Animal Enrichment Devices

Enrichment News – Central Florida Zoo!

Categories Animal Enrichment Devices

Exciting news!  We recently visited Central Florida Zoo and spoke with Kayce, Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator, about enrichment for the small primates.  We took photos of the habitat and took measurements so Don can design the environmental enrichment device (EED) so the reward treats fit through the cage fencing. Every EED is built from scratch and tailored to the specific habitat.   More to come soon!

Exiting News – Porcupine Enrichment Delivered!

Categories Animal Enrichment Devices

Exciting news! We delivered the environmental enrichment device (EED) for Central Florida Zoo’s African Cape Porcupines on Earth Day. The enrichment will be set up as nighttime feeding for the adorable nocturnal porcupines, Pluto and Pancake. The Zoo Keepers did mention that they may set up a feeding session or two during daytime hours so visitors can see the enrichment in action. Pancake and Pluto were released into their habitat after installation of their new EED. The food was dispensed onto a stump to create sound and they headed over to investigate and forage.

#centralforidazoo

Pancake and Pluto

Our latest environmental enrichment device (EED) is for Central Florida Zoo’s African Crested Porcupines (Pluto and Pancake)

Categories Animal Enrichment Devices

Our latest environmental enrichment device (EED) is for Central Florida Zoo’s African Crested Porcupines (Pluto and Pancake)

A few months ago, we met with Central Florida Zoo’s Carnivore Keepers and discussed some ideas to give Pluto and Pancake enrichment throughout the night.  African Crested Porcupines are nocturnal and we wanted to help encourage natural feeding/foraging behavior.  The EED will be suspended from a cable over the habitat and will have timer settings to control when and how much food is dispensed.  Since the porcupines are strong chewers and can even chew through concrete, their enrichment needs to be out of their reach.

This EED will be mostly used in Pancake and Pluto’s habitat but may also be used for the Zoo’s ambassador porcupine!     

Don designed and built every part of this automatic feeder. He used a cereal dispenser (like you see at hotel breakfast buffets) to house the food and a windshield wiper motor to power the device.  He built the circuits that control the timing and covered the enrichment housing in a fine mesh to keep unwanted critters out of the machine.  Here are some photos of all the parts and components that will become the EED:

  • Habitat showing cable that will suspend the EED
  • food dispenser and motor view
  • food dispenser
  • the outside of the box that will house the feeder
  • more panels
  • programmable timer, food dispenser view
  • battery housing
  • fit check for motor and feeder

Primate and small animal environmental enrichment device (EED)

Categories Animal Enrichment Devices

For Central Florida Zoo, Sandford

This is the dispenser section of the EED. It consists of two cereal dispenser driven by windshield wiper motors. It will be controlled by a battery powered control system activated by switched (push buttons) that the animals can control. There will be three switches, one for each dispenser, and the third will activate both dispensers simultaneously. This allows animals to share the fun or just get a treat for themselves. Lights will indicate when the buttons are active. The zoo keepers can use programmable timers to set the inactive durations and amount of treats to be dispensed.

Trying to Outsmart Squirrels

Categories Animal Enrichment Devices

Don tested different size PVC pipes to see which one squirrels could get into.  He needed to find out what worked best for the enrichment he is building for the small primates and the African Crested porcupine at Central Florida Zoo.  Don put peanuts in some peanut butter a few inches into each pipe.  Results:  squirrels can get into the 3 inch PVC pipes.