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 section is dedicated to animal training techniques for all animals and pets, and topics related to operant conditioning and reinforcement. This column is about a kinkajou (Potos flavus) animal behavior evaluation and kinkajou training strategies. 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.

Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
Animal Behavior & Training Evaluation

QUESTION
We have had an ambassador animal for four years. During this time he has been reliable and amiable in every situation imaginable. Recently he attacked a handler without any precursors or events of note. Do you have any comments or suggestions?

HISTORY & INCIDENT
The animal is a five year old intact male kinkajou (Potos flavus). He is currently housed separate from others of the same species. Although he has shown territorial behavior in his own enclosure, he has shown no other aggression previous to this incident. During the breeding and birthing cycles of his neighboring animals, he has remained calm and un-reactive.

The attack occurred during an offsite trip. Previous the incident he was sleeping and playing with handler A through the bars of his crate during transit to location. Weather was cool and temperate. Duration of travel was in excess of five hours. The animal was housed in a crate and then taken out for exercise, feeding, and interaction. During this period the animal was fine and exhibited normal behavior. The animal was picked up and placed back into his holding area.

Another animal, whose crate was located in an adjacent area, was given the same opportunity. The second animal was one and a half year old neutered male coati (Nasua nasua). In his exploration this animal jumped up onto the crate of the kinkajou. The kinkajou, who was curled up asleep and whose crate was covered, was abruptly awakened and slammed the side of the crate while hissing and screaming.

The coati was removed and returned to his crate housed in another area. Both handlers left the area for dinner and sometime later returned. At this time the kinkajou was given another opportunity to meander. He was given some fruit snacks by handler A and gobbled them down while sitting on a platform adjacent to her.

He then climbed down, uttered an unsure call (ouuuuiiiii) and then turned and attacked the handler who had remained seated nearby. Puncture wounds from both claws and teeth were sustained. Handler A attempted to remove the animal through enveloping him with a blanket and was unsuccessful. Handler B attempted redirection which worked, when handler B attempted to pick him he also bit her, although not severely.

Handler B put the animal down and began baiting him back into his crate. As the crate door was closed he reacted by slamming the door and hissed and screamed. Both handlers left the room. The kinkajou screamed continually for a half and hour. It was then that his crate was removed and placed into the travel van. During this time he continually attempted to attack. He calmed down after an unknown duration.

The next day this animal continued to scream and lunge while in his crate. This occurred during the loading of the other animals and during travel time. He was unable to be used in any shows. This behavior continued for over six and a half hours. The animal was then lightly sedated.

During this time his crate was removed to a quiet shaded area and while handler B moved him he attempted to attack her. He slept a bit. When the performance was over three to four hours later, he was then sedated at a local veterinary clinic. (Torbatrol IM and then Torbatrol oral for the next two days.)

Since that time (a couple of weeks) the animal has remained in an unusual state. His eyes are not as bright as they had been previously. Although they are not cloudy. Handler B, who raised him, describes it as "if he is looking through me, without recognition"

BACKGROUND & ADDITIONAL NOTES
Upon first viewing this animal I noticed he is jumpy, eating voraciously, and his intake of water has increased. Stools remain normal, urination normal but increased in relation to the increase of water intake. Handler B describes him as jumpy and cranky. He reacts to being touched by flinching. No particular area of sensitivity noted.

This animal crates fine for food and is not attacking. Handler B has been crating him and bringing into the main office area. The animal's behavior has changed in that he is not approaching handler B in the familiar territory of the office as before, except an occasional minor approach and was more interested in sniffing.

During this approximation period he was picked up by handler B from the wire side of his cage. He immediately started sniffing and licking her face, which was a normal event previously. He allowed the touching of his tail and back and then walked onto her arm. Initially placed two feet on her and sucked on finger as he used to as before. Handler cradled him for a minute and he licked her face and chin.

When she went to place him on his shelf he began to act as if he was going to get possessive and loosely wrapped himself onto her arm instead of disengaging onto the shelf. Handler describes it as possibly sexual. He enveloped her arm but handler B was able to withdraw. Once upon the shelf he went right to his food and is now showing food possessiveness. This animal never showed food possession before and cannot be hand fed like before. Animal will also not allow the removal of his blanket.

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES
1. Veterinary Examination
Although exotic animals can display a variety of unexpected behavior, sudden drastic changes can imply veterinary medical concerns. Due to the vocalization prior to attack and the subsequent change in dietary habits, I would suggest you consult your veterinarian. Epilepsy (petite mal seizures), abnormal thyroid, or abnormal adrenal functions have been contributing factors to aggression in other species.

2. Dietary Regulation
Closely monitor food and water intake. In response to his voracious appetite you may want to increase his food intake. In addition, although this may be difficult to do, you may want to discuss running a blood sugar test in cooperation with your veterinarian. Monitor and regulate the quantity and composition of diet and see if your vet thinks this warrants an increase in protein intake and to multiple feedings.

3. Altering
If your intent is to continue using this animal in a show environment I would recommend that you consider altering the animal. Although some animals may show sexually related behavior and aggression upon sexual maturity, many animals in captivity will not do so until sometime later when they begin to mature psychologically.

4. Approximation & Desensitization
Continue with your efforts at reintegrating this animal back into shows. Handler B should be the predominant handler due to the established rapport. Have handlers wear attire that provides more covering rather than shorts. Reward toleration of proximity of the other handlers.

5. Consistency in Application
a. You may want to also begin conditioning the animal to respond to specific commands and a conditioned reinforcer. In addition to a dietary log, be sure to include a daily log on this animals behavior toward keepers and handlers. Note any conditions or events surrounding abnormal behavior.

b. Provide a safe haven where the animal cannot be disturbed by others engaged in exercise and social time when in a new environment. Use care when awakening the animal prior to any show performance. You may consider other options since kinkajous sometimes do better when they have more quiet, dark, and secluded enclosure conditions.

c. You may also want to provide an area of familiarity, such as a platform, to use in your off-site shows. This also gives you a place to redirect an animal in the event of misbehavior or aggression during a performance.

6. Contingency Plans
You may want to begin using a bite stick and have a physical barrier (like the blanket or a more solid barrier) to use for an emergency plan of restraint. A bite stick is an extension of the hand or arm that can be used to redirect the attack or to let the animal bite instead of the handler. Rawhide chewsticks or related items that also distract the animal by scent can be used early on during early signs of escalation.

7. Other Factors
Although anecdotal, there have been many discussions about animals reacting adversely to the hormonal fluctuations in females during pregnancy. I have not personally witnessed or experienced this nor have I found any literature to substantiate this theory. Although this may have been a contributing factor, I suspect other factors are more predominant.

8. Miscellaneous
Use caution in efforts of redirection since you do not want to inadvertently reward aggressive behavior. This would be especially important during the keeper routine. If this animal shows aggression toward other handlers be sure to give a time out and then attempt efforts again at a later time. If the routine has to be changed to accommodate this procedure do so immediately.

UPDATE
This animal has been reintroduced into the show environment and his behavior is returning to normal. He is kept up front away from other animals during transportation. In addition, he is woken up prior to shows to insure he is fully alert and awake. His food intake has been increased so that he is fed up before performing. Due to the recent food aggression no food is used during shows.

This animal is only being worked by handler B. He currently shows aggression toward other keepers and handlers especially if they tell him "no." He currently hisses, bluff charges, and threatens any keeper entering his enclosure. Routine should be adjusted to eliminate any reinforcement of this behavior.

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.