Enrichment: the spice of life

Hey everyone, Kaileen here. I am a member of our Ambassador Animals Team and enrichment liaison for all of the animals who call the Outback Station area home. We take care of a few different species and personalities year-round in our department, from the goats and sheep to the Patagonian maras. All of them have their own needs, and one of the key ways we ensure those needs are met is making sure that our animals are getting the enrichment that they need.

What is enrichment, you might ask? Enrichment is something novel that our animals might not see every day, or a way to improve an animal’s environment by providing something that helps bring out their natural behaviors. Here in our area, all of the animals get enrichment every day. Sometimes it can be a hard task making sure not only that they get enriched, but also that there is variety in the behaviors we are targeting, and just as importantly, that our keepers are able to innovate and enjoy the process as well. As enrichment liaison, it’s my job to make sure all of that is happening   

So how is this done? Well, recently we have been testing out a weekly calendar that will give the behavior that we want to target that day for each group of animals that we can sign off on once they have been given enrichment that encourages that behavior. For instance, enrichment that encourages rooting behaviors for our Kunekune pigs. Our keepers can look at what items they are approved to have and how they want to encourage that behavior. Do they want to hide hay in traffic cones for them to root out, or balls over their pile that they are encouraged to move as they pick out the bits that they like best. The possibilities are great when a keeper puts their mind into it and can have a little bit of fun while doing it.    

Another way we can do this is coming up with new ideas of how to enrich our animals. If we come up with a new idea, or new item that we believe would be a good tool to help target these certain behaviors, we can present our idea on a form for approval. Each item is looked over to make sure not only that it is appropriate for that species but that it can be engaged with safely.     

That is ultimately what we look for in our enrichment: engagement. Engagement not only from the animals, but the people who care for them. Because if our people and animals are engaged, it is better not only for their physical health, but mentally as well. I guess you could say that enrichment really is the spice of life.

Kaileen A.
Seasonal Keeper, Ambassador Animals