NE - Humane training methods for elephants introduced in Nepal

[Guest guest]

A very good initiative but the question is, what do we do with the trained

elephants? What are 'humane' jobs for elephants?

 

Experts plan to train tuskers

Himalayan News Service Kathmandu, December 2:

 

A group of international conservationists are working to develop training

methods for safe handling of elephants.

" Nepali and foreign trainers will work together from December 11 to 17 at

the Elephant Breeding Centre at Khorsor of Chitwan to develop new methods

to treat the elephants in humane and safe ways to develop a Nepali version

of a training method that optimises the elephant's learning rate and the

cooperative attitude towards people, " Anil Manandhar, the WWF country

representative for Nepal, told this daily today.

A workshop will also be organised to share experts' knowledge on issues

like improving elephant health, nutrition, equipment and handling, he informed.

" The experts at the workshops will include veterinarian Dr Kamal Gairhe

from Nepal and Dr Andrew McLean from Australia, Tuikku Kaimio from Finland,

Marc Pierard from Belgium, " Manandhar said.

" Positive reinforcement is a method in which the elephant gets rewarded for

the right actions during the training. Pressure release, the other method

used, means that during training, the elephant is guided with as light

pressure as possible, and each time the elephant performs the desired

action, the pressure is immediately released, " he said, adding that the

best efficiency in training is achieved when using both methods in combination.

The workshops are being organised within the framework of the Terai Arc

Landscape (TAL) programme.

 

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