Join the Montgomery Zoo Saturday, May 18, 10am – 3pm, for Animal Enrichment Day. Tour the Zoo during our enrichment event and observe how animals respond to an assortment of new creative and behavior-stimulating enrichment items.
More than 15 species will take part in the semi-annual event, including some of big cats, elephants, primates, reptiles, and birds. Presented in the form of special toys, unique scents, puzzles, boxed goodies or food treats, the enrichment items provide Zoo animals with both mental and physical exercise. With winter temperatures, many of the items will have a cooling or warming effect.
Our animals’ well-being, health, and happiness is supported through opportunities to smell novel scents, taste different flavors, and explore new puzzles. Enrichment keeps them active and engaged while reproducing their natural behaviors. From zoo animals to our pets and even ourselves, we all need enrichment.
The goal of Animal Enrichment Day is to safely stimulate and reproduce behaviors that are natural for each animal in their native habitat. Placing different stimuli in the animals’ environment allows animals to use their five basic senses while they exercise. It is a lot of trial and error, but it is always fun.
The Zoo consults with national animal enrichment databases developed by government agencies and other zoos for assistance in selecting enrichment items. Zoo staff members evaluate enrichment items and approve them based on certain requirements.
The Montgomery Zoo provides enrichment to its animals on a daily basis, but this often takes place out of view from the public. Animal Enrichment Day allows the Zoo to share a daily activity with our guests and present it on a grander scale.
Enrichment Day schedule, May 18
· Macaws- Zelda 10am
· Komodo/Rhino Iguanas- Rampage 10:15am
· Capys- Frogger 10:30am
· Curasaw- Galaga 10:45am
· Jaguar- Dark Souls 11am
· Clouded Leopard- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:15am
· Cougars- Mario World 11:30am
· North America Hoofstock- Mario Cart 11:45am
· LUNCH BREAK 12pm-1pm
· Africa Aviary- Angry Birds 1pm
· Lions- Pac Man 1:15pm
· Siamangs- Tetris 1:30pm
· Chimpanzees- Donkey Kong 1:45pm
· Elephants- Mortal Kombat 2pm
· Rhino- Legend of Zelda 2:15pm
· Tigers- Mine Craft 2:30pm
· Binturong- Pokemon 2:45pm
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The Montgomery Zoo will be hosting a Spring themed Enrichment Day. Spring is a favorite time of year for us here at the zoo, it is “cooler” for us Southerners but also brings forth new growth and life for all things living.
All of the fun enrichment items given during Enrichment Day will represent the enrichment categories the zookeepers focus on when giving the animals enrichment; Physical Environment, Social, Sensory, or Cognitive. Each item will challenge the animals mentally and physically. It is our goal to provide enrichment that encourages natural behaviors such as climbing, swimming, foraging, and problem solving.
Zoo staff has been hard at work planning and creating Spring enrichment items, so you DO NOT want to miss this! The Enrichment Day Event will start at 10am and end at 3pm. Make sure you come out to show your support for your favorite animal.
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For more information, please contact:
-- (334) 625-4905
-- zooinfo@montgomeryal.gov
