Animal Training Policy

RegensteinCenter for African Apes (RCAA)

All animal training here at the RCAA (RegensteinCenter for Africa Apes) is done by operant conditioning through positive reinforcement. This simply means that animals are rewarded with something desirable for executing correct behaviors, not receiving anything for incorrect behaviors, and are ignored or timed out for nonparticipation or aggression. The system we use at RCAA as well as other areas at LPZ that house dangerous animals is Protected Contact Training, simply meaning that there is a barrier between the trainer and animal. In our case the barrier is a galvanized wire mesh with two inch by two inch square. With this setting all the animals at RCAA animals have the free choice to participate in each session. This gives the animal the ability to decide what they want to do and to have control over their environment. Reinforcers are always cut finger-length. If that is not possible (i.e., grapes), a remote delivery tool is required. Approved delivery tools include spoon, tongs, and in the case of liquid, squeeze bottles with straw or open ended without the top.

Currently at RCAA there are four social groups, two gorillas and two chimpanzee. Each group is treated as one unit where all group members are shifted together, See Shifting Protocol. On the receiving end, usually in the particular group's holding area trainers are waiting for an individual. Each individual has there own colored shapes, station markers which they have been conditioned to station. Once animals are stationed, training begins with all non-separated group members. This ensures that one individual animal does not interfere with another's training session. During the session trainers are communicating with one another so that all sessions end at the same time. After each group session a keeper will write down in the training log how each group member shifted and where each individual stationed. Problem shifters, station changes, or social dynamics are usually focused in these log entries. The training log is located on the wire shelving in the diet prep (downstairs kitchen) area (SEE APPENDIX I).

Ultimately we would like to be able to separate all group members and we are constantly striving for that goal. When animals are separated, it give trainers the flexibility to take their time with an individual and train new behavior and not worry about going the same pace as all the other trainers.

Each individual animal has a primary trainer that works that works that animal in the morning sessions while shifting. It is during these sessions where new behaviors are being taught. Once new behaviors are established the primary trainer demonstrates the new behavior to the Lead Keeper and another Full Time Keeper (Trainer). If the animal executes the behavior correctly and consistently for the two new trainers, this new behavior can then be passed on to the rest of the Primate Department Trainers. Prior to working on a new behavior a shaping plan needs to be written that has all the predicted steps involved with training a new behavior (SEE APPENDIX II). Shaping plans must be approved by the Zoological Manager and/or Curator prior to implementation. Once a behavior is established, a finished behavior sheet needs to be filled out. This list gives the exact steps that were involved when shaping the behavior (SEE APPENDIV III).

Afternoon public training demonstrations or periodic sessions done in the afternoon give other trainers an opportunity to work animals that they do not regularly see. Other times when trainers get to work animals that they do not regularly see is when the primary trainer is off for the day. When working an animal that you are not the primary trainer for, please refrain from asking the animal from non-established behavior. The list of individual animals with there established behaviors are posted on the white board outside of the diet prep (downstairs kitchen) area.

Shifting plans will regularly change depending on factors such as those highlighted in the tour log. When a particular animal is being difficult and disrupting the flow of the entire session, the primary trainer for that animal will write up a shifting plan. This plan will then be presented to the RCAA staff during the morning meeting and a hard copy will be posted in the keeper break room and in the folders of the training log (SEE APPENDX IV).

Any new training initiatives that will affect more than one animal or the entire group will go through the following “approval” process:

  • The proposal will be discussed at an RCAA training meeting and a decision will be made by the Lead or Assistant Lead and ZM or Curator.
  • If a staff member wants to move forward on an initiative, but waiting until the next training meeting will impede progress, a draft proposal for the initiative will be written and posted on the schedule board for review. Final approval will be given by the Lead or Assistant Lead and the ZM or Curator.

Individual animal training records must be filled out to indicate the progress each animal is making. These records tell how they perform for each session, how they responded to each cue or Sd (discriminative stimulus), their attentiveness, if they left in the middle of a session, and if they even participated at all. These records are located on the shelves of the FisherCenter.

D. Calderisi 08.14.2005 / S. Margulis 08.14.2005

Reviewed 8-19-06, S. Margulis

Reviewed by D. Calderisi 12.09.2006

Updated by M. Leahy 2007reviewed Mleahy 2.1.2012

IV.4.1