Page 357 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Box C1 Training Animals in a Group Setting 329

By placing the animals far apart at the start
VetBooks.ir and reinforcing them consistently for
patiently and calmly waiting at their station,
they learn that it is not necessary to compete
with the others. With time, the distance
between the animals can be decreased, mak-
ing it possible to reduce the number of train-
ers necessary to work with the entire group
(see Figure C1.4a and b).

Reinforcement

Animals will learn through a strong positive
reinforcement history to wait patiently and
accept another animal to receive reinforce-
ment. Therefore, at the start of the training
programme, the animals are just reinforced
for stationing patiently. Once this is properly
conditioned, the trainer can begin to slowly
work individual behaviours for a short period.
However, when a trainer is working with one
individual, they should never forget that the
others are also working – waiting patiently.
For example, during a group training ses-
sion, if the trainer asks Animal #1 to perform
a behaviour (i.e. mouth open) and Animal #2
Figure C1.2 Whether the multiple animals you’re is asked/expected to wait patiently, the ani-
trying to train are social or not, might impact
whether you want to train all the animals in a group mal waiting patiently is having to do the
or individually. Source: Odense Zoo. more difficult behaviour – waiting whilst the

Figure C1.3 Considering the social hierarchy in a group is essential when training animals together; pictured
here the grey seals at Hel Marine Station, Poland, stationed in hierarchical order. Source: Kirstin Anderson‐Hansen.