Disney is elevating animal enrichment with tech-infused joy
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Disney Imagineering and Disney’s Animal Care Teams have joined forces to revolutionize animal well-being at Walt Disney World Resort. Harnessing the power of 3D printing, motorized mechanics, and recycled materials, the teams introduce innovative enrichment activities, from high-tech cheetah balls to eco-friendly water bottle feeders.
Hundreds of unique species depend on the team at Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment daily, not only for their ongoing health and development, but also to provide mental and physical enrichment. By adding in the creativity of Walt Disney Imagineering, the teams continue to innovate new enrichment activities together, developing imaginative techniques and inventions to engage the animals and encourage natural behaviors for mental and physical stimulation, ultimately enhancing overall wellbeing.
Innovation is key when it comes to creating complex enrichment opportunities for animals such as cheetahs. Recently, teams across Walt Disney World created a highly innovative form of enrichment known as a cheetah ball. This ball is motorized and allows cheetahs to chase a moving object as they would in the wild. With the help of animal keepers and a remote control, the ball helps to engage the animal’s natural instincts to hunt and run. Parts of the motorized cheetah ball were created using a 3D printer and the help of a few engineers.
Creative Enrichment for All Animals at Disney World
The animal care team tailors enrichment to the unique needs of every animal at Walt Disney World. For example, lions hunt as a vital part of their natural behavior; as a result, enrichment is created to encourage specific behaviors, including stalking, pawing, biting and clawing. To bring out those instincts, the team created a warthog-shaped ice sculpture designed to spark their curiosity. The ice sculpture was then coated with mud obtained from the warthog habitat to engage the lions’ sense of smell too. This form of enrichment not only provides lions the opportunity to mimic hunting behavior in their habitats but also serves as a means for helping the animals to cool off.
New Uses for Recycled Items
Recycling existing materials is another innovative way of creating enrichment. Great examples include recycled water bottles and coolers turned into warthog feeders, faux “logs” that store treats for primates and old fire hoses woven into different shapes, making them the perfect enrichment for rhinos.
Some of these enrichment items used by the animal care team are made of recycled objects guests would once see or use in resorts across Walt Disney World. For example, the troop of western lowland gorillas receive bed sheets that are no longer in use to build nests to rest in, similar to how a dog would use a blanket or dog bed. This added layer of comfort also encourages playfulness among the gorillas.
Seasonal Enrichment: Even Animals Love the Holidays
This holiday season, guests watched while gorillas opened holiday presents containing some of their favorite foods. The wrapped boxes included different food such as popcorn, alfalfa hay, currants and oats. Enrichment like this encourages natural behavior such as foraging, according to Angela Miller, behavioral husbandry manager. “They would naturally be looking for food all over the forest and having to open things, look under things, and these particular behaviors are the ones we are trying to encourage,” explained Miller. In addition to being a treat for the gorillas, guests also enjoyed watching the primates interact with the packages.
