We’ve got a plea to half term visitors to help us provide scent-sational enrichment for our big cats. We’re running low on stocks of herbs and spices, which we use to encourage natural hunting, tracking and foraging behaviours for the likes of our Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers and Carpathian lynx. Keeper Josh Luxton … Continue reading Herbs and spices help!
There’s a real chill in the air these days, but we’ve got a variety of species on site who love the cold weather. Many of these animals are specially adapted to cope with the freezing temperatures in their natural habitats around the globe. And winter’s a great time at the zoo to come and see … Continue reading Cold loving animals!
Keepers at Dudley Zoo and Castle are busy counting heads as part of the annual animal stocktake. It’s the time of year when zoos throughout the country are legally required to tot up every invertebrate, bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian, but with more than 200 species at the Midlands-based attraction, it’s easier said than done, … Continue reading Counting conundrum!
When big cat keepers needed to distinguish the faeces of our Sumatran tigers, Daseep and Joao, they turned to edible glitter to help! Staff are feeding nine year-old Daseep chunks of meat sprinkled with the colourful cake decoration so they can spot sparkles in her samples. Acting Team Leader, Sam Grove, said: “We’re feeding Daseep … Continue reading Sparkling samples
Sumatran tiger, Joao, had a ball with his new enrichment, which we’ve been able to provide thanks to our generous visitors. The giant purposely-made heavy-duty ball proved an instant hit with our tiger twosome – so a huge THANK YOU to the 22 people who donated to our online crowdfunding appeal. Acting Team Leader Sam … Continue reading Having a ball!
Sumatran tigers, Daseep and Joao, enjoyed some special enrichment as they helped mark International PKU Day. PKU, or Phenylketonuria, is a rare inherited metabolic disorder where people can’t break down protein and is a condition our Senior Keeper Kirsty Thornton was diagnosed with as a baby following the routine heel-prick screening. To help mark … Continue reading Enrichment awareness
Joao’s smiling from ear to ear because he’s heard some grrr-eat news! We had hoped to raise £350 through an online crowdfunder to buy a huge enrichment ball for our big cats and we were overwhelmed by the generosity of the 22 people who donated to our appeal. We were so close to hitting our … Continue reading Joao’s all smiles!
We’ve got a grrr-eat big challenge and we’re asking you for help! Keepers have launched an online crowdfunding appeal to raise £350 to purchase an enormous purposely made enrichment ball for our Sumatran tigers and Asiatic lions and we’re hoping we’ll achieve our target during our half term Love Your Zoo Week celebrations. Acting Team … Continue reading A grrr-eat crowdfunding challenge!
Keeper Cheyenne Darkins is hard at work training our three Carpathian lynx and Dave is proving to be her star pupil. The seven-year-old lynx is excelling at the target training sessions, so much so he’s flying ahead of Daisy and son, Dakota who are still only getting to grips with the basics. Cheyenne said: “I … Continue reading Dave’s a star pupil!
Kyra couldn’t believe her eyes this morning when she discovered the Easter bunny had left her an eggciting 13th birthday gift in her paddock overnight! The birthday girl, alongside sister Asha, couldn’t wait to get stuck into the surprise enrichment Easter delivery of a giant straw nest full of huge papier mâché eggs. And as the … Continue reading Easter surprise!
