Shoo , fly ! Our girl Princess is look like true royalty in her customs face mask made just to ward off those pesky bug .
Whileface cover are definitely not necessaryto protect our furry booster from COVID-19 , sure mask can still help keep animals levelheaded . Just inquire Princess , the endearing ' geriatric’rhinowho ’s now be her best life at Utah ’s Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City thanks to a set of new eye masks meant to keep the fly front aside .
Her majesty Princess — asenior snowy rhinowho can be find in the African savannah when in the wild — battle with centre allergies and is especially irritated by rainfly buzzing around her question . In 2018 , zookeepers sought out especial rainfly masquerade similar to the ace horses wear to cover Princess ’s face and protect her from plaguey pests . ( Do n’t vex , she can still see through the mesh . ) And according to a late post on the zoo ’s Facebook page , the masks are go wonder !
Photo: Courtesy of Utah’s Hogle Zoo
The zoo ’s elephant and rhino handler Lauren LeCoque explained the process of easing Princess into her crown in afollow - up video . She says zoo stave usespositive reinforcement(yep , the same kind we use totrain dog and catsin our own nursing home ) to get her used to wearing the mask and ensure she ’s comfortable with enough with it to keep it on and still enjoy steady activity . " If [ the animals ] do n’t want to take part , they do n’t have to , " LeCoque says . " So it works that we have a great human relationship with them . "
The chief motivator for getting Princess to wear her sporty fresh eyewear ? Lots and lots of treats . Check out Princess enjoying some delish - seem sliced apple snacks while LeCogue put the mask on her . She say it typically run on first thing in the morning ( during breakfast , obvs ) and comes off just before bedtime .
Apparently it take a few prototypes to be sure Princess ’s young mask would fit her head . Her new mask was specially made and donated byHorsewear , a company who ( you guessed it ) makes vaporize masks for horse . The rhino version is interchangeable to the more placeable gymnastic horse rendering but it fits her large ol' bean and has an supernumerary hole for her horn .
Though the masks are efficient in combat her allergic reaction , zookeepers say Princess can be pretty crude on them since she has such a propensity for roll in the mud and rubbing up against log . And with temps in three-fold digits this summertime , who can blame her for scrape up those urge and chill off in a puddle or two ? !
gratefully , this royal gal ’s knight in shining armor appear last hebdomad when the animal lovers at Horseware donate four new custom - made masks for Princess to tire this summertime .
It seems the faculty at Hogle Zoo are extremely appreciative of the raw covering for their favourite rhinoceros , and it ’s secure to say Princess and her optic are grateful for the auspices , too .
