KeeperDiaries : Firehose enrichment

#KeeperDiaries : Firehose enrichment

Fire hose enrichment is a popular and effective way to provide stimulation and challenge for captive animals, especially for those who like to bite, chew, tug, and manipulate objects. Fire hose is a durable and versatile material that can be cut and shaped into various configurations, such as braids, knots, rings, hammocks, and more. Fire hose enrichment can also be combined with other materials, such as food, scents, or toys, to increase the attractiveness and complexity of the device.

For Kwong, a male sun bear at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), we have prepared a special fire hose enrichment that incorporates some of his favourite things: watermelon, ginger leaves, and vegemite. Watermelon and ginger leaves are nutritious and tasty treats for sun bears, who are omnivorous and enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables, and insects in the wild. Vegemite is a savoury spread made from yeast extract that has a strong and distinctive flavour that sun bears find irresistible. The vegemite was brought and donated to BSBCC all the way from Australia by Judy (Thank you Judy!)

We stuffed the watermelon and ginger leaves inside a one-meter long fire hose, and applied some vegemite at the hole of the fire hose. This will encourage Kwong to use his powerful jaws, claws, and tongue to access the food inside the hose. Sun bears have the longest tongue among all bear species, which can reach up to 25 cm in length. They use their tongue to extract honey, termites, and other food from tree holes and crevices. By mimicking this natural behaviour, the fire hose enrichment will provide Kwong with physical and mental stimulation, as well as a rewarding and satisfying meal. Kwong absolutely loved this (as you can see in the videos!). It did take him a while to figure out how to reach the food in the middle of the firehose but eventually he learnt that if he stepped on the foods in the middle of the hose, it will be squeezed out like toothpaste. After devouring all the tasty snacks in the middle, he proceeded to play with the hose itself – bringing it all the way up to his resting spot on his log and waving it around like he just don’t care.

Enrichment is a way of providing animals in captivity with stimuli that encourage them to display natural behaviours, such as foraging, exploring, nesting, grooming, and playing. It is great because it can improve their physical and mental health, reduce stress and boredom, and increase their activity and well-being. Therefore, we would like to thank our supporters Yayasan Hasanah, Kementerian Kewangan and Yayasan Sime Darby for giving us the ability to provide enrichment for all our bears.

#bsbcc #enrichment #sunbear #conservation