Birds, kangaroos trained to cope with handling at park

TREE Kangaroos and birds at the Port Moresby Nature Park have been trained by Zoos Victoria specialists to cope with handling in captivity.
The training is to improve the well-being of the park’s animals teaching them to stay docile and compliant when being handled in processes such as checks and testing, weighing and treatment as well as evasive capture or restraining animals that would cause them discomfort.
The animals are trained using clicks, verbal cues and treats to engage with the park’s workers during weighing and general checks.
Wildlife keeper Emma Oliver said animal training was a labour of love and required patience as they worked to earn their trust.
“Being an animal keeper, we learn something new about the animals every day,” she said.
Oliver said they wanted to incorporate new techniques on how to do their jobs better and that included training the animals.
“The training has taught the tree kangaroos to walk themselves and hop onto scales while some birds have been trained to fly and perch on the scales for weekly weighing.”