Hello everyone! For this blog I am going to write about one of our giraffe boys, Robin, and his fantastic progress with training. He has come along leaps and bounds since the last training update. So, like a very proud mumma, I want to share it with you all!
For anyone who isn’t familiar with giraffes and the way there are, they are incredibly sensitive to changes. Whether it be routine, different people in the building, new sounds or slight changes to the enclosure they will notice! So it is always a long but very rewarding process to build their confidence to try something new.
This is the case for all the training we do including the giraffe experience that has just recently started. Myself and the mammal team worked very hard to get them into the routine of coming for feeds at 11 and 1. Robin is always the most confident for these feeds and helped Reudi and Ron gain the confidence to join him.
As always it is their choice whether they want to participate in training. They always have the option to leave whenever they want.
You may see us rearranging the giraffe house ready for the sessions. Giving them access to the training area at the back right of the building (as viewed from the windows) and also access to the outside should they want to leave at any point. Robin is always first into the training area and eager to train. His confidence has helped him progress very quickly with many of the procedures. It also helps Ron and Reudi as they watch him and will pick things up second hand. Even if its just that nothing bad is going to happen!
Blood draws
It is important and very handy to get animals to a point where they will voluntarily allow for blood samples to be taken. This means, should the need arise, the vet can come and take a sample of blood without the animal needing to be sedated. A procedure which is especially dangerous with giraffe.
The veins most commonly used for giraffe blood draws are the jugular, the large vein on the ankles and the veins on the ears and base of tail. For training we use blunt needles. This is so that they get a feel for slight pressure on the area. Plus, it also desensitises them to the look of the needle.
With Robin we are working on the neck and ankle veins. So far he is fantastic at ignoring the needle. However, this isn’t enough. We also need them to not be alarmed by the vet being the one taking the blood. Introducing different people who don’t normally work with the giraffe has helped work towards this. So far he has not been phased by any of my ‘pretend vets’ which is fab!
Hoof care
Robin often can’t control his excitement when he realises its hoof time! I normally have to ask him to wait, a command which he responds very well to, so that I can get the step ready in time!
We use a step so that his foot is elevated and rolled under to allow us access to the hoof. So far Robin is very good at this for both front hooves. Plus, we have just started introducing him to stepping with the back feet.
When he does give me his hoof, I use a ‘hoof knife’ to remove any dirt and stones until it’s nice and tidy and check there are no holes in the hoof. You can also use this opportunity to remove any overgrown hoof with files and raspers. This is necessary because their hoof grows continuously and can sometimes curve inwards causing problems with walking. Robins cooperation allows this process to be stress free and easy.
X-raying Robin
Should there be an occasion where a giraffe requires an x-ray, it is again very useful to have prepared for such with training.
The x-ray machine consists of an imaging plate which looks like a flat board on one side of the area you want to x-ray and an x-ray generator the other side which looks like a box. So, to get Robin desensitised to this process I have started to hold a flat board and box either side of his ankles and head. Which he is very good with and ignores!
The next step I am going to introduce is wearing aprons that look like tabards to desensitise him to those too!
I am very proud of how far Robin has come and hope the other boys join in soon!
