Elephants Elephants - Wildpro - Twycross Zoo

Section 6: Appendices
6.1 Appendix 1: Training
6.1.1 Training Terminology
Teaching an elephant to come when called: The handler starts by calling the
elephant’s name when the elephant is very close. The handler rewards the
elephant for turning to look at the handler. After some repetition and 100%
correct response, the handler asks for more by rewarding the elephant only
when it moves toward the handler. Again after some repetition and 100%
response, the handler begins to reward the elephant only when the elephant
approaches the handler when called. As the elephant progresses the handler
can start to move further away from the elephant increasing the distance the
elephant has to travel.
Superstitious behaviour: The elephant is asked to turn in a circle, while
turning the elephant also vocalizes. The elephant is reinforced by the trainer
for turning but the elephant believes that it was reinforced for the
vocalization.
Accidentally reinforcing inappropriate behaviour. The trainer reacts
inappropriately to the elephant throwing something. An inappropriate
reaction could encourage the elephant to repeat the behaviour. Unsolicited
trunk behaviours are encouraged when the trainer caresses the elephant’s
trunk when the elephant reaches out.
Rewarding the incorrect behaviour: The elephant comes to the handler when
called but also acts aggressively toward another elephant in the process. If the
handler still rewards the elephant because it came when called, in effect the
elephant is also rewarded for the aggression and may repeat this undesirable
behaviour.
Improperly using punishment and time-outs. The trainer punishes the
elephant when the elephant is confused and does not understand what the
trainer is asking it to do. The trainer gives the elephant a “time out” because
the trainer is frustrated not because of the elephant’s lack of compliance.
Inconsistency of the parameters of the behaviour: One trainer expects the
elephant to pick up its foot two feet above the ground and another trainer
expects the elephant to pick its foot up three feet. All trainers must agree
upon the level of performance of a behaviour to be expected. It is unfair to the
elephant to have to guess what the trainer will expect and to adjust to constant
variations.
Not taking care of the elephant’s basic needs: If the elephant gets
overheated, it is better to cool the elephant down before a training session. If
another elephant is intimidating the elephant involved in the training session,
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