Attending 1st Southeast Asian Animal Enrichment & Training Workshop
Text by Wai Pak Ng
There were about 40 participants from Southeast Asian rescue centers and zoos attended the 1st Southeast Asian Animal Enrichment & Training Workshop from the 4th – 7th October 2010. This workshop was hosted by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and instructed by Gail Laule (Active Environments) and Valarie Hare (The Shape of Enrichment).
I am very fortunate to have the chance attending the workshop. It was a very useful workshop where all of the participants have the chance to follow lectures on the behavioral managements, techniques of positive reinforcement training and comprehensive enrichment program. Besides that, we also being given a hands-on opportunities to implement various enrichments strategies inside Singapore Zoo.
Positive reinforcement training on a white tiger.
My first encounter target training with Malay Tapir.
The most useful part of the workshop was the problem solving session. I managed to bring up the case of our regurgitation bear for discussion. At the end, every one benefit in the process of searching for the root of the problem and suggesting the solutions. After that session, I have a better idea to solve the problem at our centre now and in the future.
Valarie showing one of the groups results.
Lastly, I would like to thanks the organizing committee for the warm hospitability. You all have done great job to make this workshop a success. I am looking forward the 2nd workshop!
Here is a link for more pictures on our enrichment setting in the zoo.
http://www.straitstimes.com/ttl/popup/ttl_popup_potd.html?id=3&path=Enrichmentforanimals_7703&type=photoessay
The Singapore Zoo held a workshop on 4 October 2010 on animal enrichment and training.
Over the course of four days, 30 participants were shown how to keep animals in a captive environment, stimulated. The participants came from 20 organisations in the region, including zoos, rescue centres and wildlife parks.
Photographers Desmond Foo and Ng Sor Luan show you the various techniques used at the workshop.
Singapore zoo keepers hanging a honey-coated coconut with sugarcane pieces on a tree in the sun bear enclosure. Devices such as the honey-coated coconut are used to encourage the bears explore and use their natural instincts to find food. The Straits Times/ Desmond Foo
A sun bear makes its way up a log as it licks the honey smeared on the log. Earlier, Singapore zoo keepers had smeared honey on coconut husks and the log to encorage the sun bears to use their explorartory and natural abilities to find their reward- a coconut that had been smeared with honey and had pieces of sugarcane embedded in it. The Straits Times/ Desmond Foo
