Next G.E.M 2018
Developing a Successful Positive Reinforcement Training Elephant Program
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Understanding Positive Reinforcement and its Application Thad Lacinak, Precision Behavior Full Abstract
No Abstract |
Conditioning Voluntary Behaviors with African Elephants as Part of a
Behavioral Management Program Sue Young, ZooTampa at Lowry Park Full Abstract
No Abstract |
Success in Making a Complex Behavior Reinforcing, Using a Strong
Trusting Relationship Paige Shallcross & Cathy Mingee, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Full Abstract
Utilizing positive reinforcement and choice based training, we have been successful in making complex behaviors such as a blood draw, reinforcing. In a choice based training program, a strong trust based relationship must be present between the trainers and animals that will be involved in the procedure. Our habitat contains a built in interaction/husbandry area which allows us to work up-close with the elephants while they have access to conspecifics, food, and other stimuli. While we can perform blood draws in our behind the scenes static chute, we prefer to ask for these behaviors on the habitat to increase the elephants time on a soft substrate, allow the herd to remain together, and also create transparency for our guests. The blood draw behavior starts by asking the elephant to line their body up flush against the wall, presenting their ear through a window and maintaining that position until the blood draw is complete. This behavior also allows us to give tactile reinforcement to the elephants in a variety of locations such as the tongue, ear, face and across their body. By pairing the blood draw, and other husbandry behaviors, with the up-close tactile reinforcement, along with the other non-husbandry sessions completed at the husbandry wall, we have been successful in creating such as strong reinforcement history in the area that leaving to allow the next elephant to come over for their husbandry is what we consider to be our biggest challenge. |
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Training Behavior Chains as a Learning Opportunity, a Way to Build and Strengthen Relationships, and to Create a Reinforcement History in Various Locations Around an Elephant Habitat
Dana Boyles, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Full Abstract
The interaction area, located on the elephant habitat at Busch Gardens, has a strong reinforcement history, as it is the main location where we complete our husbandry procedures and is a place where we can be very hands on with our elephants to provide tactile reinforcement. The strong reinforcement history of the interaction area makes it challenging to ask the elephants to leave and go to another part of the habitat for other training sessions. The goal of training behavior chains was to provide a learning opportunity of a complex behavior that would allow other areas of the habitat to become more reinforcing while providing an engaging type of session to keep the rest of the herd mentally stimulated while husbandry procedures were going on with other individuals. Complex behaviors, like behavior chains, are a way to add to an individual's repertoire of trained behaviors while providing another way to strengthen the animal and trainers relationship without doing husbandry and with the focus of the reinforcement not necessarily always being food and being the next discriminative stimulus provided by the trainer. |
Implementing Choice and Control in Elephant Behavior Management
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Choice and Control Mindy Albright, San Diego Zoo Safari Park Full Abstract
Implementing choice and control during medical treatments has proven very beneficial. It appears that the elephants have a higher tolerance for medical treatment and potentially aversive scenarios when they have the ability to end the session whenever they would like to. We have had a few long-term medical treatments where choice and control proved not only to be beneficial for the elephants but it helped the trainers be more thorough in their care of the medical case. A few cases stand out… Kami, an 8-year-old female, had two nine-inch deep wounds on the side of her head. Her wounds were flushed BID. It was very clear that she was much more successful and willing to participate when given the opportunity to leave the session. Qinisa, a 3-year-old female had a small pimple like mark on her side that the veterinarians wanted to perform a punch biopsy and culture. We decided that the procedure would be done without any sedation or physical restraint. She held for the entire procedure and had the ability to leave us at any moment, but she did not. Tusk removals for two elephants required daily sulcus flushes of the voided pockets, which were about 6-8 inches deep. These sessions were long in nature and utilized choice and control. The majority of our major medical care is in a location where the elephant is free to leave the session. We do get more participation and compliance with choice and control then we do with restraint. |
Voluntary Semen Collections on a
Bull African Elephant in a Protected Contact System Christi Reiter, ZooTampa at Lowry Park Full Abstract
