Enrichment Day at Stone Zoo!

Have you ever wondered why some of the animals have balls, spinner toys and other items in their exhibits? This is called enrichment and it is an important part of caring for the animals at the zoo. Enrichment can be offered in a variety of different ways and zookeepers use novelty foods, sounds, smells, boxes, bags, and toys to provide activities that excite all the senses. Environmental enrichment encourages animals to use their natural abilities and behaviors to interact with their environment.

Visit Stone Zoo on July 21 and discover why enrichment is so important. In celebration of summer, the animals at Stone Zoo will be enjoying beach-themed enrichment items including paper mache beach balls filled with treats, ice treats and other fun surprises. Throughout this special day sponsored by Yellowbook, guests will have the opportunity to see many of the animals receive enrichment items made especially for them.

Schedule:

• 10:00 a.m. – Visit the festively decorated bear exhibit and watch black bears Smoky and Bubba receive ice treats.
• 10:30 a.m. – The gibbons will receive beach pails filled with treats.
• 11:00 a.m. – The jaguar will tear into his items filled with meat.
• 11:30 a.m. – The coyotes will receive paper mache beach balls and treats.
• 1:30 p.m. – The wolves will receive enrichment filled with meat.
• 2:00 p.m. – The otter will receive ice treats.
• 2:30 p.m. – The African crested porcupine will receive browse.

This special day highlighting animal enrichment is made possible by Yellowbook, Zoo New England’s 2012 Enrichment Sponsor. Visit www.zoonewengland.org/enrichment to learn more about the zoo’s enrichment program!