An Elephant Bull Husbandry program requires that elephant handlers are able to control the bull to perform the commands in its daily care and training.
In elephant bull husbandry, we know some different methods in training. |
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FC (free contact) lays the closest to the traditional way in elephant handling and is performed in many countries, especially in the care by humans in Asian and African districts, circuses and animal parks. All though this way of handling is rather rare in elephant bull management in European and North- American animal parks. The definition sounds that the keepers and the elephant are sharing the same space without any barrier in between while training them in the use of an elephant hook which is used to guide the elephants movement and also as a protection tool.
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PC (protected contact) is a popular method to train dangerous cows and bull elephants. This way off managing is increased quit fast in Europe and America and is also been used more often in managing complete herds (dangerous and non-dangerous animals) . All though this way off training does known his history in Asia, where wild- caught elephants were held in cages and approached trough the barriers to feed and to have their first contact: “mahout-elephant”. The definition sounds that the keeper and the elephant aren’t sharing the same space and a protective barrier stands in between while training them in the use of targets and treats.
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CC (confined contact) is a training method where a restrained chute is needed (ERC = elephant restraining chute), this method is also used to train dangerous elephant cows and bulls. The commands are performed closely like in PC but in a small space where the ability to move around is rather impossible. As a training tool we also use targets and treats. This method can be a very important way to collect semen and to inseminate (dangerous) cows.
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No contact/hand off is actually no physical contact and interaction between keeper and elephant.
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Not only the training is important, also the building where the bull is housed in has to be strong enough to hold a bull in musth. A space where the bull can be separated from the cows or other bulls would be recommended, a functional training wall or a restraining chute is needed if trained in PC or CC, constant access to water pools/sources and the (sand) stable with an maintaining temperature of 20 -21°C is required.
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