Condicionamento operante como ferramenta de promoção de bem estar de animais em cativeiro.

Abstract

The learning process is long, but necessary, whether in humans or animals. In this case, operant conditioning brings the possibility of handling with greater well-being, greater comfort for animals and handlers. As a form of enrichment, conditioning is still not widespread and used in zoos.It should be seen as an alternative to reduce stress and interventions that can be performed without the need for animal sedation, such as a simple examination to detect possible skin injuries, for example.The animal conditioning process must be done in stages, knowing and identifying the natural behaviors of individuals and respecting them. Determining goals and commands to be used, which must be useful, functional and that serve for various types of interventions.The handlers must be together with the trainers, so that there is a science of the commands, the way they must be performed, use or not of tools that can assist in these commands, such as clicker or target.With the insertion of the command, the learning and the fixation of it, the tool shows how animal welfare and respect for the five freedoms guarantees a comfortable and long life in captivity for animals.