Page 241 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Box B6 Positive Reinoorcement to Enhance Weloare oo Primates 213

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Figure B6.2 Training young animals can help during times of transition, especially when hand reared infants
need to be reintroduced to their natal group or a surrogate mother; here an infant 0rangutan has been trained
to stay in a location and open mouth on cue. Source: Steve Martin.

management is with callitrichids. In Europe training. Firstly, the enclosures provided for
there has been workshops focusing solely on these species tend to be very controlled envi-
their training and the EAZA (European ronmentally and operate on a reverse light
Association for Zoos and Aquariums) calli- cycle to enable visitors to observe active ani-
trichid advisory group has a database of mals. These environmental controls often
information on various successful training result in relatively small enclosures, which
programmes. Perhaps the most influential mean that the presence of a zoo keeper can
work on this subject was conducted by the result in the animal demonstrating the
Bronx Zoo displaying a remarkable, 17 dif- species appropriate natural behaviour of …
ferent species of callitrichid, with a wide hiding! At ZSL London Zoo’s Nightlife
range of behaviours trained, including exhibit, the keepers overcame this issue by
ultrasound and stethoscope examinations conducting crate training with slender loris
(Savastano et al. 2003). (loris lydekkerianus) in protected‐contact
The one group of primates in which the use conditions. A specially designed crate
of training could be described as developing, attached to the outside of the enclosure
is with nocturnal primates. With the excep- meant the animal could choose whether to
tion of aye aye, of which there are several participate and allowed the trainer to add
examples of training in the zoo community, reinforcement when the correct behaviour
this group is arguably the most under‐repre- criteria was reached. Other nocturnal
sented with regards to training programmes, prosimian species trained include Moholi
and research generally. They are however, bushbaby (Galago moholi), at London Zoo,
very well provided for with other areas trained for weighing and transportation.
of behaviour‐based husbandry, especially Of all the groups of animals housed in zoo-
regarding lighting and behavioural enrich- logical collections, primates are surely the
ment. There are obvious reasons for this rela- best represented of all in terms of training
tive lack of inclusion in zoo husbandry for cooperative medical and husbandry