RSVP Volunteers Mastermind Primate Enrichment at Como
RSVP volunteers are known to be handy and ingenious, and those who do primate enrichment projects at Como Zoo are an excellent example. Enrichment activity is a common practice with animals in captivity to encourage natural behaviors and provide physical and mental stimulation.
All Como's zoo animals receive enrichment from zookeepers. In some cases these activities are supported by groups of volunteers who can take more time to build and construct often elaborate objects and items for animals to manipulate and dismantle. "Volunteers can construct things that zookeepers may not have time to make," said Lorrie Cashman, Como Education Specialist. "Volunteers continue to find ideas and fresh ways to present enrichment.”
Every Thursday morning, enrichment activities are placed in the primate enclosures of the public area before the animals are released from their holding areas. On entering these areas for the day, the animals naturally move around their enclosures to discover what's new. Anticipation with how they will react builds and, as this practice regularly happens every Thursday morning, a following of regular Como visitors arrive to watch the action.
Each enrichment activity is planned a month in advance. Within the Primate Enrichment Volunteer Team, subgroups are assigned an animal for three months. They study the animals, make a plan, and submit a proposal to zoo staff. After receiving approval and suggestions, they create the enrichment. On Thursdays, zookeepers place the items in their enclosures, volunteers observe the animals' response, and they all gather to share information afterward.
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| 4-year-old Jaya holds tube |
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| Shari Burt |
Shari Burt: 34 miles each way
Shari Burt has been a Como volunteer for 19 years--10 on the Primate Enrichment Team. "We try to develop ideas to keep the animals interested and active, and to encourage their natural behaviors," she said. Something as simple as moving things around or adding just one thing produces a fresh way of presenting a regular activity. On this day her project was a series of large cardboard tubes with crimped ends, some hanging and others hidden in crevices for the orangutans to find and explore. Each large tube contained 3 small toilet paper tubes filled with bits of sweet potatoes, broccoli and green peppers, and also crimped at the ends. "They're very intelligent, they'll do it [find the food] in no time," said Burt.
Burt has fond memories of coming to Como as a child. "It's one of the few places families can go for free, and I wanted to give back," she said. In the beginning, she worked nearby and volunteered during lunch; now, it means driving 34 miles each way in rush hour, "because I love it."
Enrichment Volunteers have to know not only the species, but the individual animals; for example, twine couldn't be used in the orangutan environment because it's a potential hazard to the four-year-old, they had to use rope instead.
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| Schroeder with banana leaf |
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| Susan Howard |
Susan Howard: What do you give a 500 pound Gorilla?
Not, as the joke goes, anything it wants. "It's difficult, because gorillas eat everything, even plastic," says eight-year Team member Susan Howard. She explained that gorillas can't be given plastic, fabric, or metal. "We tried using PVC pipe, but we had to chain it down because they threw it at the windows," she said. Most enrichment items contain some kind of food. Howard made popcorn balls with dried cranberries mixed in, which were placed throughout the environment for them to find. Banana leaves were also set out, "they are a great natural browse item," Howard said.
It was her love of animals that got Howard involved at Como. An experienced observer, she commented on the different personalities of the two gorillas, noting how Togo immediately gathered up all the popcorn balls he could carry, while Schroeder just took a couple and slowly enjoyed them.
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| Vicki Scheunemann |
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| Emperor Tamarin explores a tube |
Vicki Scheunemann: Monkey's Uncl--er--Sister?
Vicki Scheunemann's group developed enrichment for Emperor Tamarins: different sized cardboard tubes stuffed with excelsior. Animals brave enough to reach inside were rewarded with treat biscuits and juicy mealworms. Years ago, when enrichment first began, the tamarins didn't even notice, she said, "Now, they come out and explore to see what's new. It's a joy to see how far they've come."
Scheunemann grew up with Como animals. "It's a way of life. I don't remember not being involved here," she says. When she was 10, her mom helped start the zoo's volunteers and took charge of an animal foster program. Many zoo babies were raised in their home for the first three months of life: gorillas, lions, tigers, bears. "Casey was one of our kids," she reminisced.
The animal foster program was discontinued in the 80's when the zoo was enlarged. The young now remain with their mothers. All animal handling is now done by staff, following the standards of the
AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). This helps prevent disease transmission. Other precautionary measures: volunteers have a TB test every two years, they wear gloves when handling food, and if they have a cold, they wear a mask.
Volunteers recycle a wide variety of items for enrichment: hose from an old shop vacuum, margarine tubs, old kiddy pools, and more. At a doctor visit, the paper on the exam table ran out and the quick-thinking volunteer asked for the tube--because it would make a great enrichment item.
"The animals interact very well with what is provided for them," says Cashman, who acts as a liaison between the zookeepers and volunteers. She said that she continues to be impressed by what the volunteers come up with. "It's fun to watch volunteers learn and grow. “And," she added with a smile, "They challenge us as much as we challenge them."
To learn more about Como Zoo and Conservatory, visit http://www.comozooconservatory.org/
