Summer Fun at the Great Ape House

To celebrate summer, keepers at the Zoo's Great Ape House put a few piles of sand, shovels, and about 20 sand buckets filled with ice throughout the gorillas' yard. The gorillas were also given beach towels, a sun made of rice cereal, and fruitsicles in the shapes of ocean dwellers like crabs, dolphins, and lobsters. The keepers also painted cardboard cutouts in the shape of beach balls and sunglasses.

These enrichment activities provide physical and mental stimulation for the animals, giving them opportunities to use their natural abilities and behaviors. The Zoo’s keeper staff often use holidays and seasons as opportunities to give variety to both visitors and the animals in their care.

Help the keepers give the Zoo's animals more enrichment.