Fagen et al

• Traditionally, elephant handlers (mahouts) used sharp bamboo sticks (coas) to train elephants through punishment
• Positive reinforcement


  A form of operant conditioning where a behavior is taught by rewarding it
• Secondary positive reinforcement (SPR)


  A training technique where a secondary reinforcer is used initially, followed by a primary reinforcer
• SPR has been used successfully to train other animal species like pandas, antelopes, and zebras
• Operant conditioning


  A process of learning through positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and/or punishment
• Primary reinforcer


  A reward that fulfills a basic biological need
• Secondary reinforcer


  A reward that does not cause a natural response of desiring it, but the individual learns to desire it
• This is a controlled observation and structured observation, not a lab experiment
• The sample includes 5 female elephants (4 juveniles aged 5-7 years, 1 adult around 50 years old)
• The elephants were selected because they appeared more docile and their mahouts were willing to participate
• All elephants were traditionally trained and had no prior experience with SPR
• The elephants spent most of the day grazing in the jungle and were leg-chained in a stable for the rest of the day
• The elephants' diet included fresh grass, grain, nutritional supplements, and access to water at a river during grazing hours
• The training was conducted by a trainer with the mahout present for safety, but the mahout did not interact with or signal the elephants
• SPR training procedure


  1. Teach link between primary (chopped banana) and secondary (whistle blow) reinforcers through classical conditioning

  2. Use capture, lure, and shaping techniques to train elephants to perform trunk wash behaviors
• Trunk wash behaviors to be trained


  • Trunk up
  • Bucket blow
  • Steady
  • Trunk here
• Elephants would not be required to participate if they chose to walk or turn away from the trainer
• Shaping


  1. Rewarding the elephant for behaviors closer to the target behavior

  2. Gradually only rewarding the correct target behavior
• Behaviors in the trunk wash technique


  • Trunk here
  • Trunk up
  • Bucket
  • Blow
  • Steady
• Trunk here


  Elephant places end of trunk in trainer's hand to allow fluid instillation
• Trunk here


  • Trained using lure method - chopped banana placed in trainer's hand
• Trunk up


  Elephant lifts trunk upwards to allow fluid to run to base of trunk
• Trunk up


  • Trained using lure and shaping - chopped banana lifted over elephant's head
• Bucket


  Elephant places end of trunk in bucket to ready for fluid exhale
• Bucket


  • Trained using lure - chopped banana placed at bottom of bucket
• Blow


  Elephant exhales fluid from trunk into bucket for collection
• Blow


  • Trained using capture and shaping - reward given for natural exhale
• Steady


  Elephant holds position for required time to allow fluid collection
• Steady


  • Trained using shaping - reward for increasing time holding position
• Other initial tasks


  • Trunk down
  • Trunk out
  • Targeting
• Trunk down


  Trunk held in relaxed, hanging position
• Trunk out


  Trunk held stretched outward, parallel to ground
• Targeting


  Elephant moves to make forehead contact with targeting stick
• Trunk down, trunk out and targeting were initially introduced but later discarded as not essential for trunk wash
• Verbal cue


  One syllable word with no meaning in English or Nepali, to associate with behavior
• Behavioral chaining


  Linking individual behaviors into a sequence, with completion of one behavior reinforcing the next
• Desensitization


  Gradually exposing elephant to syringe, starting with just proximity, to reduce fear
• Counter conditioning


  Associating syringe with reward rather than fear
• One elephant preferred saline over water, so water solution was used for that elephant
• Session times


  Length of each training session in minutes, recorded by assistant