Noticing the Year: 01/04/08.

[urbpan]

I was at Stone Zoo today, waiting for someone, flipping through the Zookeeper Training Manual when I came across this. A "butt bag" I now realize is like a punching bag for animals such as goats that like to butt heads. I have no idea what "Disco Fever" is, at least, not in the context of Animal Enrichment.


Speaking of enrichment, donated xmas trees are used to enrich the gorillas! This gorilla is just kind of hanging on to the xmas tree and eating some leafy greens (not eating the tree). The trees provide enrichment because they are novel objects, they smell interesting, and then Santa Ape comes. Note also the snow brought it in also for enrichment (this is an indoor exhibit).

In other news I've been celebrating the warm weather (26!) by taking the puppy out to pee wearing an open zip-up sweatshirt instead of a space suit.

Comments

[candent.livejournal.com]

Why can't the camels have basketballs?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

They dribble too much (rimshot).


No, actually I dunno. Perhaps vampyrusgirl knows.

[candent.livejournal.com]

Hehe!
On a semi-related note -- do you know anything about the Philadelphia Zoo? Do you think they accept donations of enrichment materials?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about them, but I assume that they would accept donations.

[mozzer131.livejournal.com]

Sorry to butt in, but a friend of mine works there (don't remember her exact title). I can ask her if she knows, if you'd like.

[candent.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that would be great, thank you!

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

That list is so old and out of date! A lot of that was taken from lists from other institutions, so some of it makes no sense whatsoever.

[xiloxoch.livejournal.com]

"See file?" That's ominous.

I suspect you might not be able to comment on this, but I remember going to the Stone Zoo as a child and it was possibly one of the most depressing places I've ever been. The polar bear tank was the worst, totally bleak and empty. After my visit I didn't want to go to any zoos for a long time. I hope it's gotten better since the late 90s.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I hear this kind of a lot from people who visited years ago. I gather that much has changed there; the polar bear died in 2000 and that exhibit was repurposed. All I can say is you should visit again and see if you like it better--although I would recommend going in the spring when more animals will be on exhibit, and it won't be so icy. (There also will be a new exhibit built by then, that I can't tell you any more about!)

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

I remember the same things from as a child, and I work there now, and can tell you it's much better!! :) We're still in the process of building new exhibits and renovating some old ones, but it's come a long way. The whole Sierra Madre area (jaguars, cougars, coyotes) is pretty new (around 2002 or so?) and there are a lot more appropriate animals in places like the Mammal House, which is where the apes used to be. That was so horrible! Now we have smaller, cool animals there, the newest being sloth and meerkat. It's SO much better - you should really come see it! And I say that as someone who works there and found it kinda sad as a kid. :)

[mperrotti76.livejournal.com]

How do I donate mine? I ahve a 6-footer to get rid of.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

You could call the development office at 617-989-3760 and ask if they're still taking donations, although it seemed like they all came in one big lot.

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

Actually, we only get them from places that have extra stock. We can't take any personal or used ones d/t any danger to the animals from ornaments or tinsel or what-not. But thanks! :)

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

Now I know cantaloupes are for hippos! Thanks, that's my revelation of the day.

[mandy-moon.livejournal.com]

I'm intrigued by disco fever as well. Let me know if you hear what it is- I wonder if it's something that can be used on monkeys.

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

It's basically a piece of wood with small mini-mirrors on it that you hang as a visual. :)

[morgi.livejournal.com]

Please let us know which animals get disco fever. Also, I want to know about the camels and the basketballs too.

I should visit the Indy zoo someday.

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

See my other comments on it. :) It's a visual item only, so I guess anyone could get it. :)

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

'Disco Fever' is a piece of wood with little mirrors on it that you hang for them, preferably outside on a windy day. Just for visual, though, no munching on mini-mirrors. :)

[aemiis-zoo.livejournal.com]

And I was envisioning you all playing a Disco Fever CD for the animals to groove too! Hey, we sometimes play music for the bats, although it's more often rainforest sounds and stuff like that.

[wandererrob.livejournal.com]

I love how Disco Fever's instruction rather ambiguously state to "see file"

Hmmm... why is all I can picture is an orangutan in a leisure suit?

[bellelvsbeast.livejournal.com]

*snerk* butt bag...;)
Aw how nice for the gorillas! :) Sounds fun