Page 112 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

84 5 What Is There to Learn in a Zoo Setting?

VetBooks.ir 1992; Sneddon et al. 1998). For example, challenge for zoos in rare cases where animals
have to be removed from their mothers,
superb fairy wren (Malurus cyaneus) moth-
ers call to their eggs, and when an egg
because the mother rejects them. Firstly, let
hatches, the nestling produces calls contain- shortly after birth for veterinary care or
ing important characteristics of the mother’s me acknowledge that some behaviours are
call. This embryonically learned ‘password’ partially innate, dictated by an animal’s genes,
bonds parent and nestling, and helps parents and partially learned from experience, either
detect foreign cuckoo nestlings (Colombelli‐ from interacting with the world or by being
Négrel et al. 2012). Cuttlefish (Sepia offici- taught (Shettleworth 2010). Imprinting is a
nalis) can ‘see’ (i.e. their visual system is type of time‐sensitive learning which gener-
active) several weeks before hatching; when ally occurs within hours or days after birth
researchers provided embryonic cuttlefish with some genetic input, in which an animal
with images of crabs (a prey species) they had gains a sense of identity. Filial imprinting
a significantly higher preference for preying refers to when a young animal acquires sev-
on this species once hatched (Darmaillacq eral of its behavioural characteristics from its
et al. 2008). Domestic dogs, amongst other parent. However, in the absence of a parent
mammalian species as well as birds, can learn the animal will imprint on any moving stimu-
food preferences from prenatal exposure to lus (Sluckin 2017). The behavioural develop-
certain flavours in the mother’s diet (Wells ment of precocial birds such as geese and
and Hepper 2006). ducks under human care is particularly deli-
Even though embryonic learning studies cate. However, Horwich (1989) found that
have been undertaken under highly con- sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) chicks
trolled laboratory conditions, the results are could be successfully hand‐reared by humans,
relevant to the same or similar species living if the human form is disguised, and chicks
in zoos. We should be mindful of providing imprinted on realistic models of their parents
zoo animals with appropriate prenatal sig- such as hand puppets with accompanying
nals; for example paying special attention to crane brooding calls. Other birds which have
minimising the stressors perceived by gravid been hand‐reared by zoos using similar meth-
females, and providing meaningful conspe- ods include California condors Gymnogyps
cific, predator, or diet‐related cues they may californianus (Utt et al. 2007) and kakapo
learn from before birth. This could be par- Strigops habroptilus (Sibley 1994).
ticularly challenging for endangered birds A young animal also has to learn its kin and
cross‐fostered by other species (Conway who to mate with, and there is evidence that
1988). The finding that young frogs and sala- the rearing environment is important for the
manders show adaptive behaviours such as development of mating preferences
shelter‐seeking cues learned before hatching (Slagsvold et al. 2002). Sexual imprinting is
(Mathis et al. 2008) has great implications for the process by which a young animal learns
zoo endangered species breeding pro- the characteristics of a desirable mate, which
grammes where individuals may eventually has very important implications for animals
be reintroduced to the wild (Crane and as part of zoo endangered species breeding
Mathis 2010; also refer to Chapter 12 on programmes. Kendrick et al. (2001) found
training and reintroduction). that domestic sheep and goats cross‐fostered
at birth, then reared in mixed‐species groups,
had social behaviour and mate choice more
5.2.2 Recognising Parents closely resembling their foster species than
and Mates
genetic species. Infant chimpanzees (Pan
Once an animal is born, it may need to recog- troglodytes) reared by human caregivers, for
nise its parent(s) in order to receive care and the purposes of language acquisition and
begin to learn survival skills. This poses a other cognitive research, have demonstrated