Taking care of the thousands of animals at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a big job! From tiny newborn tadpoles to giant, 100-year-old Aldabra tortoises, the Zoo's animal keepers are constantly working on new ways to keep the animals healthy, both mentally and physically.
One of the main ways the keepers engage the animals and stimulate naturalistic behaviors is through �enrichment� of their environment. Guests can see some of the more unique enrichment techniques used by the Zoo during the annual Creature Comforts event on Saturday, August 10.
Special Creature Comforts activities are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Past enrichment demonstrations have included papier-mache prey for predators to pounce on, treat-stuffed barrels on bungee cords for the grizzly bears and puzzle feeders for primates. Check clemetzoo.com closer to the day of the event for a more detailed schedule of activities.
Animal keepers will be on hand to explain the enrichment activities and the natural behaviors they promote. Guests can also learn more about enrichment during one of the Zoo's live animal shows in the Savanna Theater and Ballarat Theatre, and through a special display of animal enrichment items in the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building.
Northeast Ohio's most-visited year-round attraction, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with hours extended to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is $12.25 per person, $8.25 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children younger than 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 90 and 480.
For more information, visit clemetzoo.com or call (216) 661-6500.
