Rachel Saunders

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elephant keepers- one target trainer, one to operate gates and one to move the rest of the herd away from gates. DAY 5- Saturday 24 th October NISSIM • 3 training sessions • Nissim is coming straight to the head target and will follow the target, not the trainer. • ‘Trunk-up’ is not being rewarded so Nissim learns to break this habit • Introduced the foot target to him • Chunky (Stephen Cunningham) completed a full training session with Nissim • Nissim seems content with training and more confident once in the main herd again. Also his levels of pacing have dropped when in the bull yard between sessions • Whilst held in his night pen between sessions if he stands stationary with hay, this will indicate he is more relaxed and not reverting to pacing behaviours Figure 8: Nissim coming to head target BUTA • 3 training sessions • Buta is continuing to follow the head target and lift both front feet along the PC wall and through the foot port • Buta seemed a little unfocussed and agitated with Alan but more productive with Andy due to keeper/elephant relationship • Andy completed a full training session with Buta. She is holding her foot steady for a longer period of time in the foot port • Buta much calmer out with the herd and enjoying spending time with Nissim Figure 9: Andy training Buta Conclusions- • Both elephants improving dramatically and seem to want to please
• Andy and Chunky both getting to grips with the targets, commands and accurate timing and positioning • A floodlight has been fitted above the trainer area to illuminate the trainer so the elephants can see the trainer clearer • Keeper-For-A-Day present a.m, and enjoyed hearing about our aims and was impressed with our achievements. We are trying to continue all normal events so the elephants are unphased by new faces or sounds etc • Jen (Vet) came to observe the first session, and Alan showed her some footage of PC training further down the line at another collection to show Jen what can be achieved. We will continue to involve her throughout the whole process • Peter has visited periodically each day to see progress DAY 6- Sunday 25 th October • 3 sessions per elephant • Reward food preparation more organized. Scotty is making a table for food preparation/storage of PC equipment • New floodlight in PC area is a success, illuminating the keeper so the elephants feel more secure NISSIM • Chunky performed the full training regime so far- moving Nissim along the PC wall to come to the head target, and also the introduction of the 2 nd target through the foot port Figure10: Chunky holding Nissim to a head target BUTA • Andy performed the full training regime so far- moving Buta along the PC wall to target and lifting both front feet to the 2 nd target along the wall and through the foot port Figure11: Andy moving Buta along the PC Wall
Page 1 and 2: Protected Contact Elephant Training
Page 3 and 4: • Buta was trained in free contac
Page 5: • 3 sessions focusing on moving B
Page 9 and 10: Protected Contact Training with Ala
Page 11 and 12: • 3 training sessions. Chunky and
Page 13 and 14: • Both elephants responding well
Page 15 and 16: Advise to other Keepers Starting PC
Page 17 and 18: North 3 5 Chute 6 7 9 2 1 4 8 16 A2
Page 19 and 20: Elephant: Day/Date Keeper Initials

Rachel Saunders

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