Pinniped training for research in zoos: a case study using sensory discrimination tasks

Abstract

Zoo research is mainly behavioural in focus. Developing training interventions to enable more controlled behavioural experiments may increase the impact and rigor of animal behaviour research in zoos. This study investigated the impact of setting up a new, complex object identification task, with multiple training stages. The task was carried out in two pinniped species, including South African fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus and harbour seals Phoca vitulina. The training intervention took place alongside their normal routine, including husbandry training, educational demonstrations, animal experiences and animal relocations. There were significant individual and species differences with the training stages. Individuals encountered challenges, particularly while blindfolded and undertaking the tactile discrimination tasks. Two out of four South African fur seals successfully completed all three discrimination tasks. Although the two harbour seals successfully learned to be blindfolded, they were unable to perform any tactile tasks while blindfolded, despite having completed the tasks without the blindfold. While we show that it is possible to use existing training behaviours to train new tasks for research, developing a new or extensive program of research with trained animals will probably only be beneficial for institutions that are already regularly developing training protocols, have good staffing resources and would like to prioritise their research agenda.