The captive elephant population in North America is not currently sustainable. The lack of breeding bulls and the absence of successful semen collections are key contributors to the state of the current population. Importation of wild elephants, involuntary electroejaculation, the use of restraints and traditional manual stimulation techniques are not ideal due to posed health risks, financial constraints, sample quality and undue stress on the animal from lack of choice. Semen collection on a variety of species including dolphins, primates, rhinos and elephants has been prevalent in zoos and aquariums for many years. As zoos and management techniques evolve and improve, so does that of training techniques, research and conservation efforts. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to a herd of twelve African elephants ranging from five years to approximately twenty-nine years of age. Of these twelve elephants, six are males with five of those males under the age of ten. The subject for this particular project, Lutsandvo, began training for semen collection when he was six years old, first sample containing semen was shortly after he turned seven and the first successful freezable sample was achieved just before the age of eight. The end goal for the collection technique with this elephant was/is to get a successful semen sample unrestrained with no manual stimulation thereby reducing the invasive nature of the semen collection process and possibly providing a higher quality sample. |
Utilizing a "turn-around" Behavior, in a Choice Based Training Program for Administration of Rectal Antibiotics
Jordan Hayes & Cathy Mingee, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Full Abstract
As a team, we believe husbandry behaviors are some of the most important things we can train. These behaviors can allow us to shape new behaviors, access the elephants in a close proximity, be repurposed, and allow us to message how we care for our elephants to our guests. One example of a husbandry behavior we’ve been able to use for a variety of purposes is a turn-around behavior where the elephant turns away from us, giving the option of presenting rear feet or their tail. When the veterinary team determined one of our elephants needed antibiotics we knew oral medication was not an option, but we could use the turn behavior for the administration rectally. The turn behavior can be done in any location in our indoor facility or at our husbandry wall on the habitat, which means we don’t have to socially isolate the elephant and we can keep the time of day variable. In addition, by not relying on our husbandry chute, we can create even more choice and control for the elephant involved in the training session because they have access to more space and resources. |
Elephant Cognition Research
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The Benefits and Challenges of Cognitive Research with Elephants
Lauren Highfill, Ph.D., Eckerd College Full Abstract
Elephants possess sophisticated cognitive skills that allow them to make sense of both their physical and social worlds. Therefore, elephants living in a zoo environment may benefit from cognitive challenges designed to assess and address their capabilities. To assist handlers in implementing meaningful cognitive tasks for their animals, we encourage the zoo community to forge relationships with local scientists and students to expand and increase their efforts to enhance the cognitive wellness of species such as elephants. Providing animals the opportunity to solve challenging tasks creates a dynamic environment, promotes choice-based activity, and stimulates mental and physical exercise. We will describe cognitive experiments recently conducted with the elephants at Zoo Tampa, as an example of the enriching potential of cognitive research. |
Public Perceptions of Elephants in Zoos, Sanctuaries and "the Wild"
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Elephant Conservation: Reviewing the Need and Potential Impact of Cognition-based Education
Radhika N. Makecha, Ph. D., Eastern Kentucky University Full Abstract
Given the importance of public perceptions of both wild and captive elephants, increasing attention is being devoted to conservation education programs. However, little attention has been paid to the role that knowledge on animal cognition (animal minds) plays in public perceptions of wildlife, including elephants, a species which suffers severe conservation challenges. Public fascination of animal cognition is widespread, ranging from documentaries on ape minds and elephant family structures to popular news and magazine articles on animal minds, including some of the “superstars” of the animal cognition world, such as Alex, the African gray parrot and Koko, the gorilla. Part of this fascination stems from the connection we feel with non-human animals once we learn that many of them have similar abilities to our own. We discuss the evidence that does exist on the effectiveness of animal cognition-based education programs, and emphasize the need for cognition-based elephant conservation education programs in both wild and captive settings. Additionally, we address the need to evaluate the effects these programs have on conservation attitudes and public perceptions towards elephants. Finally, we discuss our upcoming project (June, 2018) on assessing the effects of a cognition based education program on the attitudes of villagers towards Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in conflict-prone areas in and around Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) in Karnataka, India. |
