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, defending themselves against predators, or choosing mates. At 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 that often accompany it.

At Herberstein, the animal care staff strive to provide the animals with appropriate and varied living conditions and to prevent boredom. These efforts are referred to as “enrichment” in the sense of enhancing the animals’ environment. These measures take many forms and encompass all aspects of animal care.

The caretakers are using Halloween as an opportunity to keep our red pandas entertained. Treats are hidden inside a pumpkin. Panda Kaldon interrupts his nap and immediately sets out to explore this strange object. He eyes it skeptically, sniffs it a bit, and hopes to find a treat inside. Grapes, raisins, and dried fruit are particularly popular treats, and he spots them right away inside the pumpkin. Now all he has to do is crack open the pumpkin—no problem for this nimble little bear!

Herberstein Wildlife Park – Open until November 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.!