Tuesday, July 22, 2014

LEGO Zoo #0017: Owl Enrichment

The second mini-set for National Zookeeper Week highlights the work zookeepers do in creating environmental enrichment for their animals:


Environmental enrichment is a broad term for items and activities which enhance the welfare of captive animals by stimulating natural behaviors or requiring additional mental or physical effort.  Here, Jared is building a feeding puzzle for a barn owl using wood planks and plastic piping.  The rat at the left will be hidden in the puzzle, and the owl will have to forage for its meal, as it would in the wild.  In this case, both the puzzle and the live prey are forms of enrichment for the owl, keeping it well-fed and stimulated.

Created with LEGO Digital Designer

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