Crate conditioning of bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) for veterinary and husbandry procedures at the Denver Zoological Gardens

Phillips, Megan M.; Grandin, Temple; Graffam, Wendy; Irlbeck, Nancy A.; Cambre, Richard C.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-2361(1998)17:1<25::aid-zoo3>3.3.co;2-n

Cited by 22 publications

(33 citation statements)

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“…Bongo milk samples were collected at the Denver Zoo (Denver, CO 80205) in 1996–1998. Two adult female bongo were crate‐conditioned to allow veterinary and husbandry procedures including milk collection without chemical or physical restraint [Phillips et al, ]. Samples were collected at calf ages 51–300 days for the first lactation from dam 1 and calf ages 6–18 days for the second lactation from dam 1.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proximate composition of milk of the bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) in comparison to other African bovids and to hand‐rearing formulas

et al. 2014

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African bovids represent a highly diverse group with divergent neonatal care strategies. The extent to which their milks reflect this diversity is poorly understood. We analyzed milk of the bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) to compare its composition to milks of other African bovids and to evaluate bongo milk replacement formulas. Milk samples from three individuals (0 through 300 days postpartum, n = 28) were assayed for dry matter (total solids), crude fat, crude protein, total sugar, ash, calcium, and phosphorus; gross energy was assayed on a subset of samples and compared to calculated values. Nutrient composition changed very little over the lactation period except for day 0 (colostrum) and the last sample (day 300). Bongo milk (days 6-286) contained (mean ± SEM): 28.1 ± 0.7% dry matter (71.9 ± 0.7% water), 12.3 ± 0.6% fat, 10.6 ± 0.3% crude protein, 3.6 ± 0.1% sugar, 1.05 ± 0.03% ash, 0.26 ± 0.01% calcium, 0.16 ± 0.01% phosphorus, and a GE of 1.88 ± 0.06 kcal/g. The protein content of bongo milk accounts for 33% of energy. High protein energy appears to be typical of Tragelaphines and of African bovids that utilize a "hider" system of postnatal care. The stability of milk composition until day 300 suggests complete weaning may not occur until 9 months rather than at 6 months of age, as commonly assumed. None of the milk replacement formulas previously used for bongos was well matched to bongo milk composition; therefore, a new milk replacement formula is proposed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proximate composition of milk of the bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) in comparison to other African bovids and to hand‐rearing formulas

et al. 2014

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“…Rating scale and open-ended responses substantiated these findings. For big cats, respondents saw training as beneficial to veterinary/medical procedures, and as stimulating and enriching, similar to discussions about such practices with other species [Hosey and Melfi, 2010;Lambeth et al, 2006;Laule and Desmond, 1998;Laule et al, 2003;Martin, 2004;McKinley et al, 2003;Phillips et al, 1998;Prescott and Buchanan-Smith, 2003]. Consistent with findings in primate research [Bayne, 2002;Savastano et al, 2003], participants highlighted that training significantly strengthens the keeper-animal bond, positively impacting a keeper's work.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…Research with other species, primarily nonhuman primates, indicates that captive animals may benefit from both increased interactions with their keepers/carers and training. Animals managed in these ways have been found to experience improved physical well-being through increased health monitoring and problem detection [Hosey and Melfi, 2010;Lambeth et al, 2006;Laule et al, 2003;McKinley et al, 2003;Phillips et al, 1998]; and increased psychological well-being, through formation of stronger bonds with keepers/carers, increased choice and control over their environment, and reduced stress [Bassett and Buchanan-Smith, 2007;Bayne, 2002;Claxton, 2011;Hosey and Melfi, 2010]. Other potential benefits include cognitive stimulation, as a result of processing and using information gained during interactions and training [Laule and Desmond, 1998;Laule et al, 2003;Reinhardt, 2003]; and social stimulation through the interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Can Zookeepers Tell Us About Interacting With Big Cats in Captivity?

