Ollie the Asian Otter

After only a few sessions, Ollie is happily targeting to a stationary mat and following a target stick. The mat can now be placed on a scale and Ollie can be easily weighed. He also knows verbal cues like “up”, “down” and will be able to go to his “mat” from a distance. Spins and twists can be cued with the target stick or a hand motion.  Prior to enrichment and training, aggression was an issue between the 3 male otters. When I first started working with them, they would also hiss at and charge me (sometimes latching on to my shoes with sharp teeth)! This no longer happens!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHsirkrx5QE

Ollie zooming around cones

Ollie catching a treat

Rugby the Kea: turns and wings up

Here is a video of Rugby, who has flown on to my arm. He does a turn and with a physical cue of me lifting my arm, lifts his wings up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH0wMmd2k7M