Project Willy Wonka

Have you ever wondered why the orang-utans at Melbourne Zoo have a climbing frame, or why the dingoes at Healesville Sanctuary forage through paper and treat-filled boxes? Perhaps you’ve noticed snakes swimming in pools or African Wild Dogs retrieving food from a zip-line at Werribee Open Range Zoo and asked yourself: why? Whether specially designed activities or habitat features, these are some of the projects that Zoos Victoria uses to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of the animals in our care. As Zoos Victoria Animal Behaviour Specialist Sue Jaensch explains, these projects are all about providing beneficial experiences for animals. “More often than not, it means creating problem-solving opportunities or an increase in physical activity that matches wild behaviours,” she says. Since 2013, Zoos Victoria has allocated $50,000 of its annual budget to Project Willy Wonka: a program that supports innovative projects to provide positive experiences for the animals in their care. These funds are bolstered by a generous private donor, who has supported the project for the past three years. As part of the annual initiative, Zoos Victoria staff put forward their suggestions for new design features or equipment, and a short-listed selection are allocated funding. Unsurprisingly, Keepers are the main source of inspiration, Sue explains. “When you’re doing an activity day in day out and observing your animals and how they react to it, and then adding in what you know about that individual animal and their species in the wild, that inevitably leads the majority of Keepers to dream up those ‘I’d really love it if we could…’ ideas.” Melbourne Zoo’s seals are recent recipients of a Willy Wonka creation: a bubble curtain that was installed in the main pool of the Wild Sea exhibit last year. Blowing bubbles from a tube at the bottom of the pool, the device creates a multi-sensory experience. “There’s a tactile element for the seals as they

“There’s a tactile element for the seals as they move through the curtain and feel the bubbles on their bodies.”

move through the curtain and feel the bubbles on their bodies,” says Sue. “There’s also the sound that the bubbles create, as well as the visual change in their environment.” Eagle-eyed visitors to Melbourne Zoo may also notice the heated exercise pool in the Reptile House or, in summer, the sensor-controlled shower delivering cool-downs (and shell massages) to the Aldabra Giant Tortoises. Meanwhile, behind the scenes at Healesville Sanctuary, the Leadbeater’s Possums from the Fighting Extinction breeding program have access to their very own gym. Taking inspiration from the possum’s forest home, Keepers designed a series of equipment that provides opportunities for the possums to solve problems and develop their physical ability. Since the inception of Project Willy Wonka, 20 ideas have been transformed into reality – and it’s not just the animals that have profited. “Whether it’s a simple item, like a puzzle ball, or something on a larger scale, for the Keepers to observe the animals benefiting from the idea is such a fun and rewarding experience,” says Sue. “We learn by testing and trialling the ideas, and visitors get to see the animals active and doing wild-type behaviours – it’s a win-win situation for everyone.” ZN

Beneficial experiences

Next time you visit Werribee Open Range Zoo, be sure to keep an eye out for these three features:

Reptile Exploratorium

Like us, snakes can benefit from a change of scenery and trying new things. This specifically designed space – complete with maze-style ramp and a heated pool, allows them to do just that – Keepers can line the area with different material like soil, bark or grass, so there is always something new for the snakes to explore.

Meerkat wheel feeder

This windmill feeder scatters mealworms, crickets and other insects throughout the meerkats’ home, encouraging them to hunt and forage. It can be programmed to distribute food randomly throughout the day so feeding times are unpredictable, just like it would be in the wild.

Lion enrichment tree

Keepers regularly attach items to a large tree inside the lions’ exhibit – anything from papier-mâché puzzles to meaty morsels. Each object is designed to stimulate natural behaviours, ensuring the lions have a range of opportunities to activate their minds and bodies.

WATCH THEM AT PLAY

Visit one of the three zoo locations to see the animals enjoying enrichment activities. Visit zoo.org.au to book your free member tickets.