Summary:
– Little Lily, a curious and brave young elephant, left her herd to join a tour and get treats.
– Training is an important tool used in animal care at B Bryan Preserve.
– Training helps with behaviors like receiving injections, hoof trimming, and dental assessments.
Little Lily is quite the adventure seeker. This curious little girl decided to leave her herd and embark on a journey to get some delicious treats on tour. That’s right, she left the comfort of her family and joined a tour group, showing just how brave and independent she truly is.
Here at B Bryan Preserve, we have witnessed many fascinating behaviors from our animals, but Little Lily’s daring nature has left us in awe. As we marvel at her courage, it’s important to acknowledge the role that training plays in our daily care routines.
Training is a vital aspect of animal care at our preserve. It helps us establish a strong bond with our animals while ensuring their well-being. Through training, we can teach our animals behaviors that assist us in providing them with top-notch veterinary care. Behaviors such as lining up for injections, voluntarily presenting their hooves for trimming, and opening their mouths for dental health assessments are just a few examples of how training is instrumental in their overall care.
You might be wondering – how does training work? Well, let’s dive into it together!
Training is based on positive reinforcement, rewarding desired behaviors rather than punishing undesirable ones. Our trainers use a variety of special treats like fruits and vegetables as rewards to reinforce the behaviors we teach our animals. By associating these treats with specific actions, we create a positive and rewarding experience for them, making the training process enjoyable for both the animal and the trainer.
One of the first behaviors we train our animals is to target, which means touching their nose to a specific object when asked. This simple behavior is the foundation of many other behaviors we later teach them. Once our animals master targeting, we can move on to more complex behaviors like presenting their hooves for trimming or opening their mouths for dental assessments.
Why do we spend so much time training these behaviors? Apart from the obvious benefits it brings to their veterinary care, training also enhances the mental stimulation of our animals. Just like humans, elephants and other animals thrive on intellectual challenges. By engaging their minds through training, we prevent boredom and promote healthy cognitive development.
Training also serves another important purpose – fostering a strong bond between the animals and their caretakers. This trust and connection are crucial for the well-being of our animals. Our animals learn to trust and feel comfortable in our presence through regular training sessions. This trust allows us to handle them more easily during medical procedures and reduces stress and anxiety for the animals and the caretakers.
Witnessing the progress our animals make through consistent training is truly amazing. The transformation is remarkable, from initially being unsure about new behaviors to confidently executing them. We are constantly amazed by their intelligence and adaptability.
Little Lily, in particular, has shown exceptional promise during her training sessions. Her curious nature and fearless attitude have made her a quick learner. We do not doubt that she will be ready for more advanced training soon. She has mastered target training and now bravely presents her hooves for trimming. It’s a joy to watch her grow and develop her skills.
Here at B Bryan Preserve, we are dedicated to providing our animals the highest standard of care. Training plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. By investing time and effort into training, we ensure our animals’ happiness, well-being, and overall health.
So, the next time you visit our preserve, keep an eye out for Little Lily. She’s a reminder of the incredible bravery and curiosity found in the animal kingdom and a testament to the power of training in animal care.
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Source Description
Little Lily is so brave! This curious little girl left the herd to get treats on tour. She’ll be ready for training in no time!
Here at B Bryan Preserve, we use training to assist in animal care! Training for behaviors such as lining up for injections, voluntarily presenting their hooves for trimming, and opening their mouth so we can assess their dental health are all great examples of how training can assist with vet care.
