facilitate training, such as fake grass, a carpet square, harnesses, leashes, a TV and a radio. The training program was managed by 2 technicians that performed daily 20-minute sessions for each dog which occurred up to 4 times a week. Training records were utilized to track the progress of each dog and to aid in communication between technicians. The 20 dogs involved in the program exhibited a large range in confidence levels at the start of the program; however, every dog left the facility with the skills necessary to easily transition into retirement. Success of the program was measured by positive feedback from adopters which led to a waiting list of staff who were interested in adopting one of our beagles. It has been a beneficial program not only for the dogs but also for technicians that were given the opportunity to work directly with our animals. |
The Evolution of a Progressive, Asian Bull Elephant Management Program Maura Davis, Denver Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The bull management program at Denver Zoo has been ever evolving since it began in 2011 with the most significant changes beginning in the fall of 2016. The Toyota Elephant Passage exhibit, which opened in 2012, was intentionally designed to house bull elephants but as our goals changed and became more progressive, we have used our facility in different ways. Socialization of the bulls became a new focus as well as redesigning the training program to be one with choice and control on behalf of the elephants. With developing a new goal-oriented program and putting our staffs team health as a priority, we successfully integrated our male herd, increased our standards in behavior management, began a research program and are now invested in a conservation initiative in Nepal. As our herd size increases, we look towards more innovations and continue to push the standards for bull elephant management in human care |
Full Abstract
When visiting a bird show, ibis are a species that are not often represented. Here at the Safari Park, we are lucky enough to work with two different species in our collection. We have scarlet ibis and sacred ibis flying three different natural behaviors in our show. In addi- tion, our ibis are trained for personal interactions with guests and for a multitude of voluntary medical procedures. Our goal for this paper is to show how adaptable ibis can be to husbandry training, show behaviors and helping encourage our guests to conserve different species of animals. |
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Training the Trainers: Getting More People Involved in Behavior Management Jennifer Diaz, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
We all agree that the lives of animals in every situation from zoos to shelters, from backyards to to the front range can be greatly improved and enriched through behavioral management. The only question becomes how? You are only one person. How many animals lives can you possibly impact? There are hundreds of amazing animals trainers in the world, but if we can multiply that number by thousands, we can reach an exponential number of animals lives. Again, how? If it were easy, everyone would already be a professional at behavioral modification. How do pro athletes become pros? Lots and lots of practice with someone more experienced coaching them along the way. Anyone of any age can learn. In the Edventure department at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo we try to get everyone involved. Teen program participants train snakes and salamanders, 8 year old guests help shift animals, docents create positive associations with lizards being touched, and so much more. I will go over some techniques and tips from our area that have helped us send out over 100 humans into the world with a better understanding and passion for training. |
Quality of Life Assessment:
Using Data to Help Make the End-of-Life Care Decision in a Macaque Lindsay Simpson, Julie Grove, and Elizabeth S. Herrelko, Maryland Zoo and Smithsonian’s National Zoo & University of Stirling, Scotland Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Assessing quality of life in geriatric zoo animals is an art as much as it is a science. Despite the use of questionnaires and keeper re- ports, which consider several aspects of overall well-being, the process often remains subjective. Keepers have unique insights, and their anecdotal observations can be enhanced with objective data to support animal care decisions. At The Maryland Zoo, we com- bined the art and science of assessments with a long-term study on geriatric macaques (1.1 lion tail; 1.0 lion tail/pig tail hybrid). Historic data proved especially helpful when the hybrid macaque became singly housed following the unexpected death of his cage mate in the spring of 2018. Animal care staff identified a significant decrease in activity level, lower engagement with keepers during and out- side of observations periods, and concerning behaviors that had not previously been observed, including resting with head down. While the zoo worked to identify new social opportunities, our team used the data to develop a plan of targeted changes to improve his quality of life (e.g., increase in training sessions, enrichment, and social interactions). After five weeks of intense implementation we saw a significant increase in activity level and engagement with keepers; the frequency of resting with head down, however, in- creased over time. Despite the team’s best efforts, activity levels and keeper interaction never reached initial baseline levels. Our data allowed us to objectively compare changes in behavior, enabling the zoo to make the most informed animal management decision possible. |
Creating a Positive Reinforcement Training Program for Former Dancing Bears in India MaryElizabeth “M.E.” Hampton Little Rock Zoo Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
In 2018 I made two trips to India to work with Wildlife SOS (WSOS). My experience began as a representative of Little Rock Zoo on a Bear TAG sponsored trip and grew into a partnership to facilitate positive reinforcement training with former dancing bears. Dancing bears are sloth bears that were used by the Kalandar people in a cruel practice involving poaching a young cub, killing its mother, breaking the cub’s canine teeth and driving a hot poker through their nasal cartilage so a rope can be threaded through to control them. They were then made to “dance” for tourists. Thanks to WSOS the practice of dancing bears no longer exists in India. WSOS rescued over 600 dancing bears and now houses them in four facilities throughout the country. I helped form a positive reinforce- ment program at two of those facilities: Agra Bear Rescue Facility and Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Center. The introduction of positive reinforcement training has greatly increased the welfare of these formerly abused bears. The training has improved the relationship between the keepers and the bears, as well as decreasing overall anxiety as demonstrated by decreases in den-shy behavior, decreas- es in stereotypic behavior and increases in both attention and participation. Positive reinforcement training is new to India. Being invited back to train Indian staff by WSOS demonstrates their commitment to improve the lives of these bears and we at Little Rock Zoo are offering continued support to improve animal welfare around the world. |