Training of Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758 as a management technique for individual welfare

Abstract

Behavioral training is a method used in institutions that keep captive animals to assist in husbandry and health assessment issues. It consists of training animals using positive reinforcement to perform behaviors that facilitate veterinary procedures without the use of physical restraint or drugs, thereby improving animal welfare. A female Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), eight years old, weighing approximately 400kg and measuring 266cm, was the subject of this study. The training method used was operant conditioning with positive reinforcement, which encourages the animal to cooperate during veterinary inspections. The animal was trained that every time it performed a commanded behavior correctly, it would be rewarded with food and verbal praise. Furthermore, just prior to the moment of the reward a whistle was sounded; thus the animal associated this sound with the correct performance of the commanded behavior. To control the body position, the animal was trained by operant conditioning to touch a target. Our subject was trained in two stages, to perform necessary behaviors to collect biological samples (e.g. blood). Some of the possible factors influencing the training sessions were evaluated, such as the identity of the keeper, the impact of sounds and the number of days between training sessions. Only the identity of the keeper was found to influence training sessions. Our subject rapidly learned to express a number of commanded behavior patterns to assist its management in captivity. Therefore we consider this method to have been successful. We consider this method indispensable when managing large endangered species in captivity, as training reduces stress for the animal and reduces risk to its human caregivers. Finally, the application of this method will allow us to collect more biological data about this endangered species.RESUMO: O treinamento comportamental é um método que vem sendo utilizado em instituições mantenedoras de animais em cativeiro. Consiste no desenvolvimento de um repertório comportamental, visando facilitar o acesso veterinário sem o uso de contenção física ou química, reduzindo o comprometimento do bem-estar animal. Uma fêmea de peixe-boi marinho (Trichechus manatus manatus), com oito anos de idade no momento do experimento, cerca de 400kg de peso e medindo 266cm de comprimento total foi o animal em estudo. Utilizou-se o condicionamento operante como técnica de treinamento, onde estimula-se, de forma positiva, a cooperação do animal durante o manejo veterinário. A cada vez que o animal executava o comportamento que lhe foi solicitado, recebia recompensas, como por exemplo alimentos e frases de incentivo. Simultaneamente, um apito era acionado para estabelecer uma associação entre comportamento e recompensa. Foi utilizado um alvo para orientar o animal a posicionar-se na forma desejada. A fêmea foi treinada, durante duas fases, a exibir comportamentos necessários para a coleta de amostras biológicas (por exemplo, sangue). Foram avaliados fatores de possível influência n...

Manatee calf call contour and acoustic structure varies by species and body size

“…In all locations, acoustic recordings of manatee calf vocalizations were collected from healthy animals. The straight-line body length-a straight-line measure from the tip of the snout to the medial notch of the fluke-of each manatee calf was obtained using a measuring tape during routine health assessments by veterinary staff at each of the respective facilities 38 . www.nature.com/scientificreports/ loudness in relation to the hydrophone 19 .…”

“…Information on the manatee calves recorded in this study. The body length of each calf was measured during routine veterinary procedures according to standard protocols at each facility38 (ZT ZooTampa, CMCC Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center, DD Dolphin Discovery, CMA Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos/IBAMA, INPA Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, MPEG Parque Zoobotânico of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, CPPMA Centro de Preservação e Pesquisa de Mamíferos Aquáticos da Manaus Energia, BioMA Biologia e Conservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos da Amazônia).…”

Interactions Between Calves of Amazonian Manatees in Peru: A Study Case

“…Keeping individuals in captivity with rehabilitation purposes provides a unique opportunity to develop ethological studies. Studies of manatee behaviour in captivity have provided useful information on training (Colbert et al, 2001;Lima et al, 2005), communication and auditory capabilities (Bullock et al, 1980;Gerstein et al, 1999;Mann et al, 2005;Colbert et al, 2008), visual acuity (Bauer et al, 2003;Maple and Segura 2015), tactile discrimination (Marshall et al, 1998) and learning behaviour (Gerstein, 1994), among others (Bauer et al, 2010). The results of these studies are useful not only to evaluate the conditions of a particular individual, but also to open new insights on the manatee behaviour knowledge.…”

Uso de diferentes matrizes biológicas na dosagem de andrógenos em peixes-bois da Amazônia machos (Trichechus inunguis) mantidos em cativeiro

“…Tanto para saliva quanto para urina, o problema da necessidade de drenagem do tanque para sua obtenção poderia ser resolvido com o condicionamento dos animais para colaborarem com as coletas, como já foi demonstrado com falsasorcas (ATKINSON et al, 1999) e focas-monge-do-Havaí (Monachus schauinsland) (THEODOROU; ATKINSON, 1998) para coleta de saliva, e com orcas (Orcinus orca) (WALKER et al, 1988;ROBECK et al, 2004), golfinhos-nariz-de-garrafa (Tursiops truncatus) (ROBECK et al, 2005), dugongos (WAKAI et al, 2002 e peixes-bois marinhos (COLBERT et al, 2001;LIMA et al, 2005) para coleta de urina.…”