Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual - Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Association of Zoos and Aquariums 75
Otter (Lutrinae) Care Manual
Chapter 8. Behavior Management
8.1 Animal Training
Classical and operant conditioning techniques have been used to train animals for over a century.
Classical conditioning is a form of associative learning demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov. Classical
conditioning involves the presentation of a neutral stimulus that will be conditioned (CS) along with an
unconditioned stimulus that evokes an innate, often reflexive, response (US). If the CS and the US are
repeatedly paired, eventually the two stimuli become associated and the otter will begin to produce a
conditioned behavioral response to the CS.
Operant conditioning uses the consequences of a behavior to modify the occurrence and form of that
behavior. Reinforcement and punishment are the core tools of operant conditioning. Positive
reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a favorable stimulus to increase the frequency of
that behavior. Negative reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the removal of an aversive
stimulus to also increase the frequency of that behavior. Positive punishment occurs when a behavior is
followed by an aversive stimulus to decrease the frequency of that behavior. Negative punishment occurs
when a behavior is followed by the removal of a favorable stimulus also to decrease the frequency of that
behavior. AZA-accredited institutions are expected to utilize reinforcing conditioning techniques to
facilitate husbandry procedures and behavioral research investigations.
Otters are excellent candidates for behavioral training programs focusing on routine and non-routine
husbandry tasks, such as shifting, weighing, entering squeeze cages or crates, stationing for close visual
inspections or injections, etc. Standard positive reinforcement behavioral training techniques are used
successfully on river otters at numerous facilities. As far as possible, all animals should routinely shift into
a holding area and readily separate into specific holding areas on cue. Animals should be trained to come
to the keeper when called for daily health checks, and remain calm and not aggressive during these
checks.
Keepers should avoid use of aversive stimuli in the daily management of otters. Profound aversive
stimuli such as squirting with hoses, loud noises, harsh words, and long-term withholding of food are
inappropriate unless serious injury of keeper or animal is imminent (e.g., serious fight). In general, otters
respond to profound aversive stimuli with fear and/or aggression. It is best to maintain positive and
pleasant keeper/animal interactions. Assessing the animal’s motivation (e.g., why should it “want” to
come in? Why does it “want” to stay outside? What is the animal’s motivation, and how does it relate to
the animal’s behavior in the wild?) is a useful exercise when training problems occur. Patience and
planning are keys to success (Wooster 1998). See Table 16 for a list of commonly trained otter behaviors,
as well as relevant cues and criteria. Successful training programs include those that involve establishing
training goals set by the entire staff. These goals include a list of behaviors that facilitate desired
husbandry procedures. Goals are accomplished by developing training plans that define training steps,
cues, and criteria for the desired behaviors. Progress of training plans should be monitored and
evaluated. Once desired behaviors are achieved, they should be maintained with practice on a regular
daily basis. See Appendix J for additional training information.
Otters can be trained through positive reinforcement for almost all behaviors required for husbandry
procedures, whether it is routine or a not-so common event. Non-routine husbandry behaviors can
include procedures such as hand injection, ultrasound, nipple manipulation/milk collection (for larger
species in particular), and tactile body exams. A P. brasiliensis female was successfully trained to allow
manual milk pumping and ultrasounds to detect pregnancy and uterine condition (Gatz 2002). Giant otters
also have been trained to allow tactile body exams, the taking of body temperature, weight, heart and
respiration rates, as well as to participate in other husbandry procedures (Sykes-Gatz 2005).
Otters respond quickly to voice commands via operant conditioning. Training can be done on or off
exhibit. Otters respond to a protected contact and free contact situation. In general, the otter species
should be trained in a protected contact situation (i.e., keeper and animal should be separated by a mesh
barrier). Exhibits should be designed with mesh at a particular area specifically for training. There are
some species (A. cinereus) or cases (L. canadensis particularly males) where an institution feels that
protected contact training may not be called for, but these decisions should be carefully evaluated on an
ongoing basis. If institutional philosophy permits, otters can be a part of an educational talk or keeper talk
in a free contact area within their exhibit.