Fagen et al

• 1. Operant Conditioning – The study explores operant conditioning, a learning process where behaviours are controlled by their consequences. In SPR, desirable behaviours are reinforced with rewards (positive reinforcement), increasing the likelihood of these behaviours being repeated.
• 1. Positive Reinforcement – SPR involves introducing a positive stimulus (a reward) after a desired behaviour is performed, strengthening that behaviour. This technique contrasts with traditional methods that often use negative reinforcement or punishment.
• The study by Ariel Fagen, Narayan Acharya, and Gretchen E. Kaufman focuses on introducing and assessing the effectiveness of Secondary Positive Reinforcement (SPR) training as a humane alternative to traditional elephant training methods in Nepal
• Traditional elephant training methods in Nepal heavily rely on punishment and aversion techniques
• Secondary Positive Reinforcement (SPR) training rewards desired behaviors to encourage repetition and was applied to train captive elephants to voluntarily participate in a trunk wash for tuberculosis testing
• The study aims to demonstrate a more ethical approach to managing captive elephants' health and well-being amidst a global shift towards more humane animal training approaches
• The study aimed to assess whether SPR techniques could be effective to train free-contact elephants in Nepal. This was particularly focused on training them to voluntarily participate in a trunk wash, a procedure necessary for tuberculosis testing.
• • Sample – The study involved five female elephants, four juveniles and one adult, housed in the same stable in Nepal. These elephants were traditionally trained and had no previous exposure to SPR training​​.
• • Training Methodology – The SPR technique involved using a short whistle blow as the secondary reinforcer and chopped bananas as the primary reinforcer. Training occurred in morning and afternoon sessions while the elephants were chained in their stalls. The presence of the elephants’ mahouts was required for safety, but they were instructed not to interact with the elephants during training sessions.
• • Behavioural Tasks – The elephants were trained in five basic behavioural tasks:
  • Trunk here (placing the trunk in the trainer’s hand),
  • Trunk up (lifting the trunk upward),
  • Bucket (placing the trunk in a bucket),
  • Blow (exhaling strongly through the trunk),
  • Steady (holding the trunk still in the requested position).
• • Training Process – The process involved initially teaching the elephants the bridge between the primary and secondary reinforcers, followed by training in the basic tasks using capture, lure, and shaping techniques. The elephants were then trained to perform these tasks in sequence (behavioural chaining), culminating in the full trunk wash sequence.
• • Desensitisation and Counterconditioning – This was used to introduce the syringe and sample fluid, gradually acclimating the elephants to these elements of the trunk wash.
• • Data Collection – Training sessions were timed, and the number of cues given for each behaviour was tallied. Performance tests were administered approximately every five sessions to assess the elephants’ proficiency in the trained behaviours.
• • Four juvenile elephants successfully learned the trunk wash within 35 sessions or fewer. The mean success rate improved from 39.0% to 89.3% following training.
• • The total training time varied among elephants, ranging from 257 to 451 minutes.
• • The relative difficulty of tasks was assessed based on the number of offers necessary to achieve a passing score​​.
• • SPR was found to be a feasible and efficient training method for juvenile elephants.
• • The study demonstrated that elephants could be trained voluntarily without resorting to traditional punishment-based methods.
• • SPR training could be beneficial in various captive management programs globally​​.
• aim: to investigate if free-contact , traditionally trained elephants can be trained to participate in a trunk wash by using positive reinforcement
• reasearch method is a controlled observation and structured observation.
• behavioral checklists used to record elephants behaviors
• mahouts volunteered for study
• minimum number of elephants used for reliable results
• selected based on the lack of pregnancy, willingness of mahouts and docility
• all elephants had been trained with traditional and none had previous exposure to SPR training
• all elephants housed in same stable in nepal
• elephants diets:

  • fresh grass and dhana ( packets of grain )
• no elephant went longer than 2 days without training
• elephants went into jungle to graze under control of mahouts between 5am to 7am and 1030am to 4pm
• they were leg chained to posts in open stalls for the remainder of the day - unethical
• leg chains were normally places on both front legs or a singular front leg with a chain 6ft to 8ft long between them and the post
• elephants had access to water from a river during their grazing time but were not offered water outside their training protocol
• these husbandry conditions are standard practice for the stable and to alterations were made for the purpose of the study
• primary reinforce = chopped banana
• secondary reinforcer = whistle blow
• indoor sessions - 7:30am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm
• conducted by trainer and mahout present for safety
• mahout stood to side and did not interact with elephant
• elephants could not engage by turning or walking away