Public and Generational Perception of Zoos Kristy Chase-Tozer, ZooTampa at Lowry Park Full Abstract
No Abstract |
Public Perception of Elephant Sanctuaries: Space, Naturalness, and Values
Catherine Doyle, M.S., Performing Animal Welfare Society Full Abstract
Many scholars consider us to be living in an era dubbed the Anthropocene, in which human activities are causing global environmental changes, habitat loss, and a sixth mass extinction. At the same time, there is increased concern for the welfare of wild and domesticated animals (George et al. 2014). Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that public attitudes in America are moving toward a more compassionate and caring view of wild animals, and away from mastery or domination (Manfredo et al. 2009). In line with this trend, sanctuaries have increasingly come to be seen by the public as the ideal for captive wild animals, as compared to more familiar forms of captivity. This is especially evident in the case of elephants. Sanctuaries have become almost revered for their perceived powers of rehabilitation and virtual rebirth (an elephant gets to be an elephant again), but are also subject to certain public expectations that may conflict with the realities of sanctuary life (Doyle 2017). Public concern about captive wildlife may be causing more people to gravitate toward elephant sanctuaries, based on the perception that greater space and naturalness are preferable for welfare. Just as important, sanctuaries may be perceived as being more in agreement with evolving public values and attitudes toward captive wildlife and their care. These changing public views have implications for zoos and other captive operations in the future. |
Strategies and Techniques for Improved Social Management of Elephants
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African Elephant Bull Introduction Strategies Utilized at the Reid Park Zoo
Cassandra Dodds & Curtis Lehman, Reid Park Zoo San Diego Zoo Safari Park Full Abstract
Reid Park Zoo (RPZ) managed 1.2 adult African elephants and 2.1 juvenile offspring when the herd’s adult bull (Mahbulane) was returned to the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. Subsequently, the oldest male calf (Impunga), then age nine, went into musth and displaced his mother as the dominant elephant in the herd. For over a year, Impunga was the most dominant individual, went through multiple periods of musth, and demonstrated breeding interest towards his mother. Mahbulane returned to RPZ a year and a half later. San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park and RPZ elephant teams together considered introduction strategies. The herd’s matriarch was entering pre-estrus and Impunga was entering musth. The bulls were howdied along a fence line where both postured and engaged forcefully until Impunga submitted. Once calm, the entire herd was given access to the habitat together for approximately 45 minutes. Within 24 hours of this introduction, Impunga ceased exhibiting symptoms of musth, showed submissive behavior to Mahbulane, and behaved more cautiously and timidly than normal. Mahbulane went into heavy musth, showing stronger than his normal musth symptoms and ceased to engage Impunga as a rival. Following this initial success, the herd was moved through various differing social groupings for the days that followed. Managing these two bulls is a continuing process of assessment and vigilance. Working together as a team, the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park and RPZ achieved this first successful step. |
Re-introduction of African Elephants Lucas Barmeyer, Oakland Zoo Full Abstract
We are a protected contact facility with a 1.3 African Elephant population. In the past, all of our elephants shared space in our nearly 7-acre exhibit. Due to safety precautions our male had to be separated from our females at all times. Through co-operative feeding and proximity training we were able to reestablish a relationship between our male and one of our females to the point where we felt comfortable reintroducing them into the same space. We started off the reintroductions in one of our lower yards out of the public eye and we had our male on a leg restraint and slowly giving him slack so that he could approach the female. The leg restraint was a precaution so in the case that the reintroduction went poorly we could stop him from moving closer to the female and potentially harming her. The initial introduction was extremely successful with positive reactions coming from both the male and female. After several introductions with our male having a leg restraint, we took the tether off so that he could have free range of the enclosure and unrestrained access to the female. Our introductions in the lower yard were so successful that we gave them access to the exhibit and do introductions there. They currently share space on exhibit once a week for about 4 hours but we are slowly increasing the duration of time spent together and hope to reintroduce one of our other females this coming summer. |
