Page 173 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

8.2 Starting Assessment 145

VetBooks.ir can be so committed to the story of their pick up new skill sets or work together as a
team on the desired task. With this assess­
own greatness that even with overwhelming
evidence of their lack of progress or videos
be made to your vision or timeline. For exam­
of their lacklustre performance in training ment, you can decide if adjustments should
sessions, they will find excuses for their poor ple, let’s say you want to train a family group
performance. The hardest thing is being of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla)
honest and upfront at all times with ‘diffi­ to accept a cardiac ultrasound and they are
cult’ individuals. When leading a team, it is currently unwilling to separate from one
important that your expectations, in regard another in order to be trained. According to
to developing skills, are clearly communi­ the vet, ultrasounds with the two adults in
cated, even if some individuals may continu­ the family group are needed within the next
ally argue that they already possess these four months to monitor the new medication
skills. It is important when leading a team they have been given.
that ample opportunities to practice and To start, you can use information gained
focus on skill sets that have clear, measura­ during staff gap assessments, both individual
ble outcomes are provided – especially and team, to help determine how long a
where skills are lacking. In some cases, hav­ training programme might take that would
ing ‘difficult’ individuals attend external result in successful cardiac ultrasounds of
training courses that have a practical hands‐ each gorilla. If you discover that the staff
on component taught by someone they have a non‐receptive attitude towards the
respect may help them improve. proposed training programme and that indi­
In addition to an assessment of team mem­ viduals are currently unskilled, you may pre­
bers (Figure 8.1) and how the team operates dict it could take six to eight months to
as a whole, it is also important to look ahead realistically achieve the training goal. If you
to the future potential of the team. If you also look at the team’s future potential and
have a history of leading a team, you may be discover that they could be open to this train­
able to accurately predict how well they will ing vision with sufficient training, and/or

Figure 8.1 Keeper observing another team member training an Asian elephant Elephas maximus.
Source: Denver Zoo.