The Use Of Behavioral Enrichment In Galapagos And Aldabra Tortoises At Phoenix Zoo
By Hilda Tresz, International Zoo News Vol. 55, No. 3 (2008), pp. 147–151
(Reprinted with permission of IZN, pdf of full article courtesy of HerpDigest)

The goals of behavioral enrichment are to encourage captive animals to use their
natural abilities and promote species-appropriate behaviors. This offers the
animals a sense of control, allowing them to make choices and have new
experiences.

Enrichment ideas have their limits, however, especially when it comes to giant
tortoises. These animals are unique in many ways, in particular with regard to
their size, physical abilities and behavior. So enrichment ideas for them
generally need to reflect on the fact that these animals are:

– Mainly herbivorous;
– Cold-blooded;
– Slow moving;
– Peaceful and mild tempered;
– Large sized.

The article then outlines its efforts as follows:

1. Foraging enrichment
2. Structure and substrate
3. Social enrichment
4. Training
5. Stimulating the five senses
6. Manipulanda

Conclusion
In general, in terms of encouraging specific behaviors, two things are necessary
for a chosen behavior to be elicited: opportunity and motivation. Giving the
opportunity is basically providing the necessities (nesting materials, water, leaf litter, browse etc.) of what the animal could need. However, if the appropriate
motivation is not there, the animal will usually choose not to exhibit that
behavior. By their nature, reptile species restrict us in providing the best
opportunities, and it requires a lot of knowledge and dedication on the caregivers’
part to achieve a successful enrichment program, but it is worth every minute!

For a pdf copy of entire article please email us at asalzberg@herpdigest.org

(Editor - Articles, even casual discussions in the herp zoo world are rare on this topic. The assumption all they need is food a large enough tank, a hiding place, water, and maybe the opportunity to breed. Hence, so many barren, empty, tanks, with bored herps inside that you see at zoos, herpetolculturists, pet shops, and hobbyists.)

Allen Salzberg

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• Article Behavioral Enrichment Tortoises - Chill115out, Fri Jun 27 01:10:23 2008