00:00Have you ever gone to the doctors for a shot or a minor procedure and received a reward
00:04afterwards?
00:05Say, a lollipop or an ice cream?
00:09That's called positive reinforcement.
00:11If we do something good, we get a treat and that way the shot doesn't feel so bad anymore.
00:18The same thing happens to zoo animals when they need to have a shot or a minor veterinary
00:22procedure.
00:23Positive reinforcement also helps to build a positive relationship between the animal
00:28and their keeper, strengthening their bond.
00:31Rahimi and Niha, the two-year-old Asian elephant, have been working together since May 2016
00:37when she was born right here at the night safari.
00:41They see each other almost every day.
00:43They work together and they trust each other.
00:46By using positive reinforcement, Rahimi is able to get close enough to Niha to simulate
00:51the methods a vet would use to draw blood from the back of her ear.
00:54As you can see behind me here, Niha is more than happy to participate because she knows
00:59she's going to be rewarded with a very special treat.
01:02Training and conditioning is an excellent way to keep her guessing and keep her mind active.
01:07Niha's keepers also love to encourage her natural curiosity by providing her with additional
01:13enrichment items daily.
01:14So while she's busy training, I'll prepare the treats.
01:18So today Niha is going to be receiving some apples, banana and papaya in a little bit
01:23of a hay sandwich, if you will.
01:25So we're going to put some hay down first, put our fruit in the middle and then another
01:32layer of hay.
01:37Now rather than just presenting Niha with her food every day, we put it in this box as
01:42a form of enrichment and that way she has to forage for it and figure out a way to extract
01:46it from the box.
02:12It's this box.
02:16Well, that didn't last long.
02:19She's already on to the next thing.
02:21Lucky for Nihar, her keepers have planned a pool party for her and her family today.
02:26And I think it's a popular activity.
02:38As she's swimming and playing with her mother and her aunties,
02:41Nihar is exhibiting natural behaviours that she would learn and develop in the wild.
02:46In fact, she learns a lot from the adults in her herd,
02:49and she never strays too far away.
02:57Well, it's clear that all four elephants share a strong bond with each other and their keepers.
03:02And it's because of positive reinforcement
03:04that the keepers of the night safari are able to provide their elephants with the best possible care.
03:12I'll see you next time.
03:13Bye.
