Research and SE Regional Ape Enrichment Workshop
Photos by Jane Dewar and Jodi Carrigan.
Note: almost all photographs are thumbnails that you can click to bring up a larger version!

by Jane Dewar, 24 November 2007

 

     

Dr. Bernstein (in the red cap) and some of his students.

Research: We have a research project starting under the tutelage of Dr. Irwin Bernstein and his students from the University of Georgia, testing Oliver and Joe’s intelligence (I could save them all a lot of trouble and say they’re both geniuses, but apparently science doesn’t work that way).  More on that in a future update. 

 
     

 

     

We designed t-shirts and the workshop's logo, using artwork from our friend, Erika Seres' mother.

Workshop: In early November, we held the first South East Regional Ape Enrichment Workshop with representatives from Busch Gardens, North Carolina Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo, Zoo Atlanta, Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, and Riverbanks Zoo in SC the first 3 days of November.  Discussing ways to keep apes in captivity happy, healthy and challenged is very useful – and fun!  Thanks to Harry’s and Mercier’s for their donation of food.

Oliver investigates new enrichment device made in workshop.

 

We held the meetings at Kathy's Cottage, and toured the GH facility, going on a browse hike, learning how to identify gorilla-friendly food, and having a contest to build the best enrichment device for Oliver (the "Down Under" won - see photo above right and more on Oliver's Update).

Attendees of the workshop posted with our maintenance crew, who helped build the enrichment devices.

     
 

Click Here to Return to Update Page