Drop floor chute training for ungulates - Antelope & Giraffe TAG
Drop floor chute training for ungulates - Antelope & Giraffe TAG
Drop floor chute training for ungulates - Antelope & Giraffe TAG
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The Use of a Stationary <strong>Drop</strong>-<strong>floor</strong><br />
Chute as an Alternative to Chemical<br />
Immobilization <strong>for</strong> Ungulates at San<br />
Diego Zoo’s Shipping Pens<br />
Bob Cisneros<br />
Animal Care Supervisor<br />
San Diego Zoo
When Handling Animals<br />
• Your number one priority should always be:<br />
– Never to have to handle the animal
Options available with hoof stock:<br />
• Get them when they are not looking or asleep<br />
• Chemical immobilization<br />
• Hands on restraint<br />
• Operant conditioning<br />
• Mechanical restraint (Tamer)
San Diego Shipping Pens<br />
• Way station <strong>for</strong> outgoing animals<br />
• Holding area <strong>for</strong> critical care<br />
• Holding area <strong>for</strong> introductions
Shipping Pens Business<br />
• Pre shipment physicals<br />
• Tb test reads<br />
• R&R and vet checks<br />
• Shipment out<br />
• Peak times: up to 20-30 vet procedures in one<br />
month
• Routine exams<br />
• Blood collection<br />
• Hoof trims<br />
<strong>Drop</strong>-Chute Tamer<br />
• Administering medication<br />
• Wound care
• Safe<br />
• Quick<br />
<strong>Drop</strong>-<strong>floor</strong> Chute<br />
• Effective <strong>for</strong> res<strong>training</strong> <strong>ungulates</strong><br />
• Minimizes stress and injury<br />
• Effective replacement <strong>for</strong> chemical and<br />
physical restraint
• Dik dik<br />
• suni<br />
• Steenbok<br />
• Klipspringer<br />
• Gazelles<br />
• Oryx<br />
• Eland<br />
• Impala<br />
• Sable<br />
Species used<br />
• <strong>Antelope</strong><br />
• Vaal Rhebok<br />
• Springbok<br />
• Bontebok<br />
• Kudu<br />
• Calamian Deer<br />
• Wapiti<br />
• Bongo<br />
• Mishmi and Sichuan Takin
• Requires 4-5 keepers<br />
Procedure<br />
• animal is released into the hall area<br />
• one person is needed to prompt the animal to<br />
shift into the hallway (this may require a red<br />
board or shield)<br />
• another keeper waits behind the first pushboard<br />
which is mounted on tracks
Mounted push-board and track<br />
system at end of hallway.
Push-board with lockable handles and access door. The<br />
upper part of the push-board is per<strong>for</strong>ated metal,<br />
allowing the keeper to maintain visual contact with the<br />
animal.
The Tamer Route
estraint of a Calamian deer. Note<br />
the restraint of the shoulders yet<br />
the legs remain free.
Four adjustment settings <strong>for</strong> back<br />
and shoulder width
Removable bottom of tamer
This Calamian deer has cleared the<br />
corner and is now being guided up<br />
the ramp and into the tamer.
Manually pulling the deer further<br />
into the <strong>chute</strong>.
the legs are now free to hang while the weight<br />
of the animal and the V shape of the cradle act<br />
as a natural restraint.
Head restrained and eyes covered
Movable panels on side of tamer <strong>for</strong><br />
easy access to the dorsal region.
access to the animal’s dorsal area
Front access available
One side of the <strong>chute</strong> is retracted,<br />
allowing <strong>for</strong> enough space <strong>for</strong> the<br />
animal to drop safely to the ground.
Hallway video
Ventral drop
Dorsal View Video
Ventral View- release
• Team work<br />
• Communication<br />
• Plan B,C, and D<br />
Other requirements<br />
• Complete walk-through
Acknowledgements<br />
• Mesa Team <strong>for</strong> expertise and team work<br />
• Curby Simerson, Associate Curator<br />
• Rod Owlet, Animal Care Manager
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