BAY LAKE, Fla. – Amid the busy holiday season that is currently underway at Walt Disney World Resort, it’s not just resort guests who are unwrapping some big surprises.
Last week, the family troop of western lowland gorillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom unwrapped some special treats that included some of their favorites, like alfalfa, hay, currents, carrots, oats and popcorn.
For several minutes, each gorilla along the Maharajah Jungle Trek foraged for the food-wrapped gifts that were placed throughout their habitat, including high up in trees and branches. Each of the gifts were torn open and tossed, while some even chowed down on the edible wrapping paper.
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Much like humans seeking ways to enrich their own lives on a daily basis, the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom also benefit from creative additions and enrichment in their own habitats. Disney said the enrichment initiatives aim to promote activity like sniffing, climbing, clawing and jumping, along with mental stimulation, which are all crucial elements for their overall well-being.
During the Halloween season, Disney showcased these types of enrichment efforts for its Galapagos tortoises.
From the largest elephant to the smallest insect being cared for at the park, enrichment comes in a variety of unique and interesting forms. At Walt Disney World, enrichment doesn’t just prioritize animal care but also integrates seamlessly into the immersive experiences.
The process of developing unique forms of enrichment takes a team of experts from across the resort property.
Walt Disney Imagineers and engineers assist in the theming, turning repurposed items like water coolers into logs for warthogs, or crafting mud wallows for rhinos on the Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Material sourcing is as inventive as the enrichment itself, with things like retired fire hoses transformed into durable toys for rhinos and elephants.
At the Maharajah Jungle Trek, old bed sheets, towels and pillow cases, previously used in Disney’s resort hotels, are repurposed and placed throughout the gorilla bachelor group habitat. Disney’s animal care experts said the gorillas use the items for cover, comfort and to hide from others gorillas throughout the habitat.
“A lot of the items we receive are either gently used or are ready for the landfill, and we’re able to save those items and reuse them for our animals,” said Angela Lebanik, animal keeper with the small mammals and ectotherm team. “It’s really important to try and satisfy the things that the animals need, but to also take it a step further and encourage them to use their minds and bodies to interact with things and provide them with stimulation.”
Forms of enrichment don’t have to be old repurposed items either. Disney said elephant foot trimmings, shed snakeskins and discarded antlers also contribute to stimulating experiences in the animals’ habitats, too.
“It really makes us feel good when we’re able to provide an environment for the animals that is enriched, but also does not contribute to the landfill,” Lebanik explained.
Some forms of enrichment are also going high-tech, thanks to the top minds at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Recently introduced is the cheetah ball. Using 3D printed parts and a bit of engineering, teams were able to build a basketball sized ball that serves as a form of enrichment for the big cats.
“With enrichment, we’re trying to bring out some sort of behavior. With cheetahs our focus behavior is locomotion, so with this ball moving around, they chase after it and we will achieve our overall goal,” said Jose Dominguez, behavioral husbandry environmental monitoring technician.
Like a house cat would chase a toy, cheetahs want to stalk and chase something that moves around their habitat.
“They like movement. If we have a regular ball — it does not move and the animals might ignore it, but with this one, the idea is if it moves around they will chase after it,” explained Dominguez. “It’s a lot of trial and error. This is our version two. Version one we kind of just slapped stuff together with some plywood and other parts and pieces. This one, we finessed it a little bit. We have some cleaner parts and pieces.”
The making of the cheetah ball was recently spotlighted on the newest season of the “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” on Disney+. The use of 3D printing, like the one used on the cheetah ball, is not the only thing Disney leaders are dreaming up. 3D printing is also being used to make items animals can forage for, eat from and even interact with like small bird feeders and artifical coconuts.
In the future, teams at Disney said they’re currently developing a flossing-style pick that animal care specialists can use to clean the animals teeth with through voluntary participation.
Visitors to Disney’s Animal Kingdom are in for a treat as this blend of imagination, innovation, and care continues to take center stage, ensuring the park remains a haven for both its guests and the hundreds of animal inhabitants.