Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Good Boy

Here are a few pictures of elephant training with our Bull elephant Boy.
He has now learnt that when I ask him to do a "head-target" he will get a reward if he touches his head to the end of the stick. He's very good at it, and only misses a few if he gets distracted by noises outside the enclosure or if the vets come to watch (like most zoo animals, Boy really is not fond of vets).
I've started getting Steve and the Head Keeper of elephants involved now as they will need to be able to train Boy whilst I am away at the German Elephant School in November. Boy is responding well to them and I think they will all work together nicely.
Once everyone can do the Head Targets, we will move onto another behaviour. Boy and I have started working on the next behaviour but it is not ready to pass onto the others yet.
Boy just moving towards a head target


Moving to a target at the end of the training wall

Touching his head to the stick for a reward

Good Elephant

Well done Boy

Steve having a go

Steve rewarding the elephant for being good

Well done Steve

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