#elephanttraining

[barbaraheidenreich]

New podcast episode! Elephants have captured the hearts of mankind for centuries, including the heart of Gerry Creighton, Operations Manager for Dublin Zoo and Elephant Care Consultant. As a consultant, Gerry has traveled the world bringing innovation, backed by science to create elephant programs that thrive. Gerry looks to the ethology of the species for inspiration and creating opportunities for elephants to learn from elephants. However implementing this requires a different approach to day-to-day care, herd structure and human interactions than may have been traditionally provided in past. The results of this work, numerous studies and the data are revealing tremendous positive impacts on animal welfare. Gerry’s passion for elephants and animal welfare is infectious, and the Dublin Zoo’s elephant program is an excellent example of what is possible. What an inspiring guest! Listen at link in bio @barbara_heidenreich or here https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/podcasts/elevating-elephant-programs-with-gerry-creighton/ and on your favorite podcast outlets. #elephant #elephants #elephanttraining #elephantwelfare #elephantsinzoos #elephantconservation https://www.instagram.com/p/CIeAFRzFZAp/?igshid=pkavs8y702ve

[barbaraheidenreich]

Tech tests looking super awesome for our training teams at Oregon Zoo! Training Demonstrations are a feature of the live event. You will have a chance to ask questions via chat. I will moderate and read your questions to the trainers who will answer your questions live. Check the schedule to see our full list of training demonstrations scheduled. https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/goats-schedule-at-a-glance/ The Global Online Animal Training Summit is scheduled for Oct 25-26th. We are less than a week away from the live event. Register at www. ATFGOATS.com On demand option also available. #livetrainingdemonstrations #goattraining #orangutantraining #elephanttraining #snowleopardtraining #northamericanwildlifetraining #zooanimaltraining #globalonlineanimaltrainingsummit #animaltrainingconference #animaltrainingsummit https://www.instagram.com/p/CGflTTVF2cw/?igshid=1q4ptrjcjy88s

[barbaraheidenreich]

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In honor of World Elephant Day here’s a little before and after clip of training this young bull elephant (Sumatran elephant BTW) to do the right thing to earn reinforcers. Instead of punishing undesired behavior we can train a behavior that is incompatible with the “bad” behavior that will earn desired consequences. In this example wrapping the trunk around the pole is incompatible with climbing over the top. He can’t do both behaviors at the same time. This was his first session and you get to the see moment he figures out the behavior. (The so called “light bulb” moment.) Later in the session we added duration to the hold. A big giant “thank you” to all the amazing people who keep moving elephant conservation, care and training forward, and to the elephants who have inspired, touched so many of us. #worldelephantday #sumatranelephant #dri #differentialreinforcement #elephanttraining #positivereinforcement #lightbulbmoment

[barbaraheidenreich]

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Can you tell what behavior we were working on here? Rather than punish an undesired behavior that had been created via reinforcement (guest feeding opportunities), we are teaching what new behavior earns desired consequences instead. Note: there is another elephant being trained off camera so you will hear additional clicking. #elephanttraining #positivereinforcement #sumatranelephant #forcefreetraining

[barbaraheidenreich]

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Elephants are amazing to train. They can learn a variety of behaviors from simple to complex in a short period of time. However, at times their behavior can be a challenge to change, when a behavior problem arises. Here’s an interesting one we addressed a few years ago. This elephant would eat anything you handed to her that was small enough to go in her mouth. The behavior goal was to have her hold an item (not suitable to eat) in her truck and wave it for a educational marketing campaign, but she would eat it. To get reinforcable action of holding an (edible) stick and giving it back, we started with a eucalyptus twig. Eucalyptus was the one thing we could identify she wouldn’t eat. We then wrapped a different (edible) stick with eucalyptus. Then faded out the eucalyptus twig. We repeated this with many sticks, stems, palm fronds, etc (things she could eat) until she generalized the behavior. In one session we had our “everything eating ele” waving edible items on cue. The entire video clip and detailed steps will soon be available at www.animaltrainingfundamentals.com as well as solutions to other behavior problems. I’m doing a conference presentation on solving behavior problems with exotic animals. I’ve got drives and drives full of these kinds of clips! Lots to dive into 😊 Visit the site to learn more. #asianelephant #elephanttraining #tradebehavior #givebehavior #elephants #elephant

[wildlifeproject-blog]

Elephants On the Edge

via YouTube

Elephant crushing, or a training crush is a method by which wild elephants can be tamed for domestication, using restriction in a cage, sometimes with the use of corporal punishment or negative reinforcement. This practice is condemned by a variety of animal welfare groups as a form of animal cruelty.

As reported in the UN Report Gone Astray, in India, Myanmar and Thailand the 'kraal' or ‘training crush’ method involves an elephant being placed in a strong, large stall or cage and tied with ropes to keep the elephant from moving, including being unable to kick, raise or swing its head. This method is supposed to crush the elephant's spirit. Proponents argue that this allows the elephant to properly and safely learn the basic command “Still!” or “Quiet!”, and enable it to adapt to its new environment.

National Geographic reports on the use of nails and sticks stabbed into the ears and feet of an elephant the subject of a crush in Thailand. Other reports cite the use of beatings with sticks, chains or bullhooks, sleep-deprivation, hunger, and thirst to "break" the elephant and make them submissive to their owners. It is not clear whether all training crushes involve the use of corporal punishment.