Trending
Throughout the remainder of this summer, the zoo is asking for your assistance by providing your input at various keeper talks designed to improve the zookeeper's ability to create an impactful experience for both our animals and guests. The times and locations for these presentations will be posted at the entrance each day. This project is part of a grant the zoo received from the ACE (Advancing Conservation through Empathy) Wildlife Network.
For this project, zoo staff selected four species to focus on that included the okapi, otters, trumpeter hornbills, and Viktor, our male tiger. Zookeepers worked with consultants on different ways to look at and develop enrichment for the animals in their care. Keepers in each of these areas began taking a closer look at these animals to better understand their natural history and natural behaviors. The keepers then worked backward from the natural behaviors they wanted to elicit to develop a situation or scenario for the animals to experience.
Select daily scheduled zookeeper chats will be evaluated and will have special signage that includes a QR code for guests to link to a short survey requesting "your" observations. This is where we need your help. It is a simple survey as we don't wish to hinder your experience, but to offer you the opportunity to participate and assist the staff in improving the lives of the animals.
Enrichment is a general term used to describe making changes to an animal's environment that changes the animal's perception of that space. It can be as simple as spraying perfume or scattering spices in their habitat that alerts their senses or developing more complex ways to offer food by making them work at it as opposed to sitting back and enjoying a buffet laid out in front of them. Keepers may change up the furniture, move ropes or add logs to change the environment. All animals are offered some type of enrichment daily. The past few months have provided new insight.
Instead of looking at enrichment challenging one or two of their senses that may only last a short time, staff are looking at creating scenarios that might involve multiple days that build up to a climax. Imagine a keeper playing a recording of a thunderstorm overnight, then watering the exhibit the next morning. Before letting them outside for the day, earthworms could be scattered throughout the space as if the rain drove them to the surface. As the animal enters their habitat they are convinced of the storm and enjoy the opportunity to canvas their habitat locating the worms as they might naturally.
It does require more work for the staff, but it also has a greater impact on the animals and their wellbeing. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, but for those committed to animals, it is another part of the job. Your participation will help the zoo determine not only the impact on the animals but, just as important, how these enhanced enrichment programs impact your feelings about the animals.