ABC'S: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
CONCERNS & SOLUTIONS
A Question & Answer Forum For Animal Professionals
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Welcome to the ABC's! Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions is an animal behavior column written by animal behaviorist and animal trainer, Diana L. Guerrero. This page is dedicated to primate training techniques for an uncooperative (aggressive) ape. This evaluation for primate training is for a zoological facility. For pet training please visit the pet sections, see our pet behavior booklets in the shop, or click here for enrollment information for classes and teleseminars.Ape (Primate) Training Evaluation: Part Two
Question (American Zoo) Part Two of Two (Read part one now.)
Our facility has recently encountered animal aggression involving
one particular keeper. This is impeding animal training progress.
Do you have any suggestions?
Background
Last month this column discussed some of the possible contributors
to escalated aggression exhibited by a mature male primate toward
his male keeper. Questions were asked to help identify challenge
areas. This month we conclude with some strategies and suggested
reading. It is recommended
that you start with part one.
Strategies
Review the training log and area records.
One of the best keeper resources is the daily log. Review the area
log and any training notes for the animal. This will aid your attempts
to pinpoint when the aggression toward the keeper resurfaced. See
if anything jumps out and grabs your attention. Also review the
notes from when this keeper arrived on the string and what successful
protocols were followed. Duplicate these.
Review species specific ethograms.
Make sure everyone on the staff is sensitive to behavioral etiquette
within the species and those that signal threats or solicit appeasement.
Avoid any future cross species blunders through this education.
Identify the situations where the problem occurs.
To successfully address the aggression you have to identify all
the circumstances, times, and patterns surrounding it. Behavior
is predictable. Once you outline the who, what, where, when, and
how, then you can devise a strategy to avoid triggering the situation
and develop steps to address it. The time to take action is BEFORE
you get the escalated behavior.
Recognize the precursors and warnings predicting aggression.
Each animal exhibits precursory signals before displays or escalated
aggression. Usually the early precursors include body tension, and
changes in breathing patterns and movement. Learn to identify all
the signals so you can redirect the behavior or terminate the session
before undesired behavior is exhibited.
Desensitize the animal to the keeper.
Change the routine so that you can desensitize this animal to the
male keeper. Find the critical distance (distance at which the animal
first reacts--ie, gets tense) and then extend it by five feet or
so. Reinforce the animal when he does not react adversely to the
presence of the male keeper.
Reinforce calm and relaxed behavior.
Reinforce toleration and relaxed behaviors. You will reward relaxed
body posture, lack of tension, and then approximate tolerance of
the male keeper. Use favorite behaviors and preferred reinforcement
as you bring the male keeper into closer proximity.
Train an incompatible behavior.
You can use alternate response training (behaviors that replace
the undesired behavior or are incompatible with aggressive displays)
to shift the animal's attitude and response. This training strategy
is referred to as DRI (Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible
Behavior).
Terminate the session prior to escalation into aggression.
Read the behavioral clues to avoid aggression and terminate the
session prior to any escalation. Gradually lengthen the sessions
and integrate these into your other training routines.
Integrate the trainer back into the training sessions.
Integrate the male trainer into the training sessions with this
animal by first having him work the other animals and engaging in
peripheral activities.
Are you a reader with a question? Be sure to submit it--and good luck in all your training endeavors!
Suggested Reading
Baeckler, S. (2001) Chimpanzee-caregiver interactions in captive
settings: The effects of "cultures" of captive management.
Unpublished master's thesis, Central Washington University, Ellensburg,
WA.
Bloomsmith, M.A., Laule, G.E., Alford, P.L., & Thurston, R.H. (1994) Using training to moderate chimpanzee aggression during feeding. Zoo Biology, 13, 557-566.
Estep, D.Q. & Hetts, S. (1992) Interactions, relationships, and bonds: The conceptual basis for scientist-animal relations. In H. Davis & D. Balfour (Eds.), The inevitable bond: Examining scientist-animal interactions (pp. 6-26). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Hill, S.P. (2004) Behaviour and welfare of captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in relation to changes in housing. Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge, England.
Lash, Nevin, J. Ogden, L. Meller, V. Gunn. (1997) Management of Gorillas in Captivity (Husbandry Manual). Ed. J. Ogden, D. Wharton. Atlanta/Fulton County Zoo, Inc.
Lukas, K.E., Thompson S.D. (2002) Understanding increased aggression in a silverback gorilla at Lincoln Park zoo: Challenging zookeeper hypotheses. (Presented at the 25th meeting of the American Society of Primatologists.)
Maki, S., Alford, P.L., & Bramblett, C. (1987) The effects of unfamiliar humans on aggression in captive chimpanzee groups. American Journal of Primatology, 12, 358.
Malone, N., Vaughan, L., & Fuentes, A. (2000) The role of human caregivers in the post-conflict interactions of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Laboratory Primate Newsletter, 39, 1-3.
Waitt, C., Buchanan-Smith, H., & Morris, K (2002) The effects
of caretaker-primate relationships on primates in the laboratory.
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 5, 309-319.
Are you a reader with a question? Be sure to submit it--and good luck in all your training endeavors!
About the columnist: Since 1978 Diana L. Guerrero has worked professionally with both wild and domestic animals. Guerrero has been affiliated with, and certified by, a variety of animal programs in the USA and Europe. Based in California, she writes, consults, and speaks. Information on her animal career programs, training courses, and her books {What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality (SkyLight Paths, 2003), Blessing of the Animals (Sterling, 2007), Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy (Guerrero Ink, 2007), Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals (Guerrero Ink, 2007)} can be found in this web site and in the shop. Questions for Guerrero should be submitted via the blog comments or membership forum.
