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<em>By Brandi Baitchman, Senior Keeper and Marty Dearie, Zoo Keeper
Zoo New England, Boston, Massachusetts</em>

Kimani, a female Western lowland gorilla (<em>Gorilla gorilla gorilla</em>), was born on 24 November 2004, at Zoo New England’s Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, MA.  A couple months after her birth, zookeepers noticed Kimani behaving lethargically on exhibit with an inability to hold on to her mother, Kiki. Kimani was seen being dragged on exhibit by Kiki. On 13 May 2005, the keepers observed that Kimani was no longer nursing. On 14 May 2005, Kiki was immobilized and Kimani was physically restrained for a physical evaluation. Kimani received a full medical workup including blood sampling, radiographs, and body measurements.  Preliminary blood results revealed very low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) and further laboratory results confirmed metabolic bone disease caused by vitamin D deficiency.  The treatment plan was to place Kimani back with Kiki and continue daily calcium (Tums® suspension twice a day) and weekly vitamin D supplementation orally.   Kiki and Kimani’s behavior was monitored closely and the zoo was prepared to pull the infant for hand rearing if zookeepers were unable to administer sufficient supplementation.

The success of Kimani’s treatment was directly dependent on the behavioral conditioning of Kiki.  The goal was to use Kiki’s previously established behaviors to have her present Kimani in such a way as to assist keepers in getting supplements to the infant.  Since Kimani was usually held on Kiki’s chest while sitting, the established behaviors of “station” and “present belly” allowed better access to Kimani.  Kiki was conditioned to place her hands on the bars about shoulder width and height and hold them there until released.  A belly command was then given, which meant that Kiki will push her belly up next to the mesh.  With the infant on her chest, this gave the keepers the best presentation of Kimani to allow for administration of the supplements.  Once the positioning of the baby was obtained, Kiki was desensitized to allow two keepers to be present during a training session.  One keeper would give the cues and reinforcement to Kiki, while the second would hold the calcium suspension in a large syringe with a catheter attached.  The second keeper was then able to inject the suspension into Kimani’s mouth.  After each successful treatment, Kiki was immediately reinforced with an exciting “jackpot” of several banana pieces.  After a number of banana “jackpots” were given following each treatment, Kiki quickly learned to hold Kimani up to the mesh and wait for her reward.  This behavior was established after eight sessions.
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Kimani’s strength, activity, and coordination significantly improved immediately following the initial dose of vitamin D.  Subsequent medical exams over the following two years confirmed normal calcium and improving vitamin D levels and ………

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