47 min

How Do You Teach a Penguin to Swim‪?‬ Zoo Logic

    • Natural Sciences

Seasoned zookeeper Rickey Kinley began his career as a high school student enrolled in a unique job training program in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo. As a long time proponent of using operant conditioning as part of any animal management plan, he noticed the penguins in his care spent far less time swimming compared to the mostly aquatic lifestyle of their wild counterparts. Since excessive standing can lead to health issues like bumble-foot in some avian species, Rickey and his team developed a behavioral plan and exhibit changes to increase the time the animals spent being active in the water. 
That Sounds Wild:  Catbird
Animal Care Software
Zoo Logic
ZOOmility
 
 

Seasoned zookeeper Rickey Kinley began his career as a high school student enrolled in a unique job training program in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo. As a long time proponent of using operant conditioning as part of any animal management plan, he noticed the penguins in his care spent far less time swimming compared to the mostly aquatic lifestyle of their wild counterparts. Since excessive standing can lead to health issues like bumble-foot in some avian species, Rickey and his team developed a behavioral plan and exhibit changes to increase the time the animals spent being active in the water. 
That Sounds Wild:  Catbird
Animal Care Software
Zoo Logic
ZOOmility
 
 

47 min