Thursday, April 4, 2013

Enrichment Programs in American Zoos

One of the most important responsibilities of animal care facilities is to ensure that their residents are not only physically healthy, but mentally stable as well.  This is done through enrichment, in which the animals are given some sort of task to accomplish which exercises their natural abilities which would have been necessary if they were living in the wild.  This occupational therapy keeps them from becoming bored and developing mental illness, which is a common ailment in inadequate zoos. 

Check out this video to hear Director Lee Ehmke talk about Enrichment programs in the Minnesota Zoo:

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