Polar Bear training - Zoo Prague

Polar Bear training: Adult male of polar bear came to Prague Zoo during spring 2008 and from the beginning he provided stereotypical movement about 7 hours a day. That is the reason why we established a training program based on 10 minutes long bear´s activity with trainer two or three times a day (training day about four times a week). Using this training we reduced the total day period of stereotypical movement to cca one half of original level and we achieved communication system between zoo employee and bear which enables to everybody make the bear to stop stereotypical movement anytime during a day and to do different things. It was possible to see, that after every training lesson which took only 10 minutes the bear goes on with his own activity for about 35 minutes. During this own activity period he was looking for reinforcements on the pond bottom, traing to contact visitors and their dogs, jumping and playing with enrichments in exhibition (mostly balls in the pool) which he was not interested in before. System of communication between trainer and bear is without any sound because of the glass wall between trainer and bear. So it is based on trainer´s body position and signals by the light of torch. This communication system, which was prepared in two months, is a good groundwork for any work in future, where could be possible to reduce his stereotypical movements to minimum.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• pollar
• bear
• training
• prague