Question to Zookeepers on Zoochat

M

Miguel

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,

I'm working on a presentation about the most common behavioral issues (also called "problems") that zookeepers encounter during their daily routines with the animals.

Would really like to hear what yours are (eg. shifting into night quarters, aggression, etc.)?

Thanks in advanced

Miguel
 
Hi Miguel,
the most common problem i have had is the association of keepers with food. This leads to the animals being over familiar and pushy with keepers, sometimes even aggressive. It is something that most animals learn VERY quickly too!
 
Thanks Headkeeper!
I can see why that can be a problem. I'm focusing on those kind of problems and how they can be solved through a behavior management program using positive reinforcement in zoological environments.

Thanks for your contribution, I'm looking forward to hear more about it.
All the best
 
Kookaburras that hold grudges.

Other then that ,parents who dont let their kids look at the "less cool" animals ,arse-hole people ,people who go over borders ,people who chase free range animals.

And know it alls.
 
Hi there, I'm studying a Diploma of Wildlife Management. I have a set task to do and need help with 2 of the questions. The first one is, is there a risk management plan in place regarding bull elephant visitor interactions.? how does the elephant need to be restrained during the interaction? All answers will be much appreciated.
From Cassy
 
CassandraMcGhie said:
Hi there, I'm studying a Diploma of Wildlife Management. I have a set task to do and need help with 2 of the questions. The first one is, is there a risk management plan in place regarding bull elephant visitor interactions.? how does the elephant need to be restrained during the interaction? All answers will be much appreciated.
From Cassy
Click to expand...

Bull elephants? Easy questions to answer:

1 Don't do it.

2 See answer to 1
 
Hi there, I would like to know if signage can lessen the impact of visitors on a tiger? How is the signage used? Is the signage successful in reducing stress of a tiger? How could it be more effective?
Your answer is much appreciated.
 
CassandraMcGhie said:
Hi there, I would like to know if signage can lessen the impact of visitors on a tiger? How is the signage used? Is the signage successful in reducing stress of a tiger? How could it be more effective?
Your answer is much appreciated.
Click to expand...

My apologies for my previous post - I had mistaken you for a serious poster.
 
I would not have thought that any reputable course provider would assume that a zoo tiger is under stress or encourage a student to assume so.
 
Hi There this is m assignment question. Investigate at least one (1) visitor impact mitigation technique/device used by zoos. It can be a visual barrier, sound barrier or signage. Anything used to lessen the impact of visitors on a particular animal. How is it used? Has it been successful? How could it be more effective? I have chosen visual barriers on tigers.
 
CassandraMcGhie said:
Hi there, I'm studying a Diploma of Wildlife Management. I have a set task to do and need help with 2 of the questions. The first one is, is there a risk management plan in place regarding bull elephant visitor interactions.? how does the elephant need to be restrained during the interaction? All answers will be much appreciated.
From Cassy
Click to expand...

I have no idea how succesful interactions between vistors and bull elephant can be, because nowadays, no serious zoo is stupid enough doing that, but what I can tell is-interactions between bull elphants and keepers are defeniteylnot succesful-to many keepers lost their live in more than of 150 years of elephants in european zoos ( not to forgot all other countries )-even femals killed a lot of keepers. So I would say, a risk mangement plan for interactions between bull elephants and visistors isn't really necessary.
 
Bib Fortuna said:
I have no idea how succesful interactions between vistors and bull elephant can be, because nowadays, no serious zoo is stupid enough doing that, but what I can tell is-interactions between bull elphants and keepers are defeniteylnot succesful-to many keepers lost their live in more than of 150 years of elephants in european zoos ( not to forgot all other countries )-even femals killed a lot of keepers. So I would say, a risk mangement plan for interactions between bull elephants and visistors isn't really necessary.
Click to expand...

Interaction is something different than physical contact. You can have a lot of interacting with a bull elephant while both of you are separated by a moat or a fence.
 
Also I think mentioning the last ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS is kind of crazy. Of course everyone sucked back then. They knew nothing about them and generally had terrible care. If they are still having as many issues now, then that's a problem.
 
Question....

A little research will show that, over a hundred years ago, London Zoo were keeping elephants and rhinos (particularly the still 'difficult' Sumatran) for respectable lifespans, and breeding things like Passenger Pigeons. Their records with hoofstock, waterfowl and pheasants would bear scrutiny today. Ok, they did very poorly with primates, but a lot of that was down to human diseases - people died like flies in those days as well. We should not be too ready to dismiss zookeepers of the past, many of whom were very skilled. Look at John Edwards' book.
 
FBBird said:
A little research will show that, over a hundred years ago, London Zoo were keeping elephants and rhinos (particularly the still 'difficult' Sumatran) for respectable lifespans, and breeding things like Passenger Pigeons. Their records with hoofstock, waterfowl and pheasants would bear scrutiny today. Ok, they did very poorly with primates, but a lot of that was down to human diseases - people died like flies in those days as well. We should not be too ready to dismiss zookeepers of the past, many of whom were very skilled. Look at John Edwards' book.
Click to expand...

That's fair, dismissing them isn't right, but to compare issues they had 150 years ago compared to now is pretty out there too. We've learned so much in that time.
 
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