Final Deck Flashcards
What is behavioral enrichment
Provision of enrichment stimuli that increased opportunities for species-typical behaviors with the intention of enhancing animals’ physical and psychological well being.
2 Pioneers of behavioral enrichment
1900- Carl Hagenbeck- father of the modern zoo, enclosures without bars
1876-1956- Robert Mearns Yerkes worked with chimps and apes, wrote about the importance of enrichment for primates in captivity
2 MORE pioneers of behavioral enrichment
1950- Dr. Heini Hediger- father of zoo biology, psychological needs, mentally, physically, and socially. Healthy and humans responsibilities
1980 Hal Markowitz- expanding the way we think about enrichment, giving animals’ choice
Goals of behavioral enrichment
Provide choice
Encourages problem solving
Encourages investigating
Species-appropriate behavior
Benefits of enrichment
Enhance animal welfare
Enhance guest experience
Enhance job satisfaction of staff
Education
Conservation, breeding
Steps to providing behavioral enrichment
Determine the goal
Research/plan
Implement
Document
Evaluate and readjust
Research of the animal when creating behavioral enrichment should include
Does this animal hunt or passively find food
Where is it on the food chain
Carn, Herb, Omni
Social or solitary
Habitat
Which senses does it use
What have other people done
Safety research for enrichment should include
Is it safe
Can it break glass or other things
Can it help with escape
Can it be used as a weapon
Can animal become entangled
Impaction
A behavioral enrichment program should
Be goal orientated
Self sustaining/staff
Be integrated into daily management
Based on science
How do you know if BE is successful
Reduced abnormal behavior
Increased activity
More exploration
Less aggression
More play
Less fear
More natural behavior
Categories of enrichment
Physical environment
Social environment
Food
Senses
Training/ human interaction
Tips for physical environment enrichment
Use the vertical space
Carns and primates most likely to investigate novel items
Herbivores less likely to explore
Males more than females
Young more than old
Tips for social environment enrichment
Groups
Mixed species
Near others
Food types
Diet
Novelty
Variety
Treats
What to think about when providing food delivery enrichment
Frequency
Presentation:
Hidden, whole food, dispersed, live food, time released
Senses–> olfactory
Scents
feces
urine
spices
Senses–> audio
Novel sounds
Sounds of same/different species
Music
Senses- tactile
Texture
Manipulable object
Novelty
Potential enrichment problems
Frusteration
Dangerous for the animal
Competition
Safety
Enrichment tips
Research natural history
Know the individual
Money
Keep it unpredictable
Don’t rely on one type
Safety
Consider vet and nutritional issues
Definition of restraint
Restricted movement
Can range from minimal to complete immobilization
Varies with the desired objective
Why must this animal be restrained
Physical vs chemical
Goal of good restraint
Minimal amount of restraint consistent with accomplishing the task
Needs for restraint
Medical
Emergencies
Moving animals
Husbandry
ID
Things to consider about restraint
Environment
Behavior
Hierarchy
Health status
Territoriality
Time of day
Tools of restraint according to Fowler
Psychological
Diminishing sense perceptions
Confinement
Extension of arms
Physical barriers
Physical force
Chemical restraint
Restraint equipment
Gloves
Acrylic tubes
Blindfolds/hoods
Squeeze cage
Chutes
Snare poles
Boards
Towels
Rope
Corrals
Humane considerations when restraining an animal
Pain
Will the procedure result in the greatest good for the animal
Emotional or psychological impact
Things to consider when planning a restraint
Who is responsible
Do all parties know their roles
No substitute for experience and confidence or training
Provide equipment and facilities necessary for the procedure
Time
Follow through with observation until animal is back to normal
Potential problems when restraining an animal
Escape routes
Defense reactions
Stress
Animal trauma (overheating, drowning, injury)
Human trauma
Capture myopathy
4 questions to ask when restraining an animal
- Is it safe for the people
- Is it safe for the animal
- Will the suggested restraint be enough to accomplish the procedure (greatest gain with least risk)
- Can observation post restraint be ensured
Ways to minimize restraint/ make it less stressful
Training or de-sensitization
Proper facilities
Wait until proper resources are present
Be wary of escape potential
Be creative
Know the tricks of the species/ their self defense weapons
Listen to the keepers
What is QOL
Quality of life cannot be equated with physical health, mental state, or well-being, but is multidimensional concept involving an individual’s perception of these and other aspects of life
(An objective way to assess an individual’s condition)
According to the WHO, what are the six broad domains of experience involved in determining a person’s quality of life
- Physical
- Psychological
- Level of independence
- Social relationships
- Environment
- Spiritual
When do we use QOL
When an animal has a chronic condition, medical or behavioral
How do we determine QOL
Baseline data
Lots of observation
Data interpretation
Descriptions of grief
A normal, painful, natural, and temporary reaction to a loss
Can involve many intense feelings
Not everyone experiences all of these
Define anticipatory grief AKA pre-grief
Grief experienced as an individual is nearing the end
Can be when considering euthanasia
Degrees of grief
Each time is different or unique
We might feel sad without deep pain
Sometimes feels like your heart is ripped out
Stages of grief
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
What do we need to remember as animal care professionals when considering grief
We live longer than most of the animals we love and care for
We will lose them to death or transfer
These animals are not our pets
You may not agree with the decisions the facility makes
You still have other animals to care for during your shift
Reactions to grief
