Type of enrichment

A large variety of enrichment is provided to the animals at the Oregon Zoo. These include...

 

Enrichment by other animals
Placing another animal in an exhibit gives a chance for socialization, or a chance to play, fight, or chase each other like they would have done in the wild.

What's that smell?
Spraying scents around the animal enclosures can provide a challenge. For example, the elephant in the Oregon Zoo have a different form of enrichment- the scent of tiger urine!

Fancy objects
Various items like chew toys, hammock, burlap bags, scare crows etc. are placed in an animal's enclosure allowing the animal to mimic wild behavior.

Moving around objects
Imagine if somebody came to your room while you were at school, and moved your bed to the center of the room. You would find it out of place and starts making you wonder. Occasionally, you may like the new arrangement. Keepers at the Oregon Zoo also move things around a bit when they are in an exhibit. That way, the animal can find things quite interesting when they come back in.

Tasty enrichment!
Animals often forage for food, and work for long hours trying to get it in the wild. While fluffy the cat doesn't have to trudge miles to the food dish, they usually get bored while eating from the dishes. It can also cause them to put on weight. Keepers in zoos are always trying to find ways to make food a little harder for animals to find. Freezing food in ice is one way to make it harder to get food, for; the animal has to break the hard, cold ice to get the treat. Food is hidden, scattered or buried for enrichment.

Keeper attention
Most pets react to humans. While the Penguins in the Oregon Zoo see many people each day, they don't get to be "in person" to greet them. Animals also require attention from keepers, and usually feel quite happy when their keepers come in.

Enrichment Buffet!
The Volunteer enrichment team makes and gives wonderful enrichment for our animals. Sometimes, they go from exhibit to exhibit giving out enrichment from a cart- a traveling buffet!