📝 The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is one of four recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranu) In 2012, the Sumatran elephant was changed from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” because half of its population has been lost in one generation—a decline that is largely due to habitat loss and as a result human-elephant conflict. Sumatra has experienced one of the highest rates of deforestation within the Asian elephant’s range, which has resulted in local extinctions of elephants in many areas. Over two-thirds of its natural lowland forest has been razed in the past 25 years and nearly 70 percent of the Sumatran elephant’s habitat has been destroyed in one generation. #elephant #sumatranelephant #criticallyendangered #endangered #endangeredspecies #art #drawing #ipadpro #applepencil #line #lines #blackandwhite #animals #illustration #quarantineart #2020 #2020art #meditativeart #adobe #adobefresco #fresco #apple #vectors #vectorart #vector digital #digitaldrawing #california #May2020 @wwf https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3_Bt6AX70/?igshid=mihsq8jgmrcz

Many people think repetitive behavior is stereotypic, but in this example, we see it can be learned. This Sumatran elephant bobs her head in hopes it might earn her food or other desired consequences. To address this, I have the team practice looking for moments when she is not bobbing, and then give her food. She quickly learns this is the new behavior that works. As the trainers reinforce her for standing with her head still more frequently, and add an intermittent schedule of reinforcement, she learns to stand longer and longer with the correct head position. Learn more about addressing repetitive behaviors and the difference between these and stereotypic behaviors in my latest podcast at https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/podcasts/repetitive-behavior-stop-the-madness/ You can also listen on your favorite podcast outlets. #repetitivebehavior #stereotypy #stereotypies #elephant #sumatranelephant #animaltrainingpodcast https://www.instagram.com/p/B6BUO7ol7Km/?igshid=11csgy0n1q1pj

#Repost @wandatikklaar • • • • • • Sumatran Elephant- an illustrated haiku #endangeredweek #endangeredspecies #sumatranelephant #elephant #illustration #illustrationartist https://www.instagram.com/p/B5O9_XAnCqY/?igshid=1fau9bpuwtyj

#sumatranelephant #endangeredweek https://www.instagram.com/p/B5KoVPLlZ2u/?igshid=o2tkuf1rxsno

In honor of World Elephant Day here’s a little before and after clip of training this young bull elephant (Sumatran elephant BTW) to do the right thing to earn reinforcers. Instead of punishing undesired behavior we can train a behavior that is incompatible with the “bad” behavior that will earn desired consequences. In this example wrapping the trunk around the pole is incompatible with climbing over the top. He can’t do both behaviors at the same time. This was his first session and you get to the see moment he figures out the behavior. (The so called “light bulb” moment.) Later in the session we added duration to the hold. A big giant “thank you” to all the amazing people who keep moving elephant conservation, care and training forward, and to the elephants who have inspired, touched so many of us. #worldelephantday #sumatranelephant #dri #differentialreinforcement #elephanttraining #positivereinforcement #lightbulbmoment

Can you tell what behavior we were working on here? Rather than punish an undesired behavior that had been created via reinforcement (guest feeding opportunities), we are teaching what new behavior earns desired consequences instead. Note: there is another elephant being trained off camera so you will hear additional clicking. #elephanttraining #positivereinforcement #sumatranelephant #forcefreetraining