Page 325 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

12.6 Does Predator Training Facilitate Survival 297

VetBooks.ir the prey species. Once these predators are resembles a dangerous predator that prey
are likely to encounter in the wild (e.g. din-
known, suitable models, or live predators
(or substitutes), can be used as the conditioned
stimulus for training. During training, mod- goes in Australia, wolves in North America).
els should be paired with a suitable aversive
stimulus, and for example, the odour of the 12.6 Does Predator Training
predator so the predator does not need to Facilitate Survival Following
be present. Odour is important because Reintroduction to the Wild?
many animals use both visual and olfactory
cues to detect the presence of predators, Many studies have successfully trained preda-
and olfactory cues can enable prey to take tor‐naive animals to recognise and respond to
elusive action (e.g. hiding, entering a bur- predators, but few studies have demonstrated
row) in the presence of a hidden predator. that pre‐release predator training enhances
Models are advantageous because they pro- the survival of animals following reintroduc-
vide a standard conditioned stimulus and tion to the wild (Ellis et al. 1977; Beck et al.
there are few ethical problems with their 1988). To test whether predator training
usage. Aversive stimuli can include firing enhances survival, predator‐naive (the control
rubber bands at the test subject, or simulat- group) and predator‐trained individuals
ing a frightening predation attempt by scar- (experimental group) should be monitored
ing or capturing the animal (Griffin et al. following release to the wild using radio‐
2000). Using models avoids the potential telemetry, or intensive mark‐and‐recapture
problems associated with the use of live trapping techniques, to provide robust esti-
predators, such as the spread of disease, mates of survival (Lebreton et al. 1992). Ideally,
injuries to prey, and variation in the uncon- researchers should locate animals daily to
ditioned stimulus. track their movements, and to identify the
Although models are widely used to train causes of mortality. Previous studies have
animals to avoid predators, they may lack shown that most predation on animals occurs
crucial chemical cues that animals use to within weeks of release to the wild (Parish and
identify or locate predators; for example, Sotherton 2007), so it is crucial to monitor ani-
rodents show strong fear responses to the mals daily during this period. Because many
odour emanating from worn cat collars, yet reintroduced animals often disperse away
taxidermic mounts lack such chemicals from reintroduction sites (Armstrong and
(McGregor et al. 2002). Hence, it may be Seddon 2007), large sample sizes may be nec-
necessary to add appropriate chemicals to essary to provide robust estimates of survival.
taxidermic mounts to train prey to associ- Such studies are expensive, require good plan-
ate the smell of predators with danger. ning and organisation, and require a dedicated
Predator urine and faeces may not be par- team on the ground, and in the air, to track
ticularly useful in this respect, since these daily movements of animals. Given that such
odours may fail to elicit antipredator studies are expensive, and time consuming, it
responses in wild animals (Apfelbach et al. is not terribly surprising that few studies have
2005). It would be far better to identify the rigorously tested whether predator training pro-
predator chemicals that the prey respond vides survival benefits following reintroduction.
to, and pair these chemicals with suitable Nonetheless, several research groups have
models during predator training. Finally, in not only trained animals to respond to pred-
some circumstances, it may be more ators, but have also monitored the fate of the
appropriate to use a live predator, such as a animals following release to the wild. Below,
well‐trained domestic dog trained to chase, I describe some of these projects in more
but not catch animals (McLean et al. detail, to illustrate the logistical difficulties
2000), particularly if that predator closely involved with this sort of research.