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11.6 The Impact of Training 283
VetBooks.ir the animal’s social interactions are directed routines for zoos animals can promote the
development of positive anticipatory behav-
within the animal group rather than at visi-
tors. This might be especially beneficial in
positive animal welfare (Watters 2014). Clegg
animals which display begging behaviour, iours, which have been suggested to indicate
which would likely have been reinforced by et al. (2018) observed that dolphins (Tursiops
visitors feeding the animals, but in a situation truncates) displayed a higher frequency of
when animals beg they then can cue and positive anticipatory behaviours in associa-
encourage further provisioning by visitors. tion with human–animal interactions with
Ironically, there is the potential for nega- familiar trainers, compared to when they
tive welfare repercussions if positive human‐ received access to toys in a pool. The authors
animal relationships and especially if bonds suggested the observed anticipatory behav-
are formed during training. When animals iours indicated that the dolphins perceived
form bonds with people, we understand that the training event with the familiar person to
those interactions take on special signifi- be positive; and in this context more positive
cance (Hosey and Melfi 2018). Whether the than access to toys (Figure 11.6). It could
trained animal perceives there to be positive be argued that if training sessions, which are
relationships which are shared with all the positively anticipated are discontinued the
people that train them, or if there is a animals involved may suffer. It is speculation
one person they especially ‘like’, interrupts in how this might manifest, but it is plausible to
the delivery of these interactions that may be consider that animals might need to find
viewed negatively. This might be especially alternative ways to spend their time, and/or
true for animals which have had formalised become frustrated, aggressive and/or bored
training as part of their husbandry for many (Chamove 1989).
years, or since they were young individuals, Training programmes can also affect con-
and therefore come to favourably predict or specific social interactions, either directly
anticipate the training sessions. Predictable when social interactions with conspecifics
Figure 11.6 Ripley and China (adult Atlantic bottlenose dolphins) demonstrating the squawk vocalisation
during a chat at the Indianapolis Zoo’s Marsh Dolphin Adventure Theatre. Source: Durin https://nv.m.wikipedia.
org/wiki/E%CA%BCelyaa%C3%ADg%C3%AD%C3%AD:IndyZoo‐DolphinsBlowBubbles.jpg.