Loro Parque\u2019s aquarium, located in Tenerife, has successfully achieved progress in a pioneer training system for sharks and rays to accustom them to veterinary controls and revisions in order to ensure their welfare. Very few modern zoos have carried out these diverse and innovative volunteer behaviour techniques to guarantee proper handling and comfort of various species housed by the N\u00ba1 Zoo in Europe and N\u00ba2 in the world, according to TripAdvisor.<\/p>\n
This training method that is only used in some European zoos is based on the voluntary entry of the sharks and rays into a special stretcher that is introduced in the water. Once they are in the stretcher they remain calm and make almost no movement until the caregivers have finalized the revisions, blood tests, scans or any necessary procedure without making the animal go through any kind of stress.<\/p>\n
The goal of these training sessions is to obtain a controlled and voluntary response towards a possible blood test, prenatal isolation or to carry out routine control biometrics, explains Ester Alonso, the aquarist in charge. \u201cThe possibility to perform a blood test voluntarily and free of stress is a great step towards clinically controlling the sharks and, in many cases, extending their life expectancy\u201d, assures the expert.<\/p>\n