ABC'S: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR CONCERNS & SOLUTIONS
A Question & Answer Forum For Animal Professionals
Copyright © 2005 By Diana Guerrero

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Welcome to the ABC's! Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions is an animal behavior column written by animal behaviorist and animal trainer, Diana L. Guerrero. This page is dedicated to primate training techniques for an uncooperative (aggressive) ape. This evaluation for primate training is for a zoological facility. For pet training please visit the pet sections, see our pet behavior booklets in the shop, or visit our teleseminar section.

Ape (Primate) Training Evaluation: Part Two

Question (American Zoo) Part Two of Two (Read part one now.)
Our facility has recently encountered animal aggression involving one particular keeper. This is impeding animal training progress. Do you have any suggestions?

Background
Last month this column discussed some of the possible contributors to escalated aggression exhibited by a mature male primate toward his male keeper. Questions were asked to help identify challenge areas. This month we conclude with some strategies and suggested reading. It is recommended that you start with part one.

Strategies
Review the training log and area records.
One of the best keeper resources is the daily log. Review the area log and any training notes for the animal. This will aid your attempts to pinpoint when the aggression toward the keeper resurfaced. See if anything jumps out and grabs your attention. Also review the notes from when this keeper arrived on the string and what successful protocols were followed. Duplicate these.

Review species specific ethograms.
Make sure everyone on the staff is sensitive to behavioral etiquette within the species and those that signal threats or solicit appeasement. Avoid any future cross species blunders through this education.

Identify the situations where the problem occurs.
To successfully address the aggression you have to identify all the circumstances, times, and patterns surrounding it. Behavior is predictable. Once you outline the who, what, where, when, and how, then you can devise a strategy to avoid triggering the situation and develop steps to address it. The time to take action is BEFORE you get the escalated behavior.

Recognize the precursors and warnings predicting aggression.
Each animal exhibits precursory signals before displays or escalated aggression. Usually the early precursors include body tension, and changes in breathing patterns and movement. Learn to identify all the signals so you can redirect the behavior or terminate the session before undesired behavior is exhibited.

Desensitize the animal to the keeper.
Change the routine so that you can desensitize this animal to the male keeper. Find the critical distance (distance at which the animal first reacts-ie, gets tense) and then extend it by five feet or so. Reinforce the animal when he does not react adversely to the presence of the male keeper.

Reinforce calm and relaxed behavior.
Reinforce toleration and relaxed behaviors. You will reward relaxed body posture, lack of tension, and then approximate tolerance of the male keeper. Use favorite behaviors and preferred reinforcement as you bring the male keeper into closer proximity.

Train an incompatible behavior.
You can use alternate response training (behaviors that replace the undesired behavior or are incompatible with aggressive displays) to shift the animal's attitude and response. This training strategy is referred to as DRI (Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior).

Terminate the session prior to escalation into aggression.
Read the behavioral clues to avoid aggression and terminate the session prior to any escalation. Gradually lengthen the sessions and integrate these into your other training routines.

Integrate the trainer back into the training sessions.
Integrate the male trainer into the training sessions with this animal by first having him work the other animals and engaging in peripheral activities.

Are you a reader with a question? Be sure to submit it--and good luck in all your training endeavors!

Suggested Reading
Baeckler, S. (2001) Chimpanzee-caregiver interactions in captive settings: The effects of "cultures" of captive management. Unpublished master's thesis, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA.

Bloomsmith, M.A., Laule, G.E., Alford, P.L., & Thurston, R.H. (1994) Using training to moderate chimpanzee aggression during feeding. Zoo Biology, 13, 557-566.

Estep, D.Q. & Hetts, S. (1992) Interactions, relationships, and bonds: The conceptual basis for scientist-animal relations. In H. Davis & D. Balfour (Eds.), The inevitable bond: Examining scientist-animal interactions (pp. 6-26). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Hill, S.P. (2004) Behaviour and welfare of captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in relation to changes in housing. Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge, England.

Lash, Nevin, J. Ogden, L. Meller, V. Gunn. (1997) Management of Gorillas in Captivity (Husbandry Manual). Ed. J. Ogden, D. Wharton. Atlanta/Fulton County Zoo, Inc.

Lukas, K.E., Thompson S.D. (2002) Understanding increased aggression in a silverback gorilla at Lincoln Park zoo: Challenging zookeeper hypotheses. (Presented at the 25th meeting of the American Society of Primatologists.)

Maki, S., Alford, P.L., & Bramblett, C. (1987) The effects of unfamiliar humans on aggression in captive chimpanzee groups. American Journal of Primatology, 12, 358.

Malone, N., Vaughan, L., & Fuentes, A. (2000) The role of human caregivers in the post-conflict interactions of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Laboratory Primate Newsletter, 39, 1-3.

Waitt, C., Buchanan-Smith, H., & Morris, K (2002) The effects of caretaker-primate relationships on primates in the laboratory. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 5, 309-319.

Are you a reader with a question? Be sure to submit it--and good luck in all your training endeavors!

About the columnist: Since 1978 Diana L. Guerrero has worked professionally with both wild and domestic animals. Guerrero has been affiliated with and certified by a variety of animal programs in the USA and Europe. Based in California, she writes, consults, and leads safaris. Information on her animal career programs, training courses, and her books, What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality (SkyLight Paths, 2003), Blessing of the Animals (Sterling, 2007), Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy (Guerrero Ink, 2007), Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals (Guerrero Ink, 2007) are available through this web site. Questions for ABC's should be submitted to Diana directly through the ABC's zoo questionnaire on this web site, or contact her now.