Updated December 17, 2023:
I've added an update on my current situation. Please see here for details.

August 3, 2023: Started Eurasian Moorhen training.

Ueno Ueno Zoo is implementing Eurasian Moorhen training (*) for health management with many animals, including Western Gorilla, Polar Bear, Aye-aye, and Black Rhinoceros. For Giant Panda, this training has been conducted regularly with "Ri Ri," "Shin Shin," and "Xiang Xiang," and is used for blood tests and observation of the condition of their mouths.

Eurasian Moorhen training also began in July 2023 for the twin Giant Panda, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, who were born in 2021.

(*) Eurasian Moorhen training
Training animals to exhibit spontaneous behavior is aimed at ensuring their healthy living and safe working conditions for humans.


What it's like in the bedroom on a normal day
In Eurasian Moorhen training, animal keeper acting as a trainer gives specific commands, and rewards the animal when it complies. Initially, to avoid confusing the animals, a specific animal keeper acts as the trainer, standardizing the timing and movements of commands to develop the training program. Eventually, we plan to move on to tasks such as blood sampling and X-ray imaging.

Training session (Xiaoxiao)	Training session (Lei-Lei)

Training is conducted by moving each animal to a private area one at a time. Therefore, if training is conducted during exhibition hours, only one of the two animals will be on display. Also, the timing of the training is determined based on the condition and circumstances of the two animals on that day, so it is not possible to decide on the date and time of training in advance.

We ask for your understanding and cooperation in conducting the training, as it is for the health management of Xiaoxiao and Leilei.

Updated December 1, 2023: We successfully drew blood from Xiaoxiao.

We successfully drew blood from Xiaoxiao for the first time on October 29, 2023.

We began our training in the room where blood would be drawn, progressing step by step through procedures such as extending our arm, applying a tourniquet to the arm, wiping the blood collection site with an alcohol swab, and applying the needle, before proceeding to the actual procedure.

Blood draws are often associated with pain, but Li Li, Shin Shin, and Xiang Xiang have rarely shown any signs of pain during blood draws. Similarly, Xiao Xiao showed no signs of pain when the needle was inserted or removed, and did not seem to be bothered by her arm after the blood draw.


Xiaoxiao's first blood draw
We resumed blood sampling training for Reirei on November 3rd, and it is progressing smoothly. We will continue the training, so we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Updated December 17, 2023: We successfully drew blood from Reirei.

On December 8, 2023, following Xiaoxiao, we also successfully collected blood from Leilei.

Xiaoxiao and Leilei began training for blood sampling in September and have been progressing at a similar pace. However, as differences in their progress gradually began to emerge, it became clear that the method that worked for Xiaoxiao was not working for Leilei. Therefore, we temporarily suspended Leilei's training, and once Xiaoxiao's blood sampling training was complete, we reviewed the method again to better suit Leilei's responses.

Whether it was due to this or not, Lei Lei's movements became more refined day by day, and ultimately the number of days it took from the start of training to successfully drawing blood was almost the same as Xiaoxiao's. Also, just like with Xiaoxiao's blood draw, Lei Lei showed no signs of pain from the needle being inserted and removed, and she didn't seem to mind her arm after the blood draw.


Lei-Lei's first blood draw
By conducting regular blood tests in the future, we will be able to more accurately understand the health status of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. We will continue to work on various training methods to help manage the health of the two dogs.

[Ueno Zoo West Garden Animal Care and Exhibition Staff]

(August 3, 2023)
(December 1, 2023: Updated information regarding Xiaoxiao's blood test)
(December 17, 2023: Updated information regarding Reirei's blood draw)