Giraffe

While training at the Memphis Zoo has always been a staple in the zoos operation, the giraffe training program is relatively new. However, since January '98 the zoo's four reticulated giraffes, ranging in age from 3 to 18, have made wonderful progress. For many years hoofed mammals were not considered for training . Today, however, zoos strive to make husbandry as stress-free as possible.

Since giraffes tend to be very head-shy one of the main goals of the program is to desensitize them to being touched on and around the head. This gives the keepers the ability to examine the eyes, ears, horns, nostrils, mouth, and upper parts of the neck. Just recently, keepers were able to clean and treat a wound on the horn of a female. To aid in desensitization, giraffes are taught to focus on a object while being touched or manipulate; a behavior known as targeting. Giraffes are also taught to follow their target allowing keepers to maneuver the giraffe to a desired location or position. With the use of targeting and desensitization, keepers soon hope to draw blood without the use of restraint!

At present, the structure of the giraffe facility limits the training options. However, future plans will resolve this problem. Once renovations are complete the keepers will begin working toward new goals such as: more thorough exams of legs and feet, hoof trims, and even ultrasounds!