Enrichment

Enrichment means to enhance something.

At the Calgary Zoo, they have many examples for enrichment. Just take a look at the meerkat enclosure. Every day, the zoo keepers add knew items for the animal to explore.

Enrichment for animals is very good. Just like how we learn, animals learn too. Their brain grow as they explore new things.

The first day we had gone, I noticed a lot of logs with dry, brown, dirt. Then, slowly, things started to change. The position of the logs had changed and new bowls filled with grass were added. The meerkats seemed to enjoy it as they cuddled around, eating worms and grooming each other. Then another drastic change happened. The zoo keepers added snow! I was surprised it hadn’t melted yet.

Also, one of the zoo keepers had told me that the zoo has put hidden speakers of birds chirping and water gushing to make the animals feel at home.