Special Arrangements for Animals in a Zoo

Animal Rotation

• Zoological gardens are continually striving to keep their wild animals from becoming bored. Rotating animals from one interconnecting exhibit to another achieves this requirement. Animals which spend the morning in their original exhibit are allowed to move into an adjoining enclosure during the afternoon. Animals that were occupying the second enclosure rotate firstly into an off-exhibit area and then into the first exhibit. Animals, such as big cats like tigers, will immediately explore the new area and spread their scent over the markings of animals which have just vacated the enclosure.

Species Survival Plans

• Zoological gardens no longer simply exhibit wild animals; they have become custodians of many species. Modern zoos set up breeding programs, with the aim to reintroduce animals into the wild. To make sure that gene pools remain diverse, American zoologists introduced a Species Survival Plan in 1981. Zoos move their breeding animals between facilities to prevent inbreeding of endangered species.

Environment Enrichment

• Modern zoological gardens initiate behavioral and environmental enrichment programs to encourage natural behavior in their animals. The idea is to re-create in captive conditions the same behavioral opportunities these animals would encounter in nature. Chimpanzees, for instance, are offered artificial termite mounds to encourage their natural behavior of fishing for these tiny insects. Zookeepers give huge polyethylene balls to animals such as tigers and hide food in logs or behind boulders to allow for natural foraging behavior.

Operant Conditioning

• Many zoo animals are conditioned to allow medical examinations without the need to immobilize them. Zookeepers train the animals using food as a reward and acknowledge correct behavior by blowing a whistle. They train apes to approach the bars and to present one of their shoulders to receive an injection. These animals are conditioned not to be aggressive or fearful and their positive co-operation creates a stress-free environment for both themselves and the keeper staff during medical examinations.