3:00 snapshot #1377

[urbpan]

These things are 18 inch lengths of 3 inch pvc pipe, permanently capped on one end and given a threaded removable cap at the other, with several holes cut into the side. These are stuffed with food items (or a combination of food items and non-food items such as straw or newspaper) and attached to the inside of a cage. The animal has to manipulate the device to get the food items out, using gravity, dexterity, and ingenuity.

Comments

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

Inventing enrichment activities must be one of the best parts of being a zookeeper.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Definitely. And each animal presents different challenges--how smart the animal is, what its normal behavior is, and what objects can be safely placed with them.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

frozen pumpkins are briliant, whoever came up with that, yah!

enrichment is so cute. i had a long talk when the Boston Aquarium got their first otters - they were setting up... i mentioned all the thing ferrets dig, and i think they tried some :D

#

[bunrab.livejournal.com]

Gosh, enrichment that doesn't involve Tupperware. I thought all enrichment involved Tupperware, by definition and agreement!