News release from the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo:
Learn How the Zoo Encourages Natural Behavior with Enrichment
(May 28, 2018) – The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo invites guests to see zoo animals embracing their natural behaviors and instincts during Enrichment Day on Wednesday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enrichment day highlights how our zookeepers creatively stimulate an animal’s natural behavior.
“We use our knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to generate ideas about what natural behaviors we might want to encourage. We want to provide mental or physical stimuli, based on an animal’s biological, social, and cognitive needs, to improve their quality of life,” said zookeeper Kierra France.
France and other zookeepers will be showcasing these enrichment behaviors with the animals throughout the zoo during on Wednesday, May 30. In addition to watching live enrichment and talking with keepers, guests will be able to participate and learn more about enrichment techniques used throughout the zoo. Educational stations for guests of all ages will include helping to create an enrichment item, trying out a puzzle feeder, learning about scents and building a nest.
“Enrichment Day is a great educational opportunity especially for kids to learn more about animal care and how we use enrichment here at the zoo,” said Bonnie Kemp, Director of Communications for the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo.
Enrichment Day Activities are free with paid zoo admission.
About the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is northeast Indiana’s largest tourist attraction, hosting more than 600,000 guests annually. The zoo was voted Indiana’s #1 “Gotta-Do Summer Attraction” and is consistently named one of the nation’s Top Ten Zoos for Kids by national media outlets.
3411 Sherman Boulevard Fort Wayne, IN 46808 P: 260-427-6800 F: 260-427-6820 www.kidszoo.org
The Zoo is a conservation leader, contributing more than $250,000 annually to local, regional, and international efforts to protect wild animals and habitats. The Zoo cares for more than 1200 animals and participating in 63 cooperative species survival plans.
As a self-supporting facility, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo receives no tax dollars for operations. The zoo’s operations are funded entirely by earned revenue and donations. The Zoo opens daily at 9 am. The Zoo Comes Alive After 5 – now open until 7 pm.
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