ENRICHMENT - THE ANSWERS
Enrichment is used at Marwell to improve the physical and mental well being of the
animals and to ensure the animals maintain the natural behaviours which they would
show in the wild.
TIGERS
1)
Rocks and logs are placed inside the enclosure to allow the tigers to sharpen their
claws … just as they would do in the wild. Our cats are fed every other day as in the
wild they would not hunt everyday for food. Occasionally, the meat is wrapped in
hesian sacking. What do you think this simulates?
The hesian sacking simulates the skin of the prey animal. The cats have to tear the
sack apart in order to get to the meat inside, just like they tear the skin of their
prey.
2)
i)
ii)
3)
Give two reasons as to why you think the tigers have pools in their enclosure:
For exercise .The tigers are the largest of the big cats and love to swim.
To keep cool. On hot days in Hampshire the tigers bathe in the pools to cool down.
Platform areas are provided for the tigers within their enclosure. Why do you think it
is important for the tigers to have these?
These provide look out posts for the tigers so they can keep an eye on their territory.
4)
Why do you think it is important for most male adult cats to be separated from their
young?
Many of the big cats do not live in family groups in the wild. Male big cats of all
species are also known to kill cubs in the wild as they do not recognise them as their
own . It is for the safety of the cubs therefore, that the male is removed from their
enclosure.
MEERKATS
5)
What substrate is covering the floor of the meerkat enclosure?
Sand
6)
This substrate is similar to the type the meerkats would have in the wild. Look
closely, why do you think this substrate is so important to them?
i)
Meerkats dig to create burrows which they would live in out in the wild. These bur
rows provide security from predators.
In the wild, Meerkats forage for their food in the sand looking for insects and small
rodents. To simulate this the keepers bury their food in the sand so that they have to
use their senses to find it.
ii)
ENRICHMENT - THE ANSWERS
OKAPI
7)
The okapi are the cousins of the giraffe and are very shy animals. What do
the keepers at Marwell use around their inside enclosure to give these
animals a greater sense of security?
Wooden screening.
8)
Can you see the fruit kebabs hanging from the ceiling? What wild behaviour does
this stimulate?
The kebabs are used to stimulate natural feeding behaviour. They are made by
the keepers for the okapi to eat just as they would eat fruit from the trees in
the wild.
GREVY ZEBRA, OSTRICH, SCIMITAR HORNED ORYX ENCLOSURE
(main paddock opposite hall)
9)
The Grevy zebras, ostrich and oryx share their pasture with each other. Why do
you think it is important for these animals to be familiar with each other?
This helps the interaction of a species with other animal species. Although these
particular species would not be together in the wild, they would come across
similar equids or antelope so it is important they are familiar with that type of
animal. This is especially important as Marwell has taken part in reintroductions
of both the Grevy zebra and scimitar horned oryx.
RHINO
10) Name two types of behavioural enrichment you can see in the rhino enclosure.
i)
Mud wallows: The rhinos cover themselves in mud to cleanse their skin, remove
ecto-parasites and to help prevent sun burn.
ii)
Scratching posts: The rhinos rub against these posts to scratch themselves.
Registered Charity No 275433
Okapi
Tigers
Grevy Zebra, Ostrich
and
Scimitar Horned
Meerkats
Rhino