Zoo Enrichment Gift Tree

The Louisville Zoo’s chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) has set up an enrichment “angel” tree at the Zoo’s entrance. Much like a mall angel tree, Zoo guests can choose a tag off of the enrichment tree and return the purchased item to the Zoo by December 22.

Enrichment is a process for improving or enhancing animal environments and care within the context of inhabitants’ behavioral biology and natural history. Enrichment items can be played with, stimulate interest, or challenge the animal, which help keep our animals active and interested in their surroundings.

Each tag includes an animal and an enrichment item that the zookeepers who care for that animal have identified. The tree’s tags offer various price points and include anything from a gift certificate at Feeder’s Supply or Tractor Supply to boomer and jolly balls for the bears.

AAZK raises money for animal conservation, both locally and globally, as well as helping zookeepers with professional development.

Enrichment Items wish list:

55 gallon plastic drums	Bears
5 Gallon Plastic Buckets	Bears
Appliance-sized cardboard boxes	Bears
Jolly Eggs (all colors)	Bears
55 Gallon Empty Barrel	Big Cats
Cardboard Carpet Tubes	Big Cats
CD of bird calls	Birds
Silk Artificial Vines (NO plants or pots)	Birds
Silk bushes for hiding	Birds
10 inch Blue Boomer ball	Birds - African open-billed stork
6 inch red Boomer ball (Heavy duty)	Birds - Cranes
Indestructible bell	Birds - Magpies
Baby rattle	Birds - Magpies
Small Kong Toy	Birds - Turkey Vulture
Feeder's Supply Gift Certificate	Black-footed ferret Conservation Ctr
Large lawn and leaf bags	Cats
Ferret Toys	Ferrets
Michael's Gift card for artifical vines	Giraffe
Peppermint Candies	Giraffe
Twin Sheets	Gorillas
Cardboard Houses or Castles	Gorillas
Towels	Gorillas
Burlap Sack	Gorillas
Ipad	Gorillas
Large Jolly Balls	Guanacos
Hanging Apple Feeder (Tractor Supply)	Guanacos
Feeder's Supply Gift Certificate	Maned Wolf
Lowe's Gift Certificate	Meerkats
Chew sticks and chew toys	Meta Zoo small mammals
Large Crates	Ocelots
Flat Sheets and pillowcases (if used/clean)	Orangutans
10-20 inch plastic flower pots	Orangutans
Parrot Toys	Parrots
36 inch Vari Kennel	Patas Monkeys
2 Tree Log feeders	Patas Monkeys
Baby Blankets	Patas Monkeys
Little Tikes plastic - without screws	Patas Monkeys
Laser Pointer	Penguins
6 inch Gray Boomer ball	Penguins
Cake Pans for making fish blocks	Polar Bears
Car Wash strips (car washes sometimes will donate)	Pygmy Hippo
2 inch (at least) PVC tubes with screw top ends	Pygmy Hippo
Large Jolly Ball (horse type)	Qannik, Polar Bear
Carwash Strips to simulate kelp in seal pool (carwashes may donate)	Seals and Sea Lion
Large Bobbin	Tapir
Small Bobbin	Tapir
Snack holder	Tapirs and Babirusa
Boomer Ball (large)	Tigers
Bass Pro Shop Gift Certificate for Tiger scent work items	Tigers
Large Lawn and Leaf bags	Tigers (Amur)

# # #

The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

###