Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/989345
Zoo News m em b er maga zin e 06 A DAY IN THE lIFE mEET ANImAL TrAININg cOOrdINATOr bIANcA She's one of three new Animal Training coordinators working alongside our Animal Welfare Specialists Sally Sherwen and Amanda Embury, to create a raft of training programs across our three zoos. Bianca has been a Zoo Keeper for 13 years and a member of the Melbourne Zoo team for more than seven years caring for the primates and playing an instrumental role in the safe arrival of three year old baby gorilla Kanzi. Alongside her colleagues, Sue Jaensch and Kelly Hobbs, the trio are helping the keepers across Zoos Victoria better train their animals, from asking a seal to lie still for an x-ray to a monkey accepting eye drops! Animal husbandry has evolved from the days where large or dangerous animals had to be given a tranquilliser from afar in order for a veterinarian to check them. Nowadays the Animal Training Coordinators work closely with the keepers to understand what they need the animals to do and help train behaviours that will improve the animal's welfare as well as staff wellbeing. Animal training is particularly important as it not only helps to create a safe working environment for staff but it's also stimulating for the animals and allows them to play an active role of their own health care. Bianca has had a great deal of experience working with a range of different animals and is excited about the challenges she will face in her new role. A few years back Bianca worked with Melbourne Zoo's iconic White-cheeked Gibbon, Vang, to help her take injections for diabetes. Vang was diagnosed with diabetes and Bianca worked on training her to receive a daily injection of insulin with her. This change made a huge difference in Vang's quality of life, and was possible because of the trust built through successful training sessions.'