Cade Lucas
You can lead a horse to water, but what about a camel to get treatment?
That’s what zookeepers at the Werribee Open Range Zoo are trying to find out using a new training facility in its Savannah habitat, that if successful, could change the way animals receive healthcare.
The zoo’s five camels are asked to approach the perimeter of the yard to participate in training sessions, while being free to leave at any time.
Zoo keepers are using the new facility to train behaviours including body condition checks, receiving a needle for blood draws and a stethoscope for heart monitoring.
These would normally have required containment or anaesthetic but now take place as the camels choose.
Savannah Keeper Sophie Gray said camels, especially 21 year old Saffron, are ideal candidates for training.
“Saffron is an ageing camel and has lameness in her front left leg, which impacts her mobility. We’re hoping that by empowering her to participate in her own healthcare, we can get to the bottom of the issue.
Saffron is also the most patient of our five camels.
She is quite food motivated, which makes her more willing to participate in training” Ms Gray said.
Rewarding the camels with food is designed to develop trust between animal and keeper and if successful, Ms Gray said the method would benefit both.
“By training our animals to participate in their own healthcare, we are able to provide the most positive, least intrusive care,” she said.
It’s hoped that all of the zoo’s camels will choose to participate in the preventative healthcare training, as well as other species who share the Savannah.
