"When the 33-year-old Atlantic harbor seal plays fetch with the rubber duck in his habitat built to mimic the region's rocky shore, he's practicing memory, problem-solving and focus - skills trainers say are essential to keeping animals in human care mentally and physically engaged. The routine recently drew attention on social media after the aquarium posted video of Reggae tightly hugging the duck while floating on his belly. In another moment, he sits on a rock with the duck tucked under his flipper."
""He can use his great vision to look around the habitat, find these new items, and he can also use his other senses to kind of explore," she said. "It's a great way to challenge our animals. We want to create challenges for them and really allow them to use those problem-solving skills that they have. The sessions are designed not just to stimulate the seals cognitively but to strengthen relationships with trainers,""
Reggae, a 33-year-old Atlantic harbor seal at the New England Aquarium in Boston, performs enrichment exercises using a rubber duck to practice memory, problem-solving and focus. Trainers use fetch, target and hold cues and small fish rewards to reinforce behaviors and cognitive engagement. Sessions occur in a habitat designed to mimic a rocky shore and include object manipulation with front flippers and sensory exploration. Enrichment aims to strengthen bonds between animals and trainers while keeping the seals mentally and physically stimulated. Videos of Reggae hugging the duck drew attention on social media, illustrating the role of playful training in animal care.
Read at Boston.com
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