Stress-free dental checks are a humungous success at Werribee Open Range Zoo with Kifaru the Southern white rhino mastering the skill of voluntarily opening his mouth.
Responding to verbal cues and a tasty treat, the 14-year-old male presents rows of large, impressive teeth for keepers and veterinarians to easily and safely monitor his oral health.
Werribee Open Range Zoo Savannah keeper Resistance Manyepera said that it’s a huge healthcare achievement to be able to check his teeth and gums without any anaesthetic required.
“The first thing we do is ask Kifaru to enter a behind-the-scenes training area that is purpose-built to ensure both the animals’ and keepers’ safety,” he said.
“We then ask him to touch a target, before the clicker sounds and he opens his mouth for some tasty hay and pellets.
“Kifaru is able to leave at any time which aligns with our ethos of choice and control for the animals.”
As herbivores, Southern white Rhinos have a distinctive flat, broad mouth and large teeth designed for grazing short grasses on the savannah.
Mr Manypera said Kifaru’s curious and calm personality really shines through during his open-mouth training sessions.
“Kifaru is a fast learner and enthusiastically participates in his own healthcare,” he said.
“He voluntarily keeps his mouth open for a few seconds while we check for fractures, decay or any medical issues, which is an incredible achievement in under a year.
“He has also been trained to participate in voluntary blood draws from his ear and injections in his foot.”
Animals of all shapes and sizes are participating in the open-mouth training program at Werribee Open Range Zoo –from large animals such as giraffes and gorillas, to smaller species including monkeys, meerkats, reptiles and tortoises.
The animal training program is a Zoos Victoria-wide initiative that also occurs at Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park.
There are fewer than 20,000 Southern White Rhinoceros remaining in the wild with populations under serious threat from illegal poaching and habitat destruction.
The rhinos at Werribee Open Range Zoo form part of a regional breeding program to maintain an insurance population in the fight against extinction.
