Tigers and Otters

Chelsea and Camille here, checking out the fur, feathers, and fun at our local zoo. We love animals, and we like to make them feel as happy as possible. One way to accomplish this is through "zoo enrichment." Zoo enrichment involves giving animals interesting objects and making their environments seem like home. Good enrichment stimulates the animals to use their natural skills and behaviors and keeps them from getting bored. So when we decided to design an enrichment for tigers and otters, we wondered: How do you decide if an enrichment works?

How Would You Investigate This Question?
To create a comfortable and fun environment for tigers and otters, you'll need to know what animals enjoy in their natural habitat. How do they hunt and play? What are their favorite snacks, and how do they get their paws on them? Where and when do they sleep or rest? What items or activities are not in these animals' native environment, and could actually be harmful to them? When your research is complete, get creative. Match the animals' natural preferences to items, surroundings, or "games" you think they might enjoy. Write your ideas in your notebook and discuss them with your classmates and your teacher. Then watch the video segment, or go to Tigers and Otters to learn how Chelsea and Camille "went wild" and built an effective, safe, and fun zoo enrichment.