Binturong Training Advice

[Katie_Schiller]

Hello all! I am looking for advice from any other zoo trainers out there--I'm tasked with training a Malaysian Binturong to enter a squeeze cage so he can receive vaccinations. The cage will be placed in his enclosure and he will be asked to approach and enter it. He is new to training but has previously been a fast learner. My issue is that whenever I put the cage in his enclosure he spooks and will stop following commands. I've had a bit of success trying to merely desensitize him through shaping some behaviors of curiosity (bridging when he gets closer or sniffs at the cage). At one point he stood on top of it and I thought that was our breakthrough, but he's at a bit of a standstill now. He will investigate the cage from above but refuses to approach the entrance at all. I've tried changing and varying the reinforcement as well as the reinforcement schedule. Is there anything more I can do?

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Hello all! I am looking for advice from any other zoo trainers out there--I'm tasked with training a Malaysian Binturong to enter a squeeze cage so he can receive vaccinations. The cage will be placed in his enclosure and he will be asked to approach and enter it. He is new to training but has previously been a fast learner. My issue is that whenever I put the cage in his enclosure he spooks and will stop following commands. I've had a bit of success trying to merely desensitize him through shaping some behaviors of curiosity (bridging when he gets closer or sniffs at the cage). At one point he stood on top of it and I thought that was our breakthrough, but he's at a bit of a standstill now. He will investigate the cage from above but refuses to approach the entrance at all. I've tried changing and varying the reinforcement as well as the reinforcement schedule. Is there anything more I can do?

Without knowing the animal personally, it's a complex situation. You could remove his favourite food from his daily menu for a few days and then only feed it in the squeeze box near the entrance and if he takes it put it in a bit further, gaining his trust. Of course this could take a long time and lots of your patience. Best of luck