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Toronto Zoo has been administering COVID-19 vaccines to susceptible animals, with the job made easier due to “voluntary positive reinforcement training” the animals have undergone, allowing them to better participate in their healthcare. Toronto Zoo said that it has received 320 vaccine doses for 120 animals, with two doses required per animal given about two or three weeks apart. The zoo said many of the animals “willingly present an area of the body (such as an arm or tail) as part of their regular training exercises with their trusted keepers, with desirable treats often used as a reward for their participation.” The animals’ training allows the keepers and veterinary team “to monitor their health regularly without causing the animals any undue stress,” the zoo said. “We are happy to report we have had no positive cases in any of our animals throughout this pandemic and being able to add this extra layer of protection allows us to continue doing everything we can to provide them with the highest level of protection and medical care” said Dolf DeJong, CEO of Toronto Zoo. Credit: Toronto Zoo via Storyful
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