ABC'S: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
CONCERNS & SOLUTIONS
A Question & Answer Forum For Animal Professionals
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Welcome to the ABC's! Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions is an animal behavior column written by animal behaviorist and animal trainer, Diana L. Guerrero. This section is dedicated to animal training techniques for all animals and pets, and topics related to operant conditioning and reinforcement. For pet training please visit the pet sections, see our pet behavior booklets in the shop, or click here for enrollment information for classes and teleseminars.
Animal Attack Emergency Behavior Strategies for Zoological & Privately Owned Facilities
Multiple Species: Handling Attacks or Aggression
Part 2 of 2
QUESTION
Anyone who has been in the wild animal/zoo industry long enough
seems to have known someone who has been injured by an animal attack
or even killed. Can you address the topic of handling accidents
or attacks involving captive wildlife?
NOTE: There are various risks associated with
working with exotic/wild animals. These include not only accidents
with keeper staff or the public but a variety of others. Some of
the others will include conspecific aggression or aggression directed
toward veterinary staff. This is another very complex topic! Due
to space constraints I will outline a few thoughts which can be
amplified.
- DISTRACTION
- AUDIO
- VISUAL BARRIER
- PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTROL/SPATIAL DISTANCE
- PHYSICAL ACTION
- PHYSICAL BARRIER
- EXHIBIT DESIGN
- CHEMICAL
- MEMBRANE IRRITANT
- OTHER
DISTRACTION
This is something that is done to distract an animal away from an
area, event, or item. Generally verbal or audio distraction is used;
sometimes visual or physical distraction can work. The use of distraction
comes just BEFORE the animal is really into a reaction.
AUDIO
Noise distraction can often startle an animal away from an injured
person. It needs to come from another source away from the person.
Loud marine horns, clashing metal trash can lids, banging on metal
containers, and other noise makers, such as a siren, can be quite
effective. Look around you and see what might be usable. Animals
conditioned to a variety of noise around them may not react at all.
This is because high levels of noise and exposure to a variety of
environmental stimulus can desensitize them.
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VISUAL BARRIER
Plyboard sheeting, tarps, or vehicles placed between the animal
and the person form a visual barrier if the animal can be distracted
away. Larger species of mammals pose more of a challenge.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTROL/SPATIAL
DISTANCE
Using the flight distance of some animals can help to move them
away from an area or a person. One of the more dominant animals
can sometimes be used to coerce or lead the masses away.
Under stress, some animals will respond to a person with whom they
have a good relationship or trust bond with. Under stress, normal
responses and desire for food usually plummet while the trust bond
remains intake. Action must be taken quickly however since this
may only work for a limited time period.
Keeper items that create an aversive atmosphere
or that the animals are afraid of are part of this category. Sometimes
it is just a matter of what you can convey with your body language
and attitude. Nuances such as eye contact or none, facing the animal,
sideways stancing in relation to the animal, or protective postures
may also come under this category.
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PHYSICAL ACTION
This can refer to actually controlling or restraining an animal
or to using some sort of other method, such as the stream of water
from a fire hose. Also see some of the topics listed under OTHER.
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PHYSICAL BARRIER
Keeping the public out of exhibits is one of the uses of a physical
barrier that doesn't always work. Special meshing and protected
walkways within the exhibit are some others. Many of these types
come under exhibit design but this can also refer to barrier shields,
vehicles, and other such tools.
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EXHIBIT DESIGN
Special features in any exhibit should include escape areas for
staff in the event of an emergency or accident. Slopes of moats,
ladders to other areas, false walls, and escape passages or doors
are some of the necessary additions. Wide keeper walkways where
the animal cannot grab you is another.
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CHEMICAL INTERFERENCE
This is where on-site Veterinarians are handy. Chemical immobilization
is a tool that can be used; however it takes time and the problem
in an emergency are the time constraints.
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MEMBRANE IRRITANT
Not something generally desired but this can be effective with some
animals. This refers to agents such as pepper spray, mace, or ammonia
and water. These are some of the emergency remedies that some people
have on them when working animals.
