A handful of DZG keepers did knot take long to master a new rope tying technique to create stimulating toys for our animals. Six keepers, including Jade Reddall pictured, learned how to make a rope ball called a monkey fist at an after-work tutorial led by Senior Primate Keeper Jodie Dryden. This was the second … Continue reading Knot bad going!
Our six micro pigs had a cracking time when keepers laid on a post-Easter egg hunt for them. Staff down on the Farm at Dudley Zoo kept their empty Easter egg boxes to fill with a fruity feast for the hungry hogs. Senior Keeper Lesley Lewis said: “We filled the boxes with hay, apple and … Continue reading Piggin’ out
Offcuts from bamboo bushes at DZG have provided tasty treats for some of our animals. When members of our gardening team cut back the plants around the aviaries, they gave branches to keepers who shared it about their sections. Tapirs, kangaroos, red pandas, Barbary sheep and our giraffes, pictured with Keeper Ellis Robinson, all enjoyed … Continue reading Bamboo banquet
Keepers got to grips with fire hose to produce a heart-shaped enrichment device for our animals. The seven staff gave up their own time to attend a workshop led by our Senior Primate Keeper Jodie Dryden in which they weaved old fire service hose into shapes which can be used to hold treats and browse. … Continue reading Fire hose fun
A birthday curry was the order of the day as our handsome Sumatran tiger Joao turned six. Keepers spiced up the big cat’s birthday breakfast by stuffing straw and his favourite Indian curry powder into a bunny-shaped sack – and he lapped it up. The spice and a bottle of scent was given to the … Continue reading Birthday balti
Romy, our adorable giant anteater, has been given her own weekly workout to keep her occupied through the night. Keeper Josh Luxton has devised a timetable of interesting exercises for two-year-old Romy so she is kept active and stimulated as she searches for treats in her indoor area. It features a puzzle maze feeder on … Continue reading Romy’s regime
Heavy snowfall brought snow much fun for some DZG animals – including our lionesses who demolished a snowman in seconds. Our Asiatic lionesses Kyra and Asha had a ball knocking the head off a snowman which Big Cat Keeper Josh Luxton built to provide some exciting playtime for the pair. Other snow lovers were our … Continue reading Snow much fun!
Perfumes have poured in following our plea for unwanted scents to give our big cats some sweet-smelling playtime. More than 150 bottles of aftershave and perfume have been passed on to keepers who have already put the scents to grrreat use with our Sumatran tigers Daseep and Joao. Scents were squirted on to climbing frames … Continue reading Perfumes put to grrreat use!
Birthday boy, Kito, has been having a ball with new enrichment, following a £100 donation from a DZG supporter. Staff used the generous gift to purchase a new Bizzy Bites boredom breaker – an enrichment toy typically used for horses, but which is also perfect for our giraffe trio and Kito, who is four today, soon … Continue reading Birthday boy is kept bizzy!
We’re offering to recycle your unwanted perfumes and aftershaves, so we can provide scent-sational playtime for our rarest animals! Keepers regularly use strong scents as enrichment for our big cats and some of our primates, which encourages them to use natural behaviours – watch as Asiatic lion, Kyra, puts on her perfume this morning! Assistant … Continue reading Scent-sational playtime
