Utilising Classical and Operant Conditioning to Enable Cooperative Care for a Captive Green Peafowl <i>Pavo muticus</i>

Classical and operant conditioning for cooperative husbandry and health care in zoos has largely been mammal-focused while other taxa are typically physically handled or anaesthetised, with birds primarily being trained for shows and demonstrations. The concept of ‘bird training’ is likely to elicit images of parrot fly-bys, falcons chasing a lure or corvids taking money from guests to put into a donation box. The training of captive birds for cooperative husbandry and veterinary care is, however, growing within the zoo industry and has expanded to involve a huge variety of species and goals. This case study provides an example of how classical and operant conditioning were utilised to improve the welfare of a highly fearful green peafowl Pavo muticus. Training enabled zookeepers to overcome management difficulties that resulted from enclosure design and a negative animal-zookeeper relationship, leading to reduced stress, better health care and ultimately improved animal welfare. This case study also highlights the importance of frequently reviewing training plans, the training environment, and the behaviour of the animal being trained to enhance training success.