Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is well-known
for our giraffe herd. People are excited to feed the docile giants face to face
– currently there are 19 roaming the Zoo’s African Rift Valley. Everyday at 2
p.m., guests can also take a front-row seat to watch our giraffe training
program in action.
Cooperative husbandry
training helps animal keepers care for the giraffes. This may seem like
technical “zoo-speak,” but basically it means that our animals are trained to
be willing participants in their own care. This willing participation means
safer and less stressful procedures for both humans and animals. Much of this
training is focused on hoof work, because just like fingernails, hooves grow. It
is important that they get trimmed regularly.
“In zoos, eighty percent of
giraffe anesthesia is done to address foot problems,” Dr. Liza Dadone, Cheyenne
Mountain Zoo’s Head Veterinarian, said. “Anesthetizing a giraffe is dangerous.
The animal training that the keepers are doing is taking out the need for that
high-risk anesthesia for our herd.”
In March, animal keepers
chose two giraffes to start foot training, Lakish and Mahali. They were
presented with a sturdy wooden box and were given voice commands (left or
right). As the giraffes learned to place a foot on the box, they were then
given a second command, “touch.” Animal keepers would then touch their foot.
Eventually, the giraffes’ training progressed to the point where they would
present their foot on the box, curl their foot up and hold it in that position,
while a farrier (hoof specialist) trimmed it. Currently 12 of our 19 giraffes
present their feet for regular farrier work, x-rays or laser therapy.
“It’s truly amazing how far
we’ve come in just a short amount of time,” Amy Schilz, Head Giraffe/Lion
Animal Keeper, said. “A number of people are really surprised at how smart
giraffes are, and how quickly we can cooperatively capture husbandry
behaviors.”
In addition to hoof work, the
animal keepers also work with the giraffes on shifting, targeting their nose to
a tennis ball, cooperative blood draws, neck stretches and standing still on a
scale. One female, Msitu, is even trained to allow keepers to conduct an
ultrasound test on her. This is how the veterinary team and keepers knew she
was pregnant with our newest giraffe calf, Emy, born on August 1.
“All of our giraffes are
given the opportunity to train,” Amy said. “Even Emy, who is only two months
old, has started target training.”
All of the giraffes are
trained with positive reinforcement – meaning when a giraffe chooses to
participate in training they are rewarded with giraffe crackers and other
healthy giraffe treats. If they don’t want to participate that day, they can
choose to simply walk away. Amy also explained that each giraffe has a
different training regimen and that each giraffe responds to different cues,
verbals and techniques.
“It’s like a puzzle,” Amy
said. “That is the fun part for me, figuring out what each giraffe is going to
respond to.”
In addition to cooperative
husbandry behaviors, the three giraffe animal keepers work on capturing some of
the giraffes natural behaviors (like sticking their tounge out or bowing for
water) on a training cue. Next time you are at the Zoo, check out our giraffe
herd’s positive reinforcment training in
African Rift Valley.
To read more stories from The Waterhole, or to keep up with
the latest news, events, and behind the scenes happenings at the Zoo, sign up
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http://www.cmzoo.org/aboutZoo/pressBox/waterhole.asp.
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