Page 199 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

9.3 Unfamiliar People 171

VetBooks.ir positive relationship being developed from learn to respond accordingly and a positive
human–animal relationship will be formed.
regular and consistent interactions formed as
part of the positive reinforcement training.
learn to anticipate a positive emotional
Some of these learning opportunities might Take this a step further, where both parties
not be perceived positively. Animals may experience alongside the positive HAI and
learn that some interactions with familiar you have the development of a human–ani­
people are worth avoiding because they may mal bond. Human–animal bonds have been
be associated with negative ramifications. reported to occur, by a number of zoo keep­
Visits from vets have traditionally been ers (Hosey and Melfi 2012); it is difficult to
synonymous with the necessary, but some­ determine what if any emotional experi­
times, unpleasant activities associated with ence animals feel. Most descriptions of an
maintaining good health, including vaccina­ animal’s emotional experience during inter­
tions and restraints for health checks. These actions with people are anecdotal, for
negative interactions with familiar people, example animals seeking interactions with
have been hugely impacted by the addition of familiar people (e.g. Masson and McCarthy
formal training programmes which aim to 1996; Figure 9.1).
ensure that both, animals and people, can
learn what to expect during these procedures
and thus change their perception of them 9.3 Unfamiliar People
(see Chapter 11).
A key process which results from learn­ The majority of people that animals encoun­
ing is the development of human–animal ter in the zoo are unfamiliar to the animals,
relationships; which rely on an animal– in the sense that the animal has either not
human dyad learning from multiple inter­ previously encountered them, or has not
actions what to expect from these had opportunities to develop a relationship
interactions. If these interactions are gener­ with any of them. As unfamiliar people are
ally positive it is likely that the animal will present both in great numbers (potentially

Figure 9.1 An illustration of keeper–animal interactions, which can impact both parties mediated through a
variety of different interactions, and might be initiated by either party. Source: Katharina Herrmann.