“Operant conditioning training with positive reinforcement in Zoo animals for cooperation in management and medical procedures”
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2019-07-19
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No passado, os parques zoológicos e aquários, tinham como único propósito a exibição de animais para o entretenimento humano. No entanto, a crescente preocupação com os direitos e bem-estar animal, físico e psicológico, alteraram a perceção da sociedade em relação às suas necessidades. Esta alteração de mentalidade, que advém de uma alteração de paradigma na forma como o Homem se relaciona com o ambiente e os animais impeliu os zoos e outras coleções de animais a investir os seus recursos na melhoria do bem-estar animal, na conservação de espécies e na educação ambiental. Contudo, a vida em cativeiro carece habitualmente de estímulos físicos e mentais suficientes e impõe práticas de maneio que podem ser fonte de desconforto e stress para os animais envolvidos. Assim, nestas instituições, o refinamento de procedimentos de maneio geral e veterinário, bem como a avaliação do comportamento e bem-estar animal são imperativos diários aos quais urge responder. Neste trabalho, é descrito um plano de treino e um estudo comportamental num Rinoceronte Branco do Sul (Ceratotherium simum) elaborado de forma a proporcionar-lhe um maior estímulo mental e a facilitar procedimentos veterinários futuros, sem a necessidade de o imobilizar por métodos físicos ou químicos, minimizando o stress para o animal e diminuindo o risco de lesão da equipa veterinária. Os trabalhos foram realizados no Zoo de Santo Inácio, entre janeiro e março de 2019. Neste estudo, o plano de treino foi dividido em três fases: fase I - Dessensibilização, fase II - Treino de “clicker” e fase III - Treino de “alvo”. Simultaneamente foi efetuado um estudo comportamental, baseado no método de observação contínuo focal. Embora sem significado estatístico, os resultados demonstraram uma progressão positiva nas sucessivas fases de treino consideradas. Os comportamentos exploratórios demonstraram igualmente um aumento progressivo da fase I à fase III. As interações agonistas e o tempo despendido na alimentação sofreram também alterações. Os resultados obtidos demonstram a exequibilidade e os benefícios de um plano de treino dirigido à melhoria dos procedimentos de maneio geral e veterinário em animais de cativeiro.
In the past, zoological parks and aquariums, had as their only purpose the exhibition of animals for human entertainment. However, the increasing concern about animal rights, and their physical and psychological welfare, have changed society’s perception regarding their needs. This change in mentality, which arises from a paradigm shift in the way humans relate to animals and the environment, has impelled zoos and other animal collections to invest their resources in the improvement of animal welfare, conservation of species and environmental education. Nevertheless, it is common for animals in captivity to have limited access to physical and mental stimuli. Moreover, life in captivity also bears management practices that may be a source of discomfort and stress for the animals involved. Thus, the refinement of general and veterinary management procedures, as well as the assessment of animal behaviour and welfare, are daily imperatives that must be addressed by these institutions. In the present work, a training plan and a behavioural study conducted on a Southern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) are described; these were elaborated in order to provide an opportunity for mental stimulation and to facilitate future veterinary procedures, without the need of physical or chemical immobilization, minimizing stress for the animal and decreasing the risk of accidental lesions for the veterinary team. The work was conducted at Santo Inácio’s Zoo, between January and March 2019. In this study, the training plan was divided in three stages: stage I – Desensitization, stage II - Clicker training and stage III – Target training. A behavioural study was conducted simultaneously, based on the continuous focal sampling method. Even though a statistical significance was not achieved, the results have demonstrated a positive progression on the successive training stages. Exploratory behaviour also demonstrated an increasing progression from stage I to stage III. Agonistic interactions and the time spent on Feeding also varied during the different training stages. These, the results demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of a training plan directed to improve general husbandry and veterinary procedures for animals in captivity.
In the past, zoological parks and aquariums, had as their only purpose the exhibition of animals for human entertainment. However, the increasing concern about animal rights, and their physical and psychological welfare, have changed society’s perception regarding their needs. This change in mentality, which arises from a paradigm shift in the way humans relate to animals and the environment, has impelled zoos and other animal collections to invest their resources in the improvement of animal welfare, conservation of species and environmental education. Nevertheless, it is common for animals in captivity to have limited access to physical and mental stimuli. Moreover, life in captivity also bears management practices that may be a source of discomfort and stress for the animals involved. Thus, the refinement of general and veterinary management procedures, as well as the assessment of animal behaviour and welfare, are daily imperatives that must be addressed by these institutions. In the present work, a training plan and a behavioural study conducted on a Southern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) are described; these were elaborated in order to provide an opportunity for mental stimulation and to facilitate future veterinary procedures, without the need of physical or chemical immobilization, minimizing stress for the animal and decreasing the risk of accidental lesions for the veterinary team. The work was conducted at Santo Inácio’s Zoo, between January and March 2019. In this study, the training plan was divided in three stages: stage I – Desensitization, stage II - Clicker training and stage III – Target training. A behavioural study was conducted simultaneously, based on the continuous focal sampling method. Even though a statistical significance was not achieved, the results have demonstrated a positive progression on the successive training stages. Exploratory behaviour also demonstrated an increasing progression from stage I to stage III. Agonistic interactions and the time spent on Feeding also varied during the different training stages. These, the results demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of a training plan directed to improve general husbandry and veterinary procedures for animals in captivity.
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Master Thesis in Veterinary Medicine
Palavras-chave
Condicionamento operante , Ceratotherium simum