Modern zoos face a problem in their efforts to provide species-appropriate care for their animals: in the wild, animals spend most of the day foraging for food, defending themselves against predators, or choosing mates. In the zoo, these activities are largely taken out of their hands, which means they have a great deal of free time on their hands. The result is boredom and the stereotypical behaviors often associated with it. At Herberstein, the zookeepers strive to provide the animals with adequate and varied living conditions and to prevent boredom. These efforts are referred to as “enrichment” in the sense of habitat enrichment. These measures take many forms and encompass all aspects of animal care.

Today, the zookeepers are using Halloween as an opportunity to keep the lively squirrel monkeys occupied. Treats are hidden inside a pumpkin. Mealworms and raisins are particularly popular treats, and the monkeys discover them right away inside the pumpkin. Now all they have to do is crack open the pumpkin—no problem for our five dexterous and intelligent monkeys!

Tierwelt Herberstein: Open until November 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.!