Adelaide Zoo animals warm up with wintery enrichment
Looking for a fun day out this weekend? Join in the winter fun at Adelaide Zoo this Sunday (31 July) as the furry, feathered and scaly residents enjoy a special Winter Enrichment celebration.
Throughout the day, animals both big and small will be treated to enrichment items created by the zoo’s amazing BEEZA (Behavioural Environmental Enrichment for Zoo Animals) volunteer group.
Coming in many different shapes, sizes and colours the incredible creations range from decorated boxes to giant movie characters including King Julian and the penguins from DreamWorks’ Madagascar.
Today the African Lions, Sumatran Tigers and Giant Pandas tested the fun creations in preparation for the weekend’s winter festivities.
Ripping open his penguin-shaped treat, Wang Wang thoroughly enjoyed rolling around in sawdust, a favourite smell of the Giant Panda, before snacking on some panda cake.
Over in carnivores, lions Amani and Mujambi and tiger Kemali had a huge range of meat-filled creations, quickly tearing them open to munch and crunch.
Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Arliah Hayward, said the enrichment will be filled with lots of tasty treats for the animals to discover.
“Sunday will be a fun day for all of our visitors and keepers with many of the animals set to enjoy special enrichment designed for their species,” she said.
“Giving the animals enrichment is incredibly important as it gives them variety, keeps them both mentally and physically stimulated, and encourages them to use natural behaviours to explore the items such as digging and scratching.
“Enrichment comes in a many forms, from introducing new scents and textures into the animal’s exhibit, providing food-filled puzzles or participation in training programs.
“It is great for visitors to see animals interacting with enrichment too because it gives them the chance to learn more about the species and their behaviour in the wild.”
Adelaide Zoo is home is home to more than 2,500 animals and 250 species of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles.
The newest resident, Naga the Komodo Dragon, moved into his new home at the zoo’s entrance near Wisteria Café last week.
The 2.75m long, 43kg lizard has delighted visitors as he explores his new space and sits on his heat pad at the front of his exhibit.
For more information or to plan your day out at Adelaide Zoo, please visit adelaidezoo.com.au.
