Naples Zoo, keepers and their animals

[urbpan]

One of the great things about Naples Zoo is that there are keeper encounters all day long, so you can plan your visit around them, and enjoy a rich educational experience. This two-toed sloth was brought out after a show that included a half-dozen species, three zookeepers, and a script with entertaining jokes as well as good conservation information.



The same show included this kinkajou exhibiting its natural vine-walking behavior. When the animal got to the end of the rope railing it turned and defecated, a predictable behavior accounted for in the script, and useful for demonstrating the animal's role as a seed disperser. The keeper collected the feces and said he would give this "instant rainforest" to someone after the show (he didn't).


The keeper showing the striped skunk came out with it in his hands and sprayed the audience with a concealed syringe full of water. Here he's talking about how skunks scavenge in the roads, and how their primary defense is inadequate against automobiles.


The big finale was this leash-trained ocelot.


This retired breeder cheetah gets fed his diet in exchange for providing the behaviors the keeper requests.


Possibly one of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life, one of 17 American alligators participates in a daily training program. These reptiles are expected to know their names, and come onto the beach to a certain spot (no closer!), and are rewarded with a turkey drumstick.


Here's an animal many people know only from the internet, the honey badger. Do you think the zoo management is aware of the youtube video?


Oh, they're aware of it.


We were lucky enough to be there on the day that some new exhibits opened. This is the cavy/sloth exhibit (those are cavies, there) and the blue tape on the window is to help the animals see the glass and not bonk into it.


Here's a feature of Naple's Zoo that I'm currently trying to emulate.


SWEET cargo trike!