2012

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Despite the potential dangers involved, interactions between zookeepers and captive big cats are increasing. Research with other animals, particularly nonhuman primates, suggests that closer interactions can be beneficial not only for the animals and their keepers, but also for zoo visitors. This study sought to determine whether the same benefits may apply to keeper-big cat interactions. An online questionnaire was completed by 86 keepers worldwide, assessing which types of handling (hands-on, protected, hands-off) they practice with their big cats, whether they practice training, and what their opinions of these methods are (through a series of rating scales and open-ended questions). Protected contact was the most frequently used handling method among this sample, particularly with lions, tigers, and cheetahs, and training was practiced by the majority of participants with all big cat species. Participants perceived protected contact as the most beneficial handling practice for big cats, keepers, and visitors, noting how it can allow a close bond between keeper and cat, as well as its educational value for zoo visitors. Contrastingly, concerns were raised about the use of hands-on approaches, particularly with regard to the safety of all parties involved and the potential for wrong messages to be sent to visitors. Further, training was reported to be more beneficial for each group than any handling practice, yielding similar potential benefits as protected contact. Consistent with existing information with other species, these findings will be useful in directing objective research examining the use of different handling and training methods with big cats.

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“…The need to manage the behavior of captive animals has been well documented, leading to improved voluntary cooperation for husbandry purposes, decreases in aberrant behaviors such as aggression and stereotypies, increases in species-specific behaviors, and a general promotion of the "well-being" of exhibited zoo animals (Desmond & Laule, 1994;Forthman & Ogden, 1992;Markowitz, 1978). Examples of these applications within zoos or similar settings include using training to decrease aggression in a male chimpanzee to other chimpanzees during feeding times (Bloomsmith, Laule, Alford, & Thurston, 1994), using positive reinforcement to train an alternative response to stereotypic activity in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta; Coleman & Maier, 2010), training a diabetic chimpanzee to allow staff to reliably obtain blood and urine samples (Laule, Thurston, Alford, & Bloomsmith, 1996), increasing voluntary movement of group-housed chimpanzees from their outdoor enclosure into an indoor enclosure (Bloomsmith, Stone, & Laule, 1998), training an African leopard to forage near acoustic bird sounds for food rewards (Markowitz et al, 1995), and using various conditioning procedures to train bongo and nyala, two types of antelope, to enter a crate for husbandry purposes, (Grandin et al, 1995;Phillips, Grandin, Graffam, Irlbeck, & Cambre, 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%

Training penguins to interact with enrichment devices for lasting effects

2019

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The modern zoo has brought about two major advances in the behavioral welfare of their exhibited animals: (a) The use of environmental enrichment to promote naturalistic behaviors and (b) the use of training to improve voluntary husbandry care. Whereas training itself has been talked about as an effective enrichment strategy, little has been done to combine training procedures with enrichment. Typically, enrichment is treated as a trial and error process, where potential enrichment items or procedures are cycled through until successful enrichment is found. The use of shaping or other training techniques has seldom been documented to increase engagement with possible enrichment items or procedures. The following study examined the possibility of combining training and enrichment to produce continued interactions with enrichment devices. Two species of penguin, Magellanic and southern rockhopper penguins, were studied. Two measures were taken: Time spent swimming and contact with enrichment devices. The enrichment devices could be manipulated by placing fish within and hanging out of each device. During baseline sessions, no hits to either device were observed. During training sessions, several hits were recorded when fish were in the devices and overall swimming time increased during these conditions. When baseline was reintroduced without fish in the devices, contact with the enrichment devices rapidly declined and swimming time for the rockhopper penguins decreased. When the devices were reintroduced with fish but without training, the greatest number of enrichment device contacts and the highest percentage of time spent swimming were observed for the rockhopper penguins.

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Crate conditioning of bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) for veterinary and husbandry procedures at the Denver Zoological Gardens

Cited by 22 publications

References 0 publications

Proximate composition of milk of the bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) in comparison to other African bovids and to hand‐rearing formulas

Proximate composition of milk of the bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) in comparison to other African bovids and to hand‐rearing formulas

What Can Zookeepers Tell Us About Interacting With Big Cats in Captivity?

Training penguins to interact with enrichment devices for lasting effects

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