can anybody help?

[hoofstock]

I'm a brand new keeper at a zoo and I'm new to working with camels. The zoo I work at has not handled their camels very much. One female is about 6 and she was bottle fed and hand raised. As a result, she is VERY pushy and doesn't respect space. I'm not allowed to "train" her yet as I haven't completed the required training classes at this zoo; which pretty much ties my hands as far as tapping her with a crop or anything. I am required to enter her enclosure while she is inside to do basic husbandry. The last keeper was cornered by this camel and was let go. She approaches without cause, takes tools, spills the wheelbarrow, etc. she is becoming increasingly annoying and more persistant. i don't back down to her. I simply place a metal shovel or the wheelbarrow between us and hope she leaves. sometimes i tell her to "leave it" and try to push her gently with the handle of my shovel. what can i do???????? i'm concerned for my safety somewhat. any advice would be greatly appreciated.:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[3droms]

It sounds like a difficult situation for you. I think you might be better off voicing your concerns to your boss and trying to get your "training" done as soon as possible.

Initially to move our camels back we waved a fibreglass crop type thing (or a hat) in an upwards motion which caused them to lift there heads and get backwards momentum (we didn't actually touch them with it). Now we just wave our arms in an upwards motion and they move back.

Camels are terribly mischievous and love to explore "new" things. I use a barrow to collect up the manure and all three will come and check whats in the barrow without fail. They also all love buckets (probably because they sometimes hold treats) and will want the bucket even if it is empty. I know how annoying they can be.

The barrow used as a blockade and pushing on the camel seem like reasonable actions under the circumstances ie. as a last resort. Your employer should not expect you to go into risky situations without training and tools. I imagine it would be intimidating to know that the camel has cornered someone already and I think you have been disempowered because you aren't permitted to train the camel.

Talk to your boss. Good luck with it.

[camel2]

Anyway you can teach her to station...without actually formally 'training' her? ;)

Teach her that if she meets you in a certain area she can get fed her grain, given sometype of enrichment (feeder ball, etc), or grain plus flake of hay? Its not really training her as much as giving her a distraction but if you typically only give her the item in one area and only that area, she should hopefully go there and stay occupied.

Your example is one reason why I prefer mother raised babies. Often, people baby a bottle fed camel and neglect to teach it ground rules or manners like its mom would.