Page 252 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

224 Box B8 Training Reptiles in Zoos: A Prooessional Perspective

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Figure B8.4 Following a period of patting and scratching to encourage the ‘finching’ posture, this adult male
Galapagos tortoise helonoidis nigra is held in position with a target during desensitisation of the neck for
future conscious blood draws. Source: Auckland Zoo.

Training reptiles therefore, may not always procedures are usually quicker, cheaper (no
be as straight forward as with endothermic anaesthesia) and far less traumatic, and the
‘gas‐guzzling’ birds and mammals. Keepers opportunities to include reptiles in the
should take into account alternate forms of traditionally bird and mammal‐dominated
communication with their animals and cuing world of public presentations and trained‐
beyond traditional auditory and visual. animal displays are gradually being real-
Exploiting the extraordinary olfactory abili- ised. These benefits though, are yet to be
ties of most reptiles and the sensitivity of widely appreciated by the broader zoologi-
snakes especially, to non‐airborne vibration, cal community. Reptile training is not yet
may provide alternate means of cuing ani- the ‘norm’ and traditional ways of thinking
mals to particular behaviours. Whilst and keeping take a long time to change.
rewards might include access to preferred Whilst anecdotes of personal experiences
resting/hiding places and favourable bask- with reptile training are increasingly com-
ing/thermal localities, positive human con- mon, and indeed YouTube and other online
tact and, of course, food. video sharing websites are peppered with
Training reptiles poses some significant films of all manner of scaly animals demon-
challenges but the rewards are well worth strating variably authentic trained behav-
the effort. Being able to work safely with iours, publications in the field are hard to
dangerously large crocodilians and lizards come by. The zoo reptile keeping industry
because food has been disassociated from would benefit greatly from a concerted
keepers and the animals conditioned to effort to generate wider interest and develop
allow close proximity, even contact, and reptile‐specific skills in training through
daily husbandry makes life less stressful dedicated workshops and publications in
for keeper and animal alike. Veterinary relevant literature.