University of North Texas ORCA Projects

Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA) is the creation of a handful of graduate students in the University of North Texas' Behavior Analysis Department. ORCA's projects are designed around training challenges that arise in a variety of settings, concerning the behavior and husbandry of captive animals.
December 2001: Graduate student ORCA members Eddie Fernandez & Nicole Dorey met with Animal Edutainment staff to discuss possible training projects that would enable them to collect data for analysis. Two projects were decided upon. Shaping "target" behaviors, through reinforcement schedules, with "Buki" the Ringtail Lemur and "Hatari" the African Crested Porcupine.
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Eddie delivers a raisin as reinforcement
for "Buki's" response to the target.

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Nicole records data as Eddie shapes
"Hatari's" hold response to the target.

February 2002: Data collected during shaping trials with "Buki" & "Hatari" was presented at the 2nd annual Animal Behavioral Management Alliance (ABMA) Conference in San Diego.
September 2002: Graduate student Nicole Dorey, under graduates Karen Belhumeur, and Andrea Gamble begin shaping and enrichment projects with "Quachi" the Coati and " Marashi" the African Civet.
December 2002: Faculty advisors Dr. Jesus Rosales-Ruiz & Dr. Rick Smith visit for project assessment.