zookeeperproblems:

why-animals-do-the-thing:

One of the great things about conferences is getting to see examples of the tools used by zoos to manage their animals – often the ones that are in behind the scenes areas so I’m generally restricted from sharing photos of them. With that in mind, I wanted to show you guys this “squeeze” from LGL Animal Care Products care so you can see how they work.

Squeezes are holding areas used for immobilizing animals for examination or medical procedures. While zoos prefer to train animals to participate in all medical care voluntarily, there are times it is necessary to restrain an animal in order to treat it. Squeezes can be used, for example, to keep an animal still for injections or to allow vets to safely examine a body part the animal is not yet trained (or just isn’t inclined) to present.

Squeezes are, at most basic, a tunnel that is longer than the animal that contains a movable wall. Most of them are too narrow for the animal to turn around in, although some are not. They’re generally built into the design of a behind the scenes area so that the animal walks through them like any other shift space while moving through and between enclosures. (So rather than asking an animal to back out of a narrow squeeze after use, they can simply walk forward into another part of their space.) Having squeezes built into the normal transitional spaces means that animals also are used to passing through the squeeze regularly and don’t only associate being asked to enter that space with being restrained.

To use a squeeze, animals are generally trained to tolerate a series of things happening. When it’s all complete, the animal will “station” next to a keeper while standing inside it. While they’re rewarded for staying still, doors on each end of the squeeze are sealed off (the photos above show the stuffed animal tiger relaxing in a closed squeeze, but it is not yet restrained). The animal will then continue to station as the movable wall is slowly adjusted to restrict the space the animal has within the squeeze. (The movable wall is on the left in the first photo and the back in the second – if you look closely you can see the track it slides on). When whatever was occurring is compete, the movable wall is retracted and then the door is opened to allow the animal to leave. Later, the animal will generally be called into the squeeze and reinforced heavily for just spending time in there in order to keep them from forming a negative association with the space.

Squeezes exist for animals of all sizes and shapes. This example is built to accommodate a large cat, but they exist for a whole range of animals – even giraffe!

Squeezes are so important! They’re a way to work with animals close-up in a low risk manner (no anesthesia or sedation needed usually.) Technology like this is a great example of how the zoo field innovates and invents ways to better care for our animals.