By Jennifer Theurer

The Clay Center Utility Park Zoo currently has 97 animals and 30 different species living on the grounds and its small mighty group of employees work to create an environment where all of them can thrive.

Zookeeper Cursti Sorell says enrichment helps stimulate the animals’ minds and bodies reducing stress, preventing boredom and encouraging their natural behaviors. New smells, sounds, and challenges help all the animals’ overall mental and physical health, from the smallest to the largest.

The parakeets in the aviary are the smallest residents. They like to play in the dirt and chew on bird-safe plants zoo employees provide for them. The items they really enjoy are cardboard boxes and newspapers they can tear to pieces and anything metal and shiny that makes noise and is durable enough they can’t pierce it with their strong beaks. Sorell said she is building some new toys for them but says the interactions the birds have with visitors to the aviary also gives them a lot of enrichment.

Everyday enrichment for black bears Honey and Coco closely resembles an Easter-egg hunt. The bears have a separate area they go in at night, so zookeepers hide treats around their outdoor enclosure every morning. If it is warm enough in the afternoon, they are often given apples, pumpkins, watermelons, cantaloupe, tomatoes, or whatever is in season.

While Sorell admits it is hard to pick a favorite, she really enjoys watching the ring-tailed lemurs work their puzzle feeders and the African Serval fish in its swimming pool, practicing its natural behavior of catching fish.

Providing animals with the enrichment they need to be happy and entertained takes a lot of resources. Zoo employees and animals are very thankful for the support they have received. Sorell added that if anyone would like to make a donation of new or used enrichment items for the animals they can drop them off in the Welcome Center next to the big red bucket for monetary donations.