Clyde playing with his ball. Grrr, crush the
ball!
Tut, dunking a water
bucket. He's eyes say "This is my bucket, stay away!"
Savanna playing stick. She likes to break
them into little pieces.
Why do enrichment?
Environmental enrichment creates stimulating enclosures for captive animals,
which encourages them to demonstrate species-typical behavior. It also
enhances their over all well-being. Enrichment activities are designed to
challenge and stimulate the animals and is a critical part in keeping
captive animals active, engaged and healthy.
Different
types of enrichment are:
1. Enclosure design: Different substrates (i.e. bark, mulch,
trees or pools) give animals a variety of different feels and provides
things to dig in or scratch on.
2. Training: Interaction with keepers allow animals' to
choose to become engaged. The keepers also win the animals trust. Having
their trust helps if an animal is in need for care and must be
handled by trained keepers.
3. Smell: Keepers introduce natural predator/prey scents, in
addition to essential oils or pheromones in enclosures.
4. Sound: Taped sounds or vocalizations can stimulate
different behaviors.
5. Variety of Food: This is the most commonly used form of
enrichment for zoos and here at the facility. Food hidden in enclosures entices animals to use other senses to
explore, problem solve and forage.
6. Toys: New objects introduced in enclosures allow animals
to play and challenge them to problem solve. Toys, such as balls, bags,
frozen blocks of meat and old articles of clothing, bring out animal's natural
curiosity.
What type
of enrichment are we doing?
We are always trying new
enrichment ideas, from spice balls to frozen blood balls. We like to change
things up as much as the animals do. The smalls cats enjoy tug ropes and
ripped up t-shirts dipped in elk's blood, paprika, parsley and cinnamon. Our
binturong,
Chip, enjoys fresh bananas and climbing up the tree stumps in his enclosure
to hunt for hidden treats. Our leopards and mountain lions like
playing with cardboard carpet rolls that have been stuffed with chicken.
If you would like some ideas on what types of toys the small
and large cats can play with, check out this great web site:
www.sanctuarysupplies.com.
If you see something that catches your attention, order it and bring it with
you to the facility. Our keepers are always happy to give a cat a fun new
toy while you watch.
Clyde, also pictured above,
grooms himself after a fun day of romping with his ball. Come and meet him
in person!
