Insight into the affects of dominance training FLOODING is the traditional technique used to train elephants in Asia and modern day circuses. Flooding is an exposure to something that provokes a stimulus (aggression, fear) ---such as fire or separation from other elephants---until the animal simply stops eliciting the response, stops reacting. Classic examples of flooding in traditional elephant training is tying an untrained elephant between two trained elephants and dragging him/her along until she stops resisting/reacting and walks. Or, chaining an elephants front legs together tightly and lighting fire all around him. Or, as is typical in the circus world, tying an elephant with ropes and repeatedly pulling her to the ground until she finally stops resisting/reacting and lies down when told. This form of training causes extreme stress resulting in a phenomenon known as ‘learned helplessness’, which occurs when an animal repeatedly exposed to an aversive stimulus learns it has no escape. Flooding puts the elephant under extreme amounts of stress and runs a huge risk for traumatizing them. In many cases resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It has always been considered a cruel method of treatment whether used on humans or animals. Some elephants may become so traumatized by flooding that they become aggressive and dangerous for the average mahout/trainer to handle.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 10:39:40 +0000
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