Target

Final behavior: Rhino calmly approaches target (pool float on a stick) and touches lips to target and holds until bridged.

1. Show animal target (desensitize to presence if fear is apparent).

2. Reinforce any interest in target, touching or otherwise.

3. Use baiting if needed to entice animal to approach target and reinforce approach.

4. Reinforce animal for touching muzzle to target calmly (non-aggressively, with mouth closed).

5. Pair verbal cue, ‘Target’, with visual cue (show target) and reinforce for touching it with muzzle.

6. Move target to various locations and give cue (visual and verbal). Reinforce for calm approach and touching target with muzzle.

 

​​​​​​Blood Collection

Final behavior: Rhino remains calm and steady while blood is collected.

1. Train target and over “left” or “right” (as needed to get the rhino’s body in position).

2. Train “steady.”

3. Desensitize to manipulation of site (metatarsal for blood collection).

4. Desensitize to washing of the puncture site with water and then rub with Nolvasan®.

5. Desensitize to needles starting with blunt objects like a paper clip and gradually moving towards needles.

6. Animal stands calm and steady while blood is collected.