BREAKING: Werribee Open Range Zoo is revolutionizing animal care with the innovative use of bamboo, thanks to a generous donation of two tonnes from Geelong Botanic Gardens. This exciting development, announced earlier today, highlights the zoo’s commitment to sustainability and animal enrichment.
Zoo keepers have been showcasing their DIY skills by crafting an array of interactive devices, including wind chimes and treat-dispensing totem poles, designed to stimulate the animals’ natural behaviors. Savannah Keeper Laura Harbridge expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “We take inspiration from other zoos around the world. Our keepers and volunteers come up with ideas like, ‘how fun would it be to make a meerkat-apult?’”
The bamboo is being utilized to create engaging enrichment tools for giraffes, camels, nyala, and tammar wallabies. One notable creation is a feeder that encourages giraffes to use their dexterous tongues to retrieve food, mimicking their foraging behaviors in the wild. “It’s all about getting them to think, stretch, and behave as they would in their natural habitats,” Ms. Harbridge added.
According to Keelee Reissinger, coordinator at Geelong Botanic Gardens, the donation serves a dual purpose. “We donated bamboo to Zoos Victoria to protect our heritage trees at the Geelong Botanic Gardens from being impacted by its growth. If it wasn’t reused, the bamboo would have gone to landfill and taken up to eight years to break down.”
This initiative not only benefits the animals but also allows visitors to engage in the creative process. Guests can participate in the Giraffe Behind-the-Scenes Experience, where they can help craft their own bamboo feeding devices, further enhancing their connection to wildlife conservation.
As Werribee Zoo continues to innovate, this project illustrates the importance of sustainability and creativity in animal care. Stay tuned for more updates on how this initiative unfolds and impacts both the animals and visitors alike.
