WVXU: How UC students are challenging zoo animals

WVXU profiled work by University of Cincinnati honors students to help provide enrichment for animals at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Students are working with UC Forward to come up with novel games and devices that stimulate curiosity and elicit natural behaviors in the animals.

For example, students made a game out of nested PVC pipes that reward rhinoceros hornbills with grapes when they pull strings to line them up correctly. Another device for tigers has built-in speakers and lights.

And students made a Plexiglas browse box for giraffes that requires them to use their dexterous tongues to move Wiffle Balls out of the way to reach a food reward.

Featured image at top: A Malayan tiger inspects an enrichment device playing music at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Creative Services