Holiday enrichment for the great apes at Saint Louis Zoo

This December, zookeepers at Jungle of the Apes threw a holiday enrichment party for the gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees. They stuffed stockings and wrapped presents full of the animals' favorite things including pears, coconuts, apples, nuts, and even a few cookies. As you might expect, the chimpanzees tore into theirs in no time flat. The orangutans were a bit more calculating. Female orangutan, Merah, made a nest and opened her gifts in the privacy of her den. Juara, the male, ate big bites of durian fruit while baby Rubih played, well, just like any youngster! The gorilla, Jontu, got right to the goodies inside the present -- an apple and a pear.

Just like kids, sometimes the apes enjoy the packaging more than the present itself!

Enrichment activities give Zoo animals interesting, stimulating ways to perform natural behaviors while also having fun.

For more information on great apes, visit http://www.stlzoo.org/animals.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• yt:crop=16:9
• holiday
• apes
• enrichment
• gifts