Both my DW and I volunteer at the Oregon Zoo. One of my most rewarding things to do there is building enrichment devices for the animals. Today was one of those special days that make it all worth it. Using an idea we got from the Honolulu Zoo, I built a ball of used firehose for use by the tigers. Basically, it is two rolls of fire hose about 10" in diameter enclosed in firehose interwoven and bolted together. The bolts are arranged under the weaving to protect the animal's teeth. Then it was hung from a spring device containing two garage door springs. After we hung it we let our two tigers out in the enclosure. Nikki, our 380 lb. male immediately attacked it and spent the next 45 minutes trying to "kill" it. He managed to permanently stretch the springs about 3 or 4 feet and to knock over a few small trees in the exhibit. We drew a large crowd of zoo goers and we really enjoyed watching him get a workout. Now I need to find some spring or springs that he can stretch but not destroy. The last picture is his sister Mikki, who watched the whole show but chose not to interfere with his "kill".

Webwader -

wow - beautiful creatures! I see why you would rather go work with/for those animals then come to Cleveland for a weekend! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

-ridgeln

Yea! great photos!! How bout some car springs? These cats look powerful.

Awesome animals. They are beautiful.

Post photos from your zoo any time. Great pics!

Thanks for the kind comments. I will continue to post when I can get some good pictures.

Those kitties look similar to a kitty that walked all over my truck!! :eek: :rolleyes:
Thanks for sharing such a precious part of your life with us Web!!

Those kitties look similar to a kitty that walked all over my truck!! :eek: :rolleyes:

I'm afraid these kitties might leave dents in your truck rather than artfully done tracks and we wouldn't want that! These kitties can purr real nice though.

Nice cats, maybe you could consider a piston type thing instead of a spring where the tension goes up as you compress it and using a pully mechanism and a chain attached to the ball, that way as the cat pulled on it, the tension would build, but when it finally released it wouldn't be the normal recoil you get from a spring but would be a little more controlled. Sort of like a bow flex I guess.

Nice cats, maybe you could consider a piston type thing instead of a spring where the tension goes up as you compress it and using a pully mechanism and a chain attached to the ball, that way as the cat pulled on it, the tension would build, but when it finally released it wouldn't be the normal recoil you get from a spring but would be a little more controlled.
That's a really good idea captmiddy. The problem is that the budget for enrichment items varies between little and none. The zoo budget in the last few years has been heavily impacted by sharp rises in health care costs and utilites. So when I am asked to devise an enrichment item, cost is a heavy consideration where or not it will get built. Makes my job a little more interesting. In the device we are using, I built both the spring mechanism and ball for about $40. The garage springs are pretty inexpensive at about $14 apiece, and I think I can find some stiffer ones.
The recoil is not necessarily a bad thing. When Nikki tries to reposition his mouth on the ball, he sometimes lets the ball slip from his paws and it creates another attack opportunity for him.
Thanks for your input. New ideas are always welcome.

At the request of the primate keepers, our Enrichment Team constructed a hammock of used fire hose for the orangutans. I was invited to watch the orangs when they saw it for the first time. It was awesome. Kutai, our 11 yr. old male, came out first and gave the hammock a thorough inspection. (Pic 1) You could see the intelligence in his eyes as he examined the hammock and all its connectors very thoroughly. We couldn't tell if he was passing judgement on its design or planning on how he could dismantle it. :) Orangs are extremely strong so every bolt and nut combination had to be welded together or the nut secured with a roll pin. He then tested it (Pic 2) and must have approved because he spent most of the next hour getting in and out and doing more examining. His grandmother, 46 yr. old Inji got her turn to try it out too. (Pic 3). Inji is our oldest zoo resident and has been at the zoo 45 yrs. Days like today make it all worthwhile.

Those photos and your description put a big smile on my face. You are blessed to have such great experiences.

Those photos and your description put a big smile on my face. You are blessed to have such great experiences.
I could not have said it better Truckin'. Exactly what I was thinking. I can't wait for our behind the scenes tour of the zoo in June. Just can't wait. :)

WOW!

WW - you have an amazing volunteer job - nothing like making a difference for all God's creatures!

-ridgeln

I can truly say I love my job. While there is no pay involved, the other benefits more than make up the difference. The zoo volunteers are truly appreciated by the entire zoo staff and those of us that work in animal enrichment have a close working relationship with the keepers.
The zoo's mission statement is "Inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife." We think of the animals at the zoo as ambassadors for the animals in the wild. If we can creat an interest and a love for wild animals in people, especially children, we stand a much better chance of preserving wild habitats around the world. Before you can help, you must care, and before you care you must know.

Awesome job. What a great way help the animals.

Wonderful stuff you're doing, there, Web... makes me happy to know there are people like you out there with the skills and time to do these kinds of things. Keep sharing?

Makes me want to go dig out my pics of the animals I got to help care for at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. My boys don't believe me when I tell them about my volunteer work in the shark tank there.

-ridgeln

Every year the Oregon Zoo holds an Enrichment Week during spring vacation. The volunteer enrichment team plays a big part in the event, both in making the enrichment projects for the animals and working on grounds during the event. It's become one of the zoo's favorite events for the public as well as the keepers and volunteers. After our wrapup meeting today we got a surprise thankyou from the keeper staff by being treated to two behind-the-scenes visits. The first visit was to our Humbolt penguin exhibit. Humbolt penguins live on the coast of Chile and are highly endangered. The zoo raises them under the guidelines of the Species Survival Program. We were introduced to Mochika. Mochika is especially rare in that he is the only Humbolt penguin that has imprinted to humans. While he is happy among his own kind, all the keeper has to do is open the door to the exhibit and call his name, and Mochika comes in and greets all newcomers. With 300 tiny feathers per square inch, penguins are very soft and smooth to the touch.
Our next visit was to the rhino exhibit. We have a male Black rhino who lost his mate several months ago. He is a real *****cat who will eat out of your hand and loves to be scratched. Even though their hide is very thick and tough, it is very sensitive. They can feel a fly landing on their back. He's fun to feed because Black rhinos have prehensile upper lips, so he can take food out of your hand with his lip.

I have been a volunteer in the elephant barn at the zoo for five years, working every Monday, and have gotten to know and love our elephants in that time. Our herd matriarch, Pet, was born with her front feet turned inward and, as a result, has had foot problems for most of her life. For the past several years they have tried many methods of medication and therapy to help her maintain a good quality of life. At age 50+, her front feet and leg bones have deteriorated to the point that her bones have become infected and no longer respond to antibiotics. There are only two solutions to the problem, surgery or euthanasia, and she is too old for surgery. After many meetings of the zoo staff the difficult decision has been made to euthanize her this coming Wednesday.
As this was my last day in the barn with Pet, I was allowed to say a personal goodbye to her. I went up to her and scratched her head and quietly talked to her. As I rarely get the chance to have close contact with our girls (the males are protected contact only) I was amazed and deeply touched by what she did next. She tilted her head indicating that she wanted to be scratched behind her ear. Having never done this, the senior keeper showed me her favorite spot. I gently scratched, and as I did, she put her head against my chest. I continued to scratch and she leaned into me a little more and finally she brought the end of her trunk up near my face, as elephants communicate a lot by smell. As I stood there holding back my tears I breathed into her trunk as a response. When my few moments with her ended and I turned away, there wasn't a dry eye in the barn. Everyone was touched by the moment, but no one more that I. She is a very sweet girl and we all will miss her a great deal.

WW -

my older son wanted to know why you posted so much - so I had to explain why your name showed up a lot on this thread. And