Page 326 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

298 12 Training Animals so They Can Return to the Wild

VetBooks.ir 12.7 Training Houbara birds trained with the stuffed fox (Van Heezik
Bustards to Recognise Foxes
et al. 1999).
Given these poor results, in 1996 the
The houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undu- researchers used a live hand‐reared red fox to
lata) is a medium‐sized ground‐dwelling train the bustards. Training consisted of
bird that occurs in semi‐desert and shrub‐ introducing the fox, which was wearing a
covered arid plains of West Asia and North muzzle and a lead, into the bustard cage at
Africa. The bustard is highly prized by fal- dawn or dusk. The fox handler then
coners, and has been a traditional food of attempted to control the fox’s movements
indigenous people for centuries. Bustard with the lead. Trials lasted 40 seconds to
populations have declined substantially in 15 minutes depending on how quickly the fox
recent decades due to overhunting, over- began to stalk and chase the birds, and all
grazing, and urbanisation (Tourenq et al. trials were paired with the alarm calls of a
2005; Riou et al. 2011). In Saudi Arabia, pop- wild bustard. Groups of five birds per cage
ulations had declined to such an extent that were trained with three trials over three con-
the National Commission for Wildlife secutive days. Initially, training was carried
Conservation and Development (NCWCD) out in circular pens (5 m diameter), but larger
was established in 1986 to conserve bustards rectangular pens (15 m × 40 m) were used in
in that country. The aim of the programme is later trials to minimise injuries to birds.
to establish protected areas and viable popu- Unfortunately, the fox dislodged its muzzle
lations of houbara bustards to allow sustain- during several trials, and it bit two birds
able hunting of the species. Part of the which received minor puncture wounds, and
programme has involved reintroducing cap- it broke the leg of a third bird. Two other
tive reared animals to the wild (Seddon et al. birds broke their wings whilst attempting to
1995; Combreau and Smith 1998). The main flee from the fox, but this problem was recti-
factor that has affected the success of these fied by carrying out subsequent training
reintroductions is predation by the red fox sessions inside the larger training pen.
(Vulpes vulpes) (Combreau and Smith 1998). Despite the difficulties associated with using
In an effort to increase post release sur- the live fox, the bustards trained with the fox
vival of captive reared bustards, van Heezik showed stronger antipredator responses
and colleagues attempted to train bustards to than did untrained control birds (Van Heezik
recognise foxes as dangerous predators (Van et al. 1999).
Heezik et al. 1999). Initial trials in 1995 Following their release to the wild, the bus-
involved training groups of bustards with a tards trained with the live fox had much
taxidermic model of a red fox on a trolley, higher long‐term survival than did untrained
which rushed into the pen and lunged at the bustards. Of 22 predator‐trained birds, pred-
birds repeatedly for one minute. At the same ators killed eight and nine survived long‐
time, the researchers played back alarm calls term (up to 196 days). By contrast, of 22
of wild adult houbara bustards. Birds were untrained birds, predators killed 15 birds,
trained on three consecutive days, but they and only two birds survived long‐term.
rapidly habituated to the model, and so the Predation occurred rapidly following rein-
researchers switched to one training session. troduction; all birds killed by predators were
Note that no aversive stimulus (such as firing dead within 19 days following release to the
rubber bands at the birds) was paired with wild. These results provide compelling evi-
the model fox during the training sessions, dence that training provides tangible benefits
which may explain why the birds did not to captive reared animals, and highlights why
treat the taxidermic fox as dangerous. it is necessary to train animals to recognise
Following release to the wild, there was no and avoid predators prior to reintroduction.
difference in the survival of control birds and The study also highlights some of the issues