Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/989345
Zoo News m em b er maga zin e 07 No. 02 VoLU M E 38 | J U N E 20 18 Top to bottom, from L-R: Bianca spends a great deal of time talking and listening to the needs of the Zoo Keepers at Melbourne Zoo, helping them determine training programs as well as assisting with implementation. As the role is brand new, every day is incredibly different. TrAININg A cArNIVOrE Bianca and Zoo Keeper Meryl do a training session with a Snow Leopard. Photo: Cormac Hanrahan TALKINg WITH KEEpErS Lots of discussion is important to Bianca's role. Photo: Cormac Hanrahan TrAININg TOOLS Key tools Bianca and the team use during training are a target, a whistle (to let animals know they have displayed the right behaviour), and primary reinforcers (or rewards) such as food or milk. Photo: Cormac Hanrahan ANImAL bEHAVIOUr Bianca and Primate Keeper Jessica monitor the lemurs during a training session. Photo: Cormac Hanrahan THE TEAm The Animal Training Coordinators Bianca, Sue and Kelly with animal welfare specialist Amanda Embury visiting Dr Susan Friedman and Steve Martin at an animal training specialist facility in the US. Photo: Supplied cATcH A KEEpEr TALK Many of the Keeper Talks allow our Zoo Keepers to practise the behaviours they are teaching their animals in a regular routine. Next time you catch a Keeper Talk you can observe the amazing relationship between Zoo Keepers and their animals. Check out the website for Keeper Talk Times zoo.org.au/whats-on WANT TO KNOW mOrE? Head to zoo.org.au /zoo-news to watch the behind-the-scenes video.