While visiting the Houston Zoo you may have had an opportunity to view the occasional animal training session. Training can be observed daily during our Sea Lion shows and Elephant baths, but did you may also see it happening in any of the animal sections of the zoo? A vast majority of the training takes place behind the scenes and it is critical for helping us to take better care of the animals that live here.

The PVC perch that was made to help orient Keti for the ultrasound.

For the past six months, keepers on the Natural Encounters team have been working with Keti, a female red panda, to train her for voluntary ultrasound. This way we will be able to easily determine if she is pregnant and monitor the development of her cub(s). To begin this process, keepers had to train Keti to accept them touching her on her back and belly. Wild animals are not usually tolerant of being touched, and a high level of trust needs to be established between the keeper and animal. Once this behavior was established, keepers progressively added in all the other factors that might be involved in an ultrasound procedure.

Mock up of a portable ultrasound machine to be used in training.

Members of the veterinary team came by so Keti could learn they were friendly treat dispensers. Practice ultrasound equipment was fabricated from cardboard boxes, aquarium tubing and the casing of a tube of deodorant! A PVC perch was made which would help Keti line up into the perfect position to obtain a great ultrasound image. One by one, Keti was introduced to these items and learned to associate them with treats. It’s a slow but effective process. Below, you can see the results of six months of hard work.

This video was taken at her third ever ultrasound exam. Although we have not yet seen a fetal image, we will continue to monitor her weekly and keep our fingers crossed.

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