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OTHER
Group discussions on this topic can contribute a variety of ideas.
Don't screen them at first, just collect them and later decide what
is appropriate. Creativity in a pinch is a must. If an animal is
really after you, then the adrenaline rush may be the only thing
to save you. Other than sprinting and pole vaulting, some things
to remember are the sensitive areas on an animal. Thoughts should
include asking: Where are the vital areas? (eyes, nose, genitals,
etc.,) Can you knock the air out of them? Do they have some sort
of primal fear (i.e., some primates=reptiles)? Having rope ladders
that can be dropped into an exhibit in an emergency is another idea.
See what else you can come up with.
Audio and visual distraction is done very effectively with CO2 fire
extinguishers. These are only effective if used as an element of
surprise and must be fully refilled and charged to work!!! Remember
that if an animal has had these methods used on them before, the
tactic is less effective due to desensitization. This technique
will work less powerfully on that individual if needed again, so
use sparingly and only if warranted in an emergency! If nothing
else, most facilities will have these around.
Remember that with most species, the reaction to aggression is more
escalated aggression. Most would agree that in an emergency you
will do whatever it takes. Hickory canes used by backups as arm
extensions have been used to push back crowds, and rammed down throats
of attacking animals. Bamboo poles or sticks will work here too.
Ramming one down the carnivore's throat to save someone's life will
usually create a gag reflex and cause the animal to let go.
Another version of this aggression tactic would be the use of the
Hot Shot or Cattle Prod. Batteries must be charged for them to work
so they should be monitored and tested periodically. A Hot Shot
to the tongue, rather than the body will get a carnivore to release
a victim. Only watch out! Once the animal lets go of the victim,
he may turn on you.
Both hitting and the hot shot tactics will work but they often result
in the animal turning on the backup. In the private industry "crawling
the chain" (coming up the leash chain at the trainer) and other
terms are used to describe this event. These are negative methods
but in a life or death emergency these methods could save a life.
Someone asked specifically about rubber bullets in controlling conspecific
aggression. In the particular situation the aggression was allowed
to escalate beyond low levels. The time to take action would have
been previous to the escalation, which was showing in the group
dynamics for over a year. It could work, but remember there is danger
of other injuries from reflected bounces or misfires at other animals
and people. At any rate, preparation and planning are the best courses
of action but you will need to decide what actions to take.
EXAMPLE: Visual, Psychological, Physical Barriers. During
an Event. One of the male lions at a private facility had attacked
the trainer and dropped him on the ground; the back-up was standing
over him protecting him with a cane and psychological control while
the lion fought through the fence with another male lion. A plyboard
sheet was being torn off one of the surrounding cages to be used
as a visual barrier when a truck was driven down slowly between
the lions and the people, providing both a visual and physical barrier.
Just before the incident occurred, all the volunteers and visitors
were being thrown into empty cages since it was apparent that an
incident would occur. The lion was exhibiting low warning levels
for several minutes prior.
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SUMMARY
Concerns in many of the actions would be about injury to the animal
or surrounding animals. This is something that each individual and
facility must delineate in their priorities. Basically, you will
have to do what ever is necessary to stop an attack. Ideal actions
would prevent injury to animals and prevent injury to the humans,
this is in a perfect world, of course!
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Are you a reader with a question? Be sure to submit it--and good luck in all your training endeavors!
About the columnist: Since 1978 Diana L. Guerrero has worked professionally with both wild and domestic animals. Guerrero has been affiliated with, and certified by, a variety of animal programs in the USA and Europe. Based in California, she writes, consults, and speaks. Information on her animal career programs, training courses, and her books {What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality (SkyLight Paths, 2003), Blessing of the Animals (Sterling, 2007), Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy (Guerrero Ink, 2007), Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals (Guerrero Ink, 2007)} can be found in this web site and in the shop. Questions for Guerrero should be submitted via the blog comments or membership forum.
