Page 311 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training
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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.
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