How Calgary Zoo trains its Amur tigers for their own medical care
Trainers work with Sarma and Vasili using positive reinforcement so the 14- and 15-year-old cats voluntarily participate in health checks.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
The Amur tigers at the Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo demonstrated their training Wednesday morning in a session that doubled as a medical appointment.
Trainers worked with Vasili, a 14-year-old male, and Sarma, his 15-year-old companion, using edible incentives to encourage the cats to stand on two legs, open their mouths wide, and sit on command. But these aren't tricks for entertainment — they're tools for healthcare.
"Training helps the animals participate actually in their own health care," said Barb Campbell, animal care supervisor. "We do training that facilitates the animal co-operating with us, coming close to the mesh, and they'll often do behaviours that will help us and our vet team take a good look at the animals."
The Wilder Institute emphasizes that animals' involvement is voluntary, built on their natural behaviours and rewarded choices. "It is really important for animals to have choice, and choosing to participate in a training program is all up to them," Campbell said. "They get bridged or treated through this process. So if they choose to participate, they get rewarded for that. But they can also say, 'Hey, it's hot today', which we saw with Sarma, and she's just, 'No, I don't want to participate', and that's her choice."
At ages 14 and 15, the tigers are less likely to fully engage in training sessions than they were when younger. But the demonstrations serve another purpose: they let veterinary staff assess the cats' mobility and flexibility. "We'll also be able to see how fluid they are," Campbell said. "At age 14 to 15, we start seeing things like animals getting a bit stiffer, and we can see how mobile they are."
Campbell sees real value in public demonstrations of tiger training. "I think it's really good because our staff emphasizes the fact that these are not rollover and dog tricks that we do," she said. "The purpose is to take the best possible care that we can of the animals in our care, and people love that. It's really cool for people to see that what they do on a small basis with their house cat at home, (can be done) with an animal that is dangerous."
For the best chance to see the tigers in action, autumn is ideal — cooler temperatures encourage better engagement from the big cats.
The facts
How old are the Amur tigers at Calgary Zoo?
Vasili is 14 years old and Sarma is 15 years old.
What behaviors do the tigers learn during training?
The Amur tigers at Calgary Zoo learn to stand on two legs, open their mouths wide, and sit on command using positive reinforcement with edible incentives.
Why does Calgary Zoo train its Amur tigers?
Training helps the tigers participate voluntarily in their own medical care, allowing veterinary staff to examine them and assess their mobility and flexibility.
When is the best time to watch the tigers train?
Autumn is ideal for watching the Amur tigers train at Calgary Zoo because cooler temperatures encourage better engagement from the big cats.
