Today is Halloween, and people will be enjoying the day at the parks, but Walt Disney World hasn’t forgotten its animal residents and has been letting them have some pumpkin enrichment all week.
Why Pumpkins?
Disney is a recognized leader in animal care and conservation, and has earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Providing the animals with pumpkins allows them to interact and play with their food, figuring out how to get them open, before enjoying them for its nutrients.
Enrichment can offer animals mental or intellectual stimulation, or even appetite stimulation, or it could stimulate one or more of the animal’s senses. It’s very beneficial to them to have this.
Enjoying the Pumpkins
Of course Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President of Disney’s Animals, Science & Environment, and his staff had fun adding Halloween carvings to the pumpkins along with some not-so-hidden Mickeys before placing them in the enclosures.
Here are some of the animals enjoying their pumpkins this week:
And here is a delightful video of some of the animals in action with their pumpkins. It’s interesting seeing the range of animals that benefit from this pumpkin enrichment.
Plus, the meerkats are adorable!
Which one(s) were your favorites? Let us know in the comments.