Fagen Et Al

Question 1

One result in relation to the number of sessions it took for the elephants to pass the full trunk wash test.

Answer 1

Elephant 2 took fewer sessions to pass the trunk wash behaviours compared to Elephant 4.
It took elephant 2 25 sessions
The juvenille elephants passed the trunk behaviours within the range 25-35 sessions ,whereas the elder elephant never passed

Question 2

What is meant by positive reinforcement

Answer 2

This is the addition of a reward in order to increase the probability of repeating the same behaviour

Question 3

Trunk up procedure

Answer 3

Used the lure and shaping technique
When the elephant wants to try and perform a trunk up behaviour
A reward would be strategically positioned in order to aid the elephant to perform a trunk up behaviour
The reward would be chopped banana which would be positioned a few inches away from the elephant’s forehead
This would cause the elephant to extend their trunk up in order to reach the chopped banana

Question 4

Sample Fagen?

Answer 4

5 elephants
All females
4 juvenilles-aged 5-7
1 elder-around 50 years-has impaired vision
They all came and participated with their mahouts
Lived at a stable in NEPAL