Social Integration of a Male Elephant:
The Process and What it Means for Future Generations Michael Burns, ZooTampa at Lowry Park Full Abstract
No Abstract |
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Return to Natural Breeding
Steve LaFave, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Full Abstract
No Abstract |
Progress and Evolution: Transitioning an Elephant Program
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The Evolution of Zoo Atlanta’s
Elephant Program Nate Elgart, Zoo Atlanta Full Abstract
Zoo Atlanta has a long history of housing and managing elephants and has cared for African elephants since 1986. As the elephants grew and program evolved, managing them in their current facility has challenges. Despite these challenges, our elephants have thrived in protected contact and the elephant- care team has built a balanced husbandry and training program, including participation in research projects that enhance animal care. However, a two-stall linear barn design, the inability to bring in more elephants, and limited habitat space, increased the need for a new facility to meet the needs of our elephant program. With a gift of over 3 additional acres of adjacent parkland from the city, the Zoo embarked on a new African savanna exhibit featuring a new elephant exhibit: a Grand New View. The project highlights Zoo Atlanta’s commitment to elephants, the Species Survival Plan for the species, and the conservation of elephants in the wild. At year’s end, our two elephants will be moving in to their new 12,500 square-foot barn and multi-acre habitat. For the first time in decades, we will have the space and facilities to expand our herd, utilizing two adjoining habitats designed for bulls, cows, and young (up to 7 elephants). This new facility provides new opportunities for our elephants to thrive and opportunities to manage an integrated, social herd in a successful, ever-evolving, progressive program. |
Transitioning Zoo Miami’s Elephant Program Matt James, Zoo Miami Full Abstract
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Elephant Transportation
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Stephen Fritz Enterprises
Elephant Transportation Stephen Fritz, Stephen Fritz Enterprises, Inc. Full Abstract
No Abstract |
Prospects and Implications of Traditional Elephant Management and Bullhook Use in Zoos
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Is Traditional Elephant Training
Congruous with Welfare Expectations of Modern Zoo Paradigms? Angi Millwood Lacinak, Precision Behavior Full Abstract
The keeping of elephants in captivity is a politically volatile topic for multifarious reasons and for a variety of people including academics, animal activists, the zoo-going public and animal training professionals. At the center of the controversy is the ankus, an archaic tool employed by ‘traditional’ elephant trainers to establish a position of social dominance within the elephant herd. Contributing factors to the continuation of this 4000-year-old convention are politics among established accreditation organizations, conflicting messaging among zoo-affiliated groups, and a reluctance to address the well-being of zoo animals as individuals rather than as species in collections. Given recent research regarding human-animal relationships (HARs) and in consideration of public concerns regarding megafauna in captivity, zoos would benefit from a reevaluation of their policies and practices regarding aversive strategies in the management of elephants. |
The Elephant Bullhook: You say "guide," I say "goad" Otto Fad, Precision Behavior Full Abstract
The bullhook is also widely known as the elephant goad or ankus, and in a relatively recent, stab at a euphemistic rebrand, the guide. By whatever name, the ‘hook -- in use for over 2500 years to control elephants -- has become a controversial device. Despite advances in the behavioral sciences, improvements in elephant facility design, and the availability of proven positive-reinforcement techniques to manage elephant behavior, handlers and professional associations proclaiming a commitment to animal welfare refuse to proscribe its use. In light of this inaction, local and state governments have stepped-in to outlaw bullhooks through legislation and codes. After examining the role and current status of the bullhook in elephant management, this treatise concludes with a call to action. |
Mixed bag: Other Advances in Elephant Welfare and Management
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The 10,000 Pound Elephant in the E.R.D. Training an Adult Bull Elephant to Allow Containment in a Restraining Device
Eric Duning & Rickey Kinley, Cincinnati Zoo Full Abstract
Sabu the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s bull Asian elephant, 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 had developed a reluctance to being closed inside of the E.R.D. The elephant staff have developed a multiple step training plan to incorporate tether training, desensitization to the mechanical motor, and re-building Sabu’s confidence in the E.R.D. The first step was 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, he was being asked to present various previously trained behaviors while in the E.R.D. This was to allow Sabu time to become more comfortable in the E.R.D. before the tethering was to be introduced or the mechanical doors being closed. The third step was to desensitize Sabu to the sound of the opening and closing of the mechanical doors. This was done by reinforcing the behavior of stationing near the E.R.D. while operating the mechanical doors. When it was all combined in the E.R.D. Sabu willingly allowed himself to be enclosed inside the E.R.D. |
