This blog will be focusing on our beautiful boy Loki, our handsome male jaguar.
Jaguars are the third largest big cat in the world, after tigers and lions. These incredibly powerful animals were worshipped as gods. They are also a symbol of intelligence, beauty and strength, and we can see why! These stunning animals are not just a pretty face though, they are actually very clever too. This comes across in everyday work with the jaguars and also through the training sessions.
There have been reports of people seeing a jaguar using tools in the wild. I myself have been lucky enough to witness our female jaguar, Luna, using a stick to poke at a piece of meat that was just out of her reach. A behaviour that is very advanced in problem solving.
Behaviour
Loki will often know what you are going to do next before you do it when working in the enclosure. Such a brilliant mind needs a lot of stimulation. We provide this through enrichment and training. Any new behaviours we can teach him or puzzle him with are fantastic for such a clever kitty.
Speaking of behaviours, I recently attended the BIAZA animal training working group online conference. It had an interesting segment on using enrichment as a way to train animals to perform natural behaviours which they may not use a lot or haven’t had the opportunity to.
Training and enrichment give the animal an opportunity to really do what they do best and thrive. It gives them stimulation, reduces stereotypic behaviours and vastly improves both the mental and physical health of the animal.
Jaguar Training
Whenever I work with an animal I stop and think, what is this animal capable of doing with their incredible adaptations? How good are they at problem solving and to what level? And how can I get them to show these behaviours?
When I look at Loki, I see a powerful cat, strong jaw, adapted to swim, climb, jump, and able problem solve to a relatively high level.
Currently, Loki is working on his blood draw training. For this he stations himself on the shelf with his side against the mesh. He then allows the trainer to take his tail and guide it through the gap so we can access the large vein on the tail. This is the one used for taking blood samples. We train this so that if we need a blood sample we do not have to anaesthetise him.
He is very good at this training and understands that when I say the word ‘tail’, he flicks the end of his tail at the mesh so I can get it. Loki then remains very calm and in position while I guide it through the mesh and hold it with a slightly firm grip as would be the case if the vet were to take a sample. He knows that he will be rewarded only when his tail is all the way through and so will remain waiting patiently until I am done, watching me as I do so.
Unsurprisingly he picked up this training very quickly and remembers it each time. It always makes me so happy to see him spot me coming towards his training shelf and come hurtling towards me, excited for his session to begin. I make sure to vary the time of day I do his training. That way he is not expecting me at a certain time and it’s just an exciting surprise for him!
I can’t wait to start some new behaviours with him and really put his intelligence to the test.
