Formal Presentations Tuesday Abstracts
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Revamping An Enrichment Program: A Bottom-Up Approach
Jane Neo Dolphin Island, Resorts World Sentosa Full Abstract
Revamping an enrichment program involves a comprehensive reassessment of existing practices to identify areas for improvement, particularly in terms of variety, complexity, and effectiveness. As part of a broader initiative, we hope to ensure that trainers are equipped with the necessary knowledge to advance this program effectively. Rather than a top-down approach, we created a collaborative environment and encouraged each trainer to be invested in the success of these enrichment initiatives through seminars, discussions and workshops. We introduced small achievable goals, focusing on consistency before new goals are introduced. However, advancing evidence-based management is challenging without quantifiable data to show that the proposed enrichment program is indeed improving animal welfare. To address this, we have involved all trainers in conducting weekly observations for every animal using ZooMonitor. The data we collected provided evidence-based insights into how the animals interacted with enrichment devices and their activities during an enrichment session. This information enables us to develop targeted training plans aimed at increasing both the frequency and diversity of these interactions. We identified an animal with minimal observed interactions with enrichment and implemented a progressive training plan to teach her the value of this secondary reinforcer. Through this process, we recorded her off-session interactions with enrichment and observed a gradual increase in both the frequency and diversity of these interactions over time. Our primary goal is to empower trainers with data-driven insights and knowledge to critically evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of the enrichment devices that they provide. |
Publishing Permission Pending
Changing Tides: Collaborative Sea Otter Welfare Planning Mary Humbyrd Detroit Zoological Society Full Abstract
A female sea otter joined a raft of two young male sea otters at the Detroit Zoo in the summer of 2024. With her previous history as a surrogate and experience living predominantly indoors, we began to see behavioral changes within the raft. The group spent minimal time in their outdoor habitat (percent of time indoors after the social change: 66.2%), and a strong social bond formed between her and one of the male otters, changing the relationship between the two males. Using the Detroit Zoological Society’s welfare assessment process, collaborative efforts were launched to assess their overall well-being by reviewing inputs and outputs using the five domains model of animal welfare. A working group designed a holistic strategy for improving their well-being through increasing habitat complexity, enhancing enrichment opportunities, and evaluating the training program. From this strategy, action items were developed, assigned to members of the working group, and implemented within the discussed timeline. The results of these efforts were evaluated using methodologies that included insights from the care staff about the otters’ daily activity, as well as systematic observations of their behavior. Through the end of 2024, staff have completed many of the action items created, including increasing enrichment designed to achieve key goals, adding underwater structures to the habitat pool, and designing an improved training strategy. This combined systematic approach is producing data that can be used to impact positive change in future sea otter welfare planning and potentially with other species throughout the Zoo. |
A Hard Day's Night: Considerations for Nocturnal Animals for Ambassador Programs
Michelle Skurski Disney's Animals, Science and Environment Full Abstract
Ambassador animal programs provide opportunities for guests visiting zoos and aquariums to interact with animals predominantly during the day. However, many common ambassador species are naturally nocturnal and thus require abnormal shifts in their active periods to participate in programs. Activity outside of ones evolved active period is associated with negative physical and mental health in both humans and animals, including impaired learning, focus and emotional control. We were interested in understanding how this mismatch between species-typical active and rest periods affected nocturnal animals. Here we will present on findings from several long-term evaluations across multiple species and individuals. To-date we have found that nocturnal animals participating in diurnal ambassador programs maintain robust nocturnal activity, in contrast to a common industry perception that animals will adopt a purely diurnal activity pattern when participating in ambassador programs. This finding highlights that nocturnal ambassador species require specialized care and husbandry procedures to meet their unique needs. We will discuss our attempts to provide nocturnal ambassador animals with husbandry procedures that provide them species-typical rest periods and husbandry during their nocturnal active periods – all while continuing to participate in diurnal ambassador programs. Our presentation will also discuss the challenges of managing nocturnal animals for ambassador programs, particularly in the context of new accreditation standards instituted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. |
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What Does It Mean to
"Prioritize Training"? Chris Jenkins Natural Encounters, Inc. Full Abstract
In a modern zoo or aquarium, animal training is no longer a practice of a small few. But while training itself is now common, so are the challenges that prevent many animal caretakers from making it a part of their regular routine. In this presentation, we'll look at "prioritizing training" as a behavior that we can make more common by arranging antecedent and consequence conditions to make training an easier, more fun, and more rewarding part of people's daily routine. |
Publishing Permission Pending
Pets for Vets Full Abstract
No Abstract |
Training the Untrainable for
Koality Care Emily Grumney Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Full Abstract
A male Koala, Koen, was transferred to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in January of 2023. While in quarantine, it was observed that he wasn’t holding on the perching like koalas normally do and seemed “double jointed”. Upon a sedated exam, it was discovered that he had metabolic bone disease (MBD). Combining research with the guidance of our vet staff, a protocol was established to give him a vitamin D supplement daily and to add two UV lights with varying intensities for him to have the option to bask in. To ensure the efficacy of this treatment, radiographs and blood work would be needed around every 6 months to ensure his bone development was progressing appropriately. Due to the inherent risks of frequent anesthesia, especially with koalas, our goal was to get blood and radiographs voluntarily. The main challenge was training an animal that only eats eucalyptus and has access to it round the clock. Trialing different reinforcers, antecedents, and consequences through training session repetition, we were able to successfully get voluntary x-rays and a blood draw from Koen. At the end of December, a mass was discovered in Koen’s neck which grew rapidly. He was soon diagnosed with lymphoma. Because of his training history and our relationship with Koen, we were able to attempt chemotherapy, the first in any koala, with weekly voluntary blood draws, radiographs and slightly sedated intensive treatments. Unfortunately, Koen was humanely euthanized at the beginning of February because the cancer spread too quickly but so much was learned during this process that can be used for koalas as lymphoma is a very common disease in the population. |
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Working with multiple sloths throughout the zoo with different goals
Stephanie Vrablik Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance Full Abstract
As a zookeeper who specializes in animal ambassadors, I am always looking for more innovative ways to showcase the zoo’s animals to guests. At Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, the animal ambassador team does not have a dedicated demonstration space. To overcome this challenge, we specialize in creating dynamic behaviors that can be showcased throughout the zoo’s campus. We utilize positive reinforcement as well as choice and control to train basic husbandry behaviors to more challenging demonstration behaviors. In this presentation, I will share the successes and challenges I experienced when training five different sloths of various ages a variety of behaviors as well as the challenges that come with collaborating with multiple departments. |