Be kind to yourself and others, both human and animal
Some seem unaffected or very deeply affected
Some want to talk through it, others avoid it
Some grieve deeply within, but not visibly
Try not to judge or change it
Coping mechanisms for grief
Keep yourself strong and well both physically and mentally
Keep balanced- eat right, exercise, mindfulness
Traditions can bring stability (turnovers)
Don’t let yourself wear down
How to help others to cope with grief
Don’t tell them how to feel
Be a good listener
Resist the temptation to try and fix it
Share memories
Don’t feel rejected if they don’t want you there
What is job burnout
Burnout is used to describe a state of mental weariness
Exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficiency or effectiveness
Why do zookeepers burnout
Job demands
Not achieving goals
Lack stimulating personal growth/development
Environmental stressors
Social stressors
Financial stressors
How can you keep yourself from burning out
Become part of the community of professionals
Find a mentor
Revisit why you are in the profession
Symptoms of burnout
Low energy or fatigue
Frequent illness
Headaches
Change in sleep patterns
Disengagement, detachment
Frustration
Helplessness
Hopelessness/ loss of motivation
Why do we use identification
Large groups
Similar animals
New keepers
Better welfare
Ideal methods of ID would be
Permanent
Inexpensive
Legible at a distance
Humane
Inconspicuous to the public
Fast and easy to use
Types of ID
Natural markings
Bands
Tags
Ear notchings
Tattoos
Collars
Transponders or microchips
Branding (hot and cold)
Digit clipping
Dyed, painted, or shaved hair-not permanent
Chalk
Pros and Cons of bands
Pros- colors are easier to read, unobtrusive
Cons- numbers difficult to read, can be lost, possible construction
Pros and Cons of tags
Pros- Readily available, easy to use, inexpensive
Cons- numbers wear off, constriction, tags can be a portal entry for infection
Pros and Cons of ear notching
Pros- easy and inexpensive
Cons- easily seen by guest, objection on humane grounds, in adults can lead to excessive bleeding
Pros and Cons of tattoos
Pros- almost infinite combo of letters and numbers
Cons- can fade, animal must be handled to read
Pros and Cons of collars
Pros- can be colored or numbered, humane, can attach telemetry, inexpensive
Cons- obtrusive, can become tangled, other animals may be attracted to it
Pros and cons of transponders/microchips
Pros- can be placed IM or sub cue, universal readers
Cons- Not all brands were compatible, cost, not legible from a distance, reading range varies, chip can slip
Attributes of African elephants
Has 2 sub-species
Largest land mammal
Bigger ears
Male and female have tusks
Trunk has 2 finger-like projections
Has 4 toenails on each forefoot
Attributes of Asian elephants
Has 4 sub-species
2nd largest land mammal
Only male has large tusks while female has “tushes”
Trunk has 1 finger-like projection
Has 5 toenails on each forefoot
What is the zoo environment (housing) for elephants
AZA requires facilities have separate enclosures for males
In N. America, each facility is required to have indoor housing
Indoor and outdoor requirements
Appropriate staffing (min of 2 people at all times)
Protected contact
Describe free contact with elephants
Keeper interacts with elephants without a barrier
Keeper usually carries a guide
Requires additional training and skill for the keeper
Free contact used to be the accepted management style
Resulted in keeper injury and death
Complaints of abuse
Some feel it is hierarchy based
Describe protective contact with elephants
Keeper works with elephants through or from behind barrier
Physical contact is restricted to specific locations
No guide used
Basic behaviors for elephants
Foot care
Ear/eye/mouth presentation
Trunk wash
ERD
Shift
Blood draw (from where)
What do you need to be an elephant keeper
Ability to communicate with others
Working knowledge of operant conditioning
Excellent problem solving skills
Ability to education
Ability and willingness to work hard
What is a marine mammal
Lives part of their lives in salt water, has mammal characteristics
Three pinnipeds that are most commonly found in zoos or aquariums (Pinniped means fin-footed)
- Phocidae (seals)- harbor seal and gray seal
- Otariidae (sea lions, fur seals)- calf sea lion, patagonian sea lion, steller seal lion, Australian seal lion, S. American fur seal, S. Africa fur seal
- Obodenidae (walrus)
What species are included in family Odontoceti (toothed whale or dolphin)
Bottlenose dolphin
Pacific white-sided dolphin
Pilot whale
Orca
Beluga
Commersons dolphin
Harbor porpoises
What species are included in the family Mysticeti (baleen whales)
Blue
Humpback
Grey
Fin
Right whales
What species are included in the family Sirenia
Manatee and dugong
Describe the pinniped: seals
Use front flippers to crawl on land
No external ear
Tend to have spots, rings or patches in fur that vary in color
Swims using hind flippers
Describe the pinniped: sea lions
Can use front flippers to support weight
Rotate hind flippers for walking
Have external ears
Mostly brown or grey in color
Swims using front flippers
Describe the walrus
Front flippers support weight
Can rotate hind flippers
Have tusks
Have very little hair in comparison
Whiskers are thicker
Use both sets of flippers for swimming
Males and females have tusks
Requirements for pinniped enclosures
Haul out area
Rounded ends instead of corners
Shallow area and sloped entrance and exit from pool
Separate pools for maternity, sick, or separating social group
Size requirements
Consider: fresh water, natural water temps, shade, manatees need heated water
Tips on Food and water for pinnipeds
Variety is best
Amounts
Feeding times
Fresh as possible
Frozen IQF vs block
Thaw 24 hours
Vitamins
Water
Common equipment for marine mammals
Scale
Squeeze cage
Lift platform/floor
Stretcher training
Nets
Training and enrichment of marine mammals
Target
Tactile
Blood draw
Husbandry
Crate or stretcher training
Enrichment/toys
Training is enrichment
Repetitive is boring
