Cindie Sweitzer Email and Phone Number

Responsible for caring for and handling 1.4 African elephants in protected contact at the Pittsburgh Zoo's offsite breeding facility. Performs training sessions using basic operant conditioning and positive reinforcement. Performs husbandry procedures including blood and semen collections, foot and skin care, trunk washes and medical assessments. Assisted Elephant Manager Willie Theison with the off loading of three female, semi-wild, adult elephants from Botswana. Transitioned the Botswana elephants from free contact into protected contact. Implemented and completed bathing routines and other behaviors to the new elephants using target training and positive reinforcement. Maintains husbandry behaviors and is responsible for training husbandry behaviors to the new elephants from Botswana including: voluntary blood draws, vaccinations, trunk washes, wound care and small surgical procedures, foot presents for foot care, enemas and reproductive assessments. Trained by Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt and staff to properly collect and process semen samples for transport to other facilities for A.I or to bank and freeze. Reports any problems or health concerns seen to the elephant manager and veterinary staff. Cleans and maintains elephant area and makes minor repairs when needed. Performs nightly feedings. Records daily routines and elephant concerns into a logbook.Performs educational tours for large school groups and corporations. Selected in 2013 to participate in a Keeper Exchange program with Zoo Wuppertal in Germany for 2 weeks to help their elephant staff and represent the Pittsburgh Zoo elephant department.

Perform husbandry procedures to injured or sick domestic animalsAssist Veterinarian in surgical proceduresProvide restraint and assist other technicians with medical procedures

Responsible for feeding, cleaning and maintenance of seven elephants in a free contact environment using basic operant conditioning. Key duties include:Bathing, cleaning, and maintaining elephants Assist with moving elephants from yard to yard to facilitate yard clean upThrough the direction of Supervisor, use verbal commands to perform behaviors needed to move the elephants, perform husbandry procedures and to uphold criteria needed to interact with the elephants in a safe manner. Ensure the safety of guests while interacting with elephantsClean animal enclosures Responsible for nightly animal rounds, feedings, and safety checks for all pachyderms, hoof stock, felines, reptiles and small mammalsAct as a backup for other trainersRecord daily entries into a logbook concerning elephant care and behaviors

Provide proper nutrition and appropriate sanitary living conditions for 6 Atlantic Bottle-nose Dolphins. Prepare daily diets and administer vitamins or needed medicationParticipate in primary care and training of animals by providing an enriching environment combined with basic operant conditioning Participate in husbandry procedures including but not limited to: Urine collections, fecal samples, rectal temperatures, sonograms, blood extractions, X-rays, semen collections, blow hole cultures and swabs, vaginal swabs.Participate in animal/trainer session interactions such as: Play, husbandry, water work, guest, exercise, and relationship