12:12pm Monday 30th March 2009
Twycross Zoo is investing £100,000.00 in animal welfare, in a new initiative of projects instigated by the keepers.
Each keeper has been allocated £2000.00 to put to a project that will focus on environmental enrichment or will improve our already high standard of husbandry and animal welfare. Keepers will have two buddies who will assist with ideas on how the money can be spent, help to source high quality materials and prepare budgets for the various projects. In addition to the buddies a member of the Senior Management Team will also act a mentor to advise and steer the project.
All projects will comply with Twycross Zoo’s mission Statement which is “To care for our earth’s animals and environment through conservation, communication and integrity”.
One of the recent projects that have been completed is in the Chimp Complex. Keepers used their funds to build raised nesting platforms which enable the chimps to build nests as they would in the tree tops in the wild. Chris Hern, Deputy Section Head of African Apes said, “I think it is fantastic to give the keepers the opportunity to have a set budget to spend on our animals, as we work closely with them, we know what their needs are. The raised nest beds will encourage the chimps to fulfil one of their natural behaviours in a captive environment”.
A second project that has been completed is a specially constructed door in the Orang-utan House.
This will enable the keepers to carry out occupational enrichment and will encourage the promotion of taught behaviours that will assist with veterinary care. Tanya Clayton, Deputy Section Head of Asian Apes said, “This is an excellent idea, the project has enabled me to have access to the orangs twenty four seven if necessary. I am now able to interact and teach operant conditioning and offer enrichment to the orang-utans at various times throughout day”.
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