Following my recent blog about Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) with Rayne, I thought I would do another PRT blog today with a new topic… Injection training!
Injection training is extremely helpful in case of emergency or routine procedures, where the chimpanzees would undergo anesthesia. Sometimes these procedures are planned and we can work on injection training for the months/weeks leading up to the procedure, or occasionally there is an emergency and a chimp needs to have an anesthetic procedure the same day. Therefore, we try to consistently work on injection training with the chimps, as we never know when their PRT skills will have to be put to use.
For injection training, we use a blunt needle as we are just practicing. We ask the chimp to present their arm (either left or right) by using the gestural cue for “arm”, then use our clicker to reinforce them presenting their arm. We will then ask them to hold the position while we pick up the needle syringe. We then let them know what we are doing by saying “poke” and press the blunt needle to the arm. As soon as the chimp allows this, the clicker is used to let them know that is what we wanted and then we follow with a reward (in the video today, it is peanuts). Injection training can be scary and nerve-racking for some chimps, so we typically give them more of a reward than we would with an easier task.
All of Cy’s group (who previously lived at Wildlife Waystation) do so well at PRT. It is clear that their former caregivers have put a lot of time and effort into PRT, and therefore, have built a strong foundation with all of these chimps. Thank you so much to all of their previous caregivers if you’re reading this!
Dora:
Burrito:
Boy, Willy B is a real pro! Even presenting his arm without you asking! What a smart guy!
I love how Cy keeps reading even while alarm calling. Guess a pesky rhino isn’t enough to distract him from the rest of his magazine.
And Bubs! Sleepy Burrito is just the cutest! Playful Burrito is just the cutest! Everything he does is just so adorable.
“scary and nerve-racking” – That’s me, as a child and even now. Someone should have given me PRT. As well as all of the efforts amd patirnce you spend on training, there must also be a great deal of trust that the chimps have in you as their caregiver. Bravo!! Do you think some of them present an arm without being prompted in an effort to get a peanut?
Some of the chimps present behaviors at random during PRT time – definitely to try to get a reward! It is pretty easily to tell though if they are doing it to get a reward or if they are doing it because they understand it!
A topic near and dear to my heart!!! Makes the job of the medical team so much easier with injection training!! Injections can be scary, agreed, but the alternative is a dart and that is much more stressful for everyone involved… Great work team!!
Thanks Deanna!
Does PRT work best when they’re a little hungry, Jenna? Willy B was not playing around, that man wanted some peanuts!
Bubs is sleepy when the toes stop tappin’! I had a student in my class say he wanted to be called “Bubba”, and all I could think of was Burrito.
Jenna! You made my day with the primate rocker footage! It’s one thing to see a blanket you’ve sent in the background of a photo or vidro, but this is 5x that joy! So glad it’s providing some fun!
PRT works best when they’re calm! In my experience, Willy B is ALWAYS this enthusiastic for peanuts. :joy:
Tired Bubba?……..THEN………GET OFF THE LEDGE:face_with_monocle:
Very clever, the injection idea. Was wondering about that, figured you had a darting gun. Thanks for the footage. It always amazes me when a chimp reacts to a picture in a book (snake, rhino etc). They are more comprehensive of everything than we think. And who can not find a smile come across ones face seeing Bubba step into that rolly-poley thing and rock himself???
What do they feel when the syringe is up against them? Anything close to an real needle point? Are they surprised when they get a real one? do they sit still long enough for the syringe to be fully pressed?
Cy’s alarm was more of a whimper. It was so endearing.?
(Diana, The emotions the blog invokes is a reason we keep coming back every day. Thank you again to every blog writer for all that you put in to it for all of us)
It would be like a pen poke when the syringe touches them. We can apply more pressure as well! There is definitely no pain from the blunt needle, so applying pressure is helpful to prepare them for the real thing. They sometimes are surprised by the real thing and other times, completely natural.
This was wonderful, Jenna! It must give you great satisfaction to see everyone learning (or staying on top of) their injection skills. Willy B is a total rock star! And, nobody chews a well as Willy B. Cracks me up to watch him.
Cy seemed pretty chill with his reaction to the rhinos. No screaming drama, just a little alarm chirp. Maybe he’s learning to embrace his fears. 🙂
Sleepy Burrito close up was a gift to see that cloes up. And I let out a little shriek when he bent down and sat in the rocker tub! My first thought was for Linda C, like her, I have been dying to see a chimp sit in one and rock away. Burrtio was clever, he positioed it close to the mesh so he could grab on and steady himself. Yay!
That photo of Dora is fantastic! Love the big curl on her shoulder.
My hope was that Ms Foxie would spin away to her heart’s content. But when I asked, Katelyn reminded me that Foxie is wary of new stuff.
Did i see the new SMITHSONIAN magazine? I just got mine too! I love watching them read books and magazines. They are so gentle turning the pages. They don’t even have to lick their fingers to turn them!