Training, 18 Feet Up

Note: delayed entry from February, 2012 

San Francisco is one of my favorite cities.   Yes, it's extreme in places, but none-the-less, intoxicating.  I get up for my daily morning walks, which typically take me down to the waterfront where I can breath in the salt air and feel the chill of the fog rolling back out to sea.  Once there, I take time for a quick cup of coffee, and then I loop back through Chinatown to watch the vendors setting up their wares.  If it weren't for the ringing bell of an approaching cable car, I could almost believe I was in a foreign country.

Over the course of these past 7 days, I've been at the International Giraffe Symposium.  There are both moments of hope and frustration while listening to the researchers talk about dwindling numbers and tireless efforts being made to help Giraffes survive in the wild. I am brought up to date about new veterinarian methods to treat common ailments specific to the species, and I listen to the new discoveries being made surrounding familial and social behaviors of giraffes in the wild. We are also invited to view husbandry training sessions at the zoos in the area.  Using acacia, bananas, grapes and an abundance of other delicacies, giraffes will gracefully and graciously go through their repertoires of husbandry behaviors.  They do seem rather proud of the fact that it takes 2 trainers to work with them -one on the ground to cue and tend to the task at hand (such as hoof trimming or vet procedures), and the other 18 feet up on a ladder to deliver the reinforcer.

Chart above provided by:  

http://www.wildliferanching.com/content/giraffe-giraffa-camelopardalis

Some key points from the conference came from the pro and con discussion surrounding the AZA approval of crossbreeding the Rothschild and Reticulated giraffes in captivity.  While the AZA has approved this method in order to assist the dwindling gene pool, the BIAZA (British/Irish Zoos) are taking a strong stance against crossbreeding.  Because research in the wild has not yet been able to determine if crossbreeding occurs naturally, there are many unknowns.  I also found identification process techniques for field research to be fascinating.  Through the use of photography, spot shapes and designs researchers are able to identify a specific giraffe.  I can only imagine the number of spots I'd see before my eyes after a long day of identifying giraffes in the hot African sun!

Lessons learned:
One can have a good run and still enjoy the view (San Francisco doesn't disappoint).

and
When working with a giraffe, move like they do (slowly and gracefully)!