Popcorn & Snake shed

March 7, 2013

Animal Enrichment

Radiated Tortoises
Yellow-footed Tortoises
Red-footed Tortoises
Grand Cayman Blue Iguana


The animal enrichment item for our Radiated Tortoises, Red-footed Tortoises and Yellow-footed Tortoises was popcorn. The popcorn was air popped with no butter or salt.

 

The popcorn was sprinkled in their exhibits for them to experience a new texture of food.

Radiated Tortoises

 

The tortoises occasionaly got the popcorn stuck on their beak. They had to figure out how to get it off their beak and in their mouth.

 

The Yellow-footed Tortoises and Red-footed Tortoises LOVED the popcorn. Once they figured out their technique to pick up the popcorn, they ate it very quickly.

 

 

 

Cy, our breeder male Grand Cayman Blue Iguana, recieved a fresh snake shed as an enrichment item.

(Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii)

 

 

 

 

 

Cy smelled the snake shed when placed in front of him. He displayed lots of "head bobbing", but showed no interest of wanting to get near it. A few minutes later, he appeared to be afraid of the snake shed and backed away from it.

 

Komodo- Pulley Enrichment

March 5, 2013

Animal Enrichment

Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis

Today's enrichment activity was very successful! A pulley system and fish were used in this activity. Komodo Dragons are known to be pretty athletic , considering their size. Just like other monitors, Komodo's are very agile. They can swim, run at high speeds and are able to climb trees.

The Komodo was contained in his indoor barn while we set up the pulley system in his exhibit.

 

A small piece of rope was used to hang the pulley from the tree. A larger piece of rope was run through the pulley. At the end of that piece of rope, a fish ( Tilapia) was tied at the end. The head and dorsal fins of the Tilapia were removed in order to avoid any harm to the Komodo. The blue material seen in the photo is edible sausage casing that is safe for the Komodo to ingest.

The other end of the rope was strung into the barn through a window that would allow the keeper to pull on the rope from inside the barn. The Komodo was released and immediately keyed in on the movement of the moving fish.

 

 

< More info and photos to be posted >

Watermelon!!!

March 12, 2013
Animal Enchrichment
Galapagos Tortoises


Today the exhibit Glapagos Tortoises recieved watermelon as an enrichement item. An orange ball was also set out in the yard to give each tortoise something to do. There are currently 6 tortoises on exhibit. 1 male and 5 female. ( Mopey, Myrtle, Houston, Notchie, Dot, and Blanch).

Mopey was the first one to come running over.

Houston loved it!

Komodo : Scent Trail

February 19, 2013

Animal Enrichment

Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis


      Today's Komodo enrichment activity was a scent trail. This activity has been performed by a student at Gothenburg University and two other students at the University of Washington on Komodo Dragons kept in captivity.

http://hem.passagen.se/topictropic/mil_komodo.pdf
http://www.sefs.washington.edu/academicPrograms/undergrad/esrm/Komodo.pdf

The scent trail is set up by collecting meat juices from frozen meat/chicken and creating a "path" or shape on the ground. A food item from the komodo's dragon approved diet(chicken,meat,eggs,etc.) should be placed at the end of the trail. The objective of the activity is to observe whether the Komodo goes straight to the food item or follows the scent trail, eventually leading to the food item. Following the scent trail, would simulate the behavior of wild Komodo Dragons. Komodos bite their prey and track the scent of the wounded animal.

 

The Komodo Dragon was temporarily locked in his barn while the scent trail was being set up in his exhibit.

 

Not-so-patiently waiting

 



Chicken juice was used for the scent trail and Bird of Prey diet was placed in a small box at the end of the trail. Frozen chicken juice was placed half-way as a treat.

 

The Komodo responded positively towards the enrichment activity. He followed the scent trail which lead to the meat. He also reacted positively towards the frozen juice treat.

 

Note: He salivated a great amount, LOTS of tongue flicking, followed trail, was able to retrieve meat from inside box, spent time trying to get into the box & figuring out how to get the frozen treat into his mouth.

 

Komodo Dragon Enrichment

Jan. 29,2013
Animal Enrichment

Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis

Today's enrichment activity was aimed at our Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). The objective was to observe his interest level (or lack thereof) and method of retrieving items placed in 3 different boxes. Each of the 3 boxes contained different items: kale, guinea pig shavings, and a fresh- dead gerbil.

 

 

The Komodo Dragon was kept in his indoor barn while we set the boxes in his enclosure in order to introduce him to his enclosure with the items already in it.

 

 

Observations:



• 11:23 a.m.- released him into exhibit. Note: lots of salivation & tongue flicking.
• 11:29 a.m.- 11:35 a.m.- sat still
• 11:35 a.m.- regained interest. Note: got closer to the box with the gerbil in it & lots of tongue flicking .
• 11:37 a.m.- spent about 3 min licking at the box with the gerbil in it.
• 11:41 a.m.- walked over to the box with the guinea pig shavings in it.
• 11:45 a.m.- began to push the box around with his nose.
• 11:48 a.m.- sat still
• 11:52 a.m.- tongue flicking
• 12:16 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.- no interest shown in either of the boxes.