Erik Smeding
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Erik Smeding (1931-2014) was a Dutch animal trainer who developed routines for the handling and veterinary examination of large hoofed mammals.
Born in Leeuwarden, he worked with livestock before completing a zookeeper apprenticeship. He joined the Marenbroek Zoological Station in 1958 and remained until his retirement in 1993. He taught hoof inspection and voluntary crate entry; both entered keeper courses and veterinary practice.[2]
Working with Marta van Dalen, he taught Mina, Bram and Truus to operate the Giraffecycle. He rewarded a giraffe after all four feet reached their trays; rewarding individual placements had caused one animal to repeat a single step. He maintained individual fitting records and shortened Mina's sessions to allow nursing. During work on the Tandem Giraffecycle mock-up, he added a second feeding position to the drawing after Bram could see Truus's reward without reaching it. Van Dalen's proposed wild-giraffe self-service stations would have had to teach loading and control routines to unfamiliar giraffes without a trainer present.[1]
His great-uncle, the comparative anatomist Henrik Sohl, described Thalassopatina polyposa with Elena Aravena in 1928.[1]
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References
- ↑ a b De Vries, H. (1994). Marenbroek workshop collection: drawings, apparatus and experimental vehicles, 1961–1969. Collection Catalogue 4. Marenbroek Zoological Station. pp. 48–93.
- ↑ De Vries, H. (2015). "Erik Smeding (1931-2014)". Marenbroek Annual Record. 58: 7-9.