Intriguing Questions Answered and Demonstrations During Animal Enrichment Day at the Houston Zoo

By Brian Hill

Houston, TX - Just how long will it take an elephant to eat a watermelon? How does an orangutan paint a picture? Does his technique different from an elephant or a tapir? Do big cats like pinatas? Find out the answers to these intriguing questions and a lot more during Animal Enrichment Day at the Houston Zoo Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

During Animal Enrichment Day, Zoo guests will enjoy a rare opportunity to see a wide variety of unique environmental enrichment and training activities. See how Andean bears solve a puzzle (Hint: There’s food inside). See cheetahs and Anatolian shepherd dogs run the lure course. And while you’re at the Zoo, don’t forget to check out our cool keepers during entertaining Meet the Keeper Talks and training demonstrations at exhibits across the Zoo (see schedule below).

But the fun doesn’t end there—Animal Enrichment Day also features enrichment for Zoo guests including games for kids, environmental tips from the Zoo’s Green Practices team and our horticulture experts, and an art gallery featuring unique paintings by Houston Zoo animals. Proceeds from art sales benefit Houston Zoo animal enrichment activities. Visit the Houston SPCA Adoption Bus and find your new best friend, see the hard working canines from Greater Houston Search Dogs, and meet representatives from The Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Moody Gardens, and the Downtown Aquarium.

Environmental enrichment is a way to mentally engage and challenge animals that live in zoos. The more enriched an animal is, the more likely the animal is to exhibit natural behaviors. Enrichment often involves food because much of an animal’s day is spent in search of food in the wild. Scent is another form of environmental enrichment. The Zoo’s carnivore (lions, tigers, small cats) keepers use spices, vanilla and even perfume to introduce smells into their exhibits.

Another important kind of enrichment is training. Keepers train Zoo animals to display certain behaviors by using operant conditioning methods involving verbal cues, followed by a whistle, or reinforcement signal, and a food reward.

Animal Enrichment Day Schedule (By Location)

Front Plaza

10:00- Aquarium Enrichment (Yellow bellied Piranha)

10:15- Aquarium Enrichment (Pacu Enrichment)

10:30- Macaw Enrichment

10:45- White Necked Ravens Enrichment

11:00- Tropical Bird House Rainforest Enrichment

Natural Encounters, McGovern Mammal Marina, Red Panda

10:00- Red Panda Enrichment

10:20- Natural Encounters Inside Rainforest Enrichment

10:40- Natural Encounters Bat Enrichment

11:00- Sea Lion Show

11:15- Sea Lion Fish Pop Toss

11:30- Natural Encounters Desert Enrichment

11:45- Natural Encounters River’s Edge Enrichment

Birds of the World, Warthog-Giant Eland, Zebra Exhibits

10:15- Giant Eland/Warthog/Zebra Enrichment

10:30- Nyala Enrichment

10:45- Red Crowned Crane Enrichment

11:00- Cassowary Enrichment

11:15- Saddle Billed Stork Enrichment

Reptile Building, McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, Cheetah and Giraffe Exhibits

10:00- Elephant Baths

10:45- Cheetah/Dog Lure Course

11:00- Giraffe Enrichment

11:15- Reptile Building Enrichment Activity

11:30- Reptile Building Komodo Dragon Enrichment

11:45- Elephant Enrichment

McGovern Children’s Zoo

12:30- Enrichment Show at the Butterfly Pavilion

12:45- Porcupine Enrichment

1:00- Coati Enrichment

1:15- Otter Enrichment

1:30- Guinea Hog and Cow Enrichment

Wortham World of Primates

12:15- Tamarin Enrichment

12:30- Sifaka Enrichment

12:45- Patas Monkey Enrichment

1:00- Mandrill Enrichment

1:15- Red-Capped Mangabey Enrichment

1:30- Guenon Enrichment

1:45- Siamang Enrichment

2:00- Babirusa Enrichment

2:15- Orangutan Enrichment

McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, Okapi, Bongo and South America Exhibits

1:15- Maned Wolf Enrichment

1:30- Elephant Training/Painting demonstration

1:45- Okapi Enrichment

2:00- Bongo Browse

2:15- Tapir Enrichment

2:30- South American Exhibit Painting with “Pico” the Tapir

Carnivores

1:00-Lion Window Enrichment Talk

1:30- African Wild Dog Enrichment

1:45- Bears Puzzle Feeders and Produce

2:00- Jaguar Enrichment

2:30- Tiger Window Training Talk

3:00- Leopard Training

3:15- Small Carnivore Enrichment

Natural Encounters and McGovern Mammal Marina

1:30- NE Piranha Enrichment

1:50- NE Stingray Enrichment

2:15- NE Meerkat Enrichment

2:30- Sea Lion Show

Duck Lake Area

1:00- Giant Eland Training

1:15- Duck Lake Pelican Enrichment

1:30- Flamingo Enrichment

1:45- Pesquet’s Parrot Enrichment

To view Houston Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-727-Houston_Zoo