INFLUENCE OF OPERANT CONDITIONING WITH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ON THE BEHAVIOR OF ASIAN ELEPHANTS (Elephas maximus) UNDER HUMAN CARE.
Zoo; well-being; mega vertebrates; training
The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is one of the largest living land mammals, found mainly in Asia. Its population has been declining over the years due to several factors such as hunting, anthropization and human advancement, making the maintenance of these animals under human care being necessary for their preservation. The maintenance of a megavertebrate in zoological institutions goes beyond a good enclosure and food quality. In addition to being very intelligent, these animals require specific care, such as foot care, one of the main places for illnesses and deaths in pachyderms under human care. To access the feet, training and close contact are necessary, and this activity is carried out gradually through specific guidance and commands, which must be carried out routinely, prioritizing the animal's quality of life. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of operant conditioning with positive reinforcement on the well-being of two Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), through behavioral analyzes via ethogram and variation in salivary cortisol concentration, in different scenarios where the performance or not of operant conditioning were the variations observed.