Crate Training an Elephant Utilizing Positive Reinforcement in a
Choice Based Training Program Melissa Gramling & Dana Boyles, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Full Abstract
In preparation of transporting our bull elephant, we implemented one of his most reinforcing behaviors, a retrieval, to assist in attaching his restraints in the crate. The elephant program at Busch Gardens uses positive reinforcement and choice based training, allowing all of our behaviors to be on a voluntary basis and never having the need to use restraints and tethers in any of our procedures. When training our bull to accept wearing a chain in preparation for restraint during transport, we had a goal to make it as reinforcing as possible. Retrievals are a behavior he learned quickly upon moving to Busch Gardens, and over the years, has been generalized to many items. Spike first learned to accept his anklets by putting his foot out a window and allowing us to secure them around each of his front feet. We then were able to approximate attaching a loose chain, varying the duration of time left on and length of chain with each session. The transportation crate allowed for us to ask for the chain at a variety of locations inside to keep the sessions variable and to also train the animal to step completely into the crate. We have worked on increasing the duration of time we can manipulate the chains once he hands them to us and incorporating other behaviors to keep the crate training sessions engaging and reinforcing. |
Innovations in Geriatric Elephant Care Stephanie DeYoung, M.A., The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee Full Abstract
Caring for geriatric elephants often presents unique challenges. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is a home for 0.11 elephants ranging from 35 to 70 years of age. The median age for the Asian elephants in our care is 53.3 years and the median age for the African elephants in our care is 37.5 years. This primarily geriatric herd of elephants has presented a number of challenges related to geriatric health. Collaboration between the Husbandry, Veterinary, and Facilities teams at The Elephant Sanctuary have resulted in a number of creative solutions, utilizing Protected Contact training methods to address the ever-changing needs of the elephants as they age. Retrofitting existing barns to facilitate recumbent sleep, novel treatments to address chronic issues, and even some extraordinarily simple solutions have been successful in addressing a number of issues related to geriatric elephant care. As the population of elephants living in North American facilities continues to age, it is imperative that elephant professionals share successes, methods and concepts, which can have a dramatic impact on the overall quality of life and longevity of the elephants in our care. The Elephant Sanctuary has faced a variety of challenges related to caring for aging elephants from very diverse backgrounds. |
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Training an Elephant for Electro-Chemotherapy Treatments in an ERD using Positive Reinforcement Training
Brittany Drake, El Paso Zoo Full Abstract
In August of 2016, El Paso Zoo Elephant Staff noticed that Juno, a 49-year-old Asian elephant, was behaving irregularly by throwing sand and water at her right mammary area. The mammary area began to enlarge, so veterinary staff was contacted. Antibiotics were administered in case of an infection, but the swelling did not decrease. In order to determine the cause of this, Juno would need to be trained to enter a rotating Elephant Restraint Device (ERD) for a standing sedation biopsy of the mammary area. The ERD was not totally unfamiliar to Juno, as she is used to walking through it frequently, but it hadn’t been needed to restrain her in over 10 years. Using positive reinforcement training, elephant staff were able to get Juno to enter the ERD with leg restraints, be in the correct position, with hydraulic doors and restraint flaps moved, be comfortable with strangers present, and allow for an injection. She would also need to allow keepers to touch and measure the changing size of her mass while she was fully conscious. During this process, Juno had a choice whether or not she wanted to enter the ERD, but because of her relationship with keepers and the advanced training skills of her keepers, 2 standing sedation biopsies and 3 full sedation electro-chemotherapy treatments were successfully accomplished. Each procedure proved more challenging as Juno was aware of what would happen in the ERD, but with continued training and maintaining a strong relationship with keepers, treatment was possible. |
The Elephants of Dak Lak: A Cultural Connection Erin Ivory, Vietnam Elephant Initiative Full Abstract
No Abstract |