Saturday, April 22
Spot, sniff, poke, pounce… Enrichment encompasses a variety of items or activities designed to encourage the natural behaviors of animals under our care. Objects with hidden food, sounds and/or scents compel the animals to explore with their senses and natural instincts, while benefiting from important physical and mental stimulation that enhances their health and well being.
Search, dig, forage, devour… The animals at Riverbanks can investigate their surroundings every day with various enrichment items and activities provided by the animal care staff. Here are a few examples:
The examples above are just a snapshot of the countless ways Riverbanks keepers strive to enrich all of the animals and engage them each day.
Everywhere! But look closely because it’s not always easy to see in the animals’ naturalistic exhibits. To help build awareness, the Zoo hosts a special Enrichment Day every September as well as a variety of other planned enrichment encounters throughout the year where guests can learn about the importance of enrichment while watching wildlife in action. Check the calendar for upcoming enrichment events.