African Elephant

The Memphis Zoo houses 2 female African Elephants (Loxodonta africana).  In the elephant program, operant conditioning is more than simply mental stimulation for the animals- it is how the keeper staff manages elephants. 

For years, zoo staff stepped in with the elephants and told them what to do - a well known and traditional form of elephant management known as free contact.  In January of 1997, the Memphis Zoo switched to a different form of elephant management called protected contact.  This method of training utilizes only positive reinforcement from outside the animals' enclosure and adapts the principles of operant conditioning to elephant training. 

Ty presenting her foot for trimming

An important part of elephant husbandry is foot care.  In the wild, elephants wear down their feet and nails by constantly walking around and searching for food.  Zoo elephants have all of their food brought to them and do not do as much walking.  As a result, neglected elephant feet can become overgrown and uneven.  Therefore, it is essential that the keepers keep the elephants' feet trimmed and clean.  By using operant conditioning, staff at the Memphis Zoo have been able to train both elephants to present their feet (one at a time of course) to be trimmed and cleaned.  This is part of their daily care and could not have been done without operant conditioning.
        

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Another important part of elephant husbandry is being able to draw blood from a cooperative animal.  Using operant conditioning, keepers at the Memphis Zoo have trained both elephants to present their ears through the protective bars and to allow blood to be drawn.  This is done on a weekly basis and is an example of the level of trust that has been built between keeper and animal through operant conditioning. 

Ty preparing to blow saline into a bag for annual tuberculosis testing

Some procedures are done infequently, such as the annual TB test.  This involves the elephant standing still, presenting its trunk to the keeper, and letting the keeper pour 60 cc's of sterile saline into the elephant's trunk.  The elephant is then asked to blow the saline solution into a plastic bag and the bag is sent to a lab and evaluated for tuberculosis.  Although this procudure is only performed annually, it is practiced year 'round to keep the elephants familiar with the behavior.

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Besides foot presentations, blood draws and TB tests, the elephants have been trained to open their mouth for inspection, turn in various directions, stand and allow any part of them to be inspected, and to shift on command.  In all, both elephants know over 60 different commands.  Operant conditioning has been a rewarding change for the staff and animals at the Memphis Zoo.

Special thanks to Matt Thompson for writing the above text

Special thanks also to all of the elephant staff including Ken Paul, Matt Thompson, Richard Meek, and Kathy Fay.