Gram the Rhino: New Experiences
Posted at 9:44 am October 3, 2007 by Laura Weiner
Gram, our Indian rhinoceros, has been doing great with his crate training (see Laura’s previous blog, Gram: Relaxing in the Crate). He is due to leave the San Diego Zoo sometime this week. Other than getting him to come in the crate, he needed to get used to a few new things, such as new sounds. Rhinos have very sensitive hearing and sometimes the slightest sound can upset them. This is the reason rhinos have such a bad reputation: they hear you coming from far away but they have no idea what you are because their eyesight is so poor.
With this in mind, Gram needed to get used to hearing someone walk on top of the crate and the sound of chains rattling against it. As with everything else, he was reluctant at first. I climbed up on the crate and just let him know I was there, which caused him to immediately back out. As with every new behavior, animals need time to grow accustomed to the change. I used his target to bring him back into the crate and gave him a treat when he touched it. This was a slow process, as you can imagine. Our animals live outside with no upstairs neighbors stomping around like…well, like a herd of elephants. Every day I climbed on top of the crate and he grew more comfortable with hearing me above him. Of course, the yams and apples make it much easier to get used to!
Along with being on top of the crate, I also started to drag a chain across the top and sides: new sounds and new snorting from Gram. Once the chain accidentally slipped into the crate, which was not received well. But Gram came right back in after some huffing and puffing.
Along with this training, he also needed a pre-shipment physical. Every animal leaving the San Diego Zoo receives one: blood and fecal tests, weights, etc. Many animals are anesthetized for this procedure, but Gram was able to have his physical fully awake in his chute, a relief for Gram and me! His trained behaviors allowed us to draw blood, check his overall body condition, weigh him, check his feet, look in his mouth, and make sure he is healthy. He passed with flying colors.
The last behavior he needed to learn was how to drink from a hose. This was challenging because although he enjoys a bath with the hose he does not like water in his face. Every day we sit with the hose on very low so it won’t spray in his nostrils and place it in his mouth. I ask him for the “open” behavior to open his mouth and then “drink” so he knows the hose is coming. He pulled away many times in the beginning because it was something new and uncomfortable. As time has passed he has learned that he can swallow the water in his mouth and get a carrot.
Laura Weiner is a keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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October 3rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
All of us in the Transportation Department are very sad knowing that Gram will soon be leaving. He’s always been a crowd favorite and one of the biggest highlights on my tours! Thanks for keeping us updated on his progress, Laura. Gram will be missed.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Laura, I am so jealous of your job! What a great blog. Does Gram “know” you by your voice, or can he recognize you?
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Laura, what a great job you have done with Gram, I know it will make his trip a little easier. Will you be going with him on his journey? I hope you will let us know how he is doing.
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
In response to your questions….
Yes, Gram knows my voice and follows me every time I walk in front or in back of his exhibit. Unfortunately, I will not be going along with him to Kansas but I will let you know how his trip goes and how he is doing.
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I will never cease to be amazed by what you are able train the animals to do!! The apples, yams, and carrots play a role, but the patience and creativity of the keeper is the most critical part of the training. Great job, Laura!! There seems to be no challenge that you can’t tackle!
A rhino drinking from a hose…hope we get a photo of that soon.
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Laura, you have really worked hard to prepare Gram for his new adventures. You are obviously a wonderfully patient teacher and he is a willing and trusting student. It sounds like he’s about ready for graduation which means his final entrance into the crate must be coming soon. I have always enjoyed seeing Gram during my visits and will miss him, but I know you’ll probably miss him most of all. Hang in there and congratulations on all your accomplishments with Gram.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Wow, so many changes at the sdz this month ! Gram taking off, the lion girls, and Mei Sheng !!
I hope they all do well in their new homes. Being partial to how they are taken care of at sdz, I cant help
but feel a bit of anxiety on how they are all going to fair, and adjust in their new homes, with new faces (keepers) climate changes, and surroundings. I know it’s hard for all the keepers there to say good-bye to the ones they helped raise from day one, in good times and bad, and just wanted to share that it is also hard for those of us who have been keeping up with your blogs and watching them grow up, and keeping up on their monthly progress. All who are leaving, I wish them well, and hope the sdz keeps us posted on how Gram, and everyone else who is leaving us, did on their trips, and how they adjust to their new homes.
Laura, I too am very jeleous of your job !! How rewarding for both you and Gram !!
October 4th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Great job Gram and Laura. Are you accompanying Gram on his journey to his new home? Or is someone else he is also familiar with going with him. As with most animals, I am sure that having a trusted “friend” around that you know gives you treats for good behavior would be comforting and help relieve the stress.
Will anyone be able to give a last update when Gram arrives at his new home?
October 5th, 2007 at 6:42 am
Safe travels, Gram. I’m so glad I got to “meet” you on my trip out to SDZ in August. Thanks for all the updates and the special care you guys have taken to make sure Gram is comfortable with his journey. I, too, hope that you or someone Gram “knows” can accompany him to his new home and help him get settled.
Yes, will we get to hear of how it all went? I hope so!
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Will Gram ever come back to the San Diego Zoo?
March 21st, 2008 at 11:32 am
Yes, will he, or any other rhinos, ever come back to the San Diego Zoo? I recently went there and really missed the rhinos.
Moderator’s note: Currently we have rhinos just at the Wild Animal Park, where there is much more room for them to roam. There are plans to build an exhibit for rhinos after our new Elephant Odyssey habitat is completed.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 am
it is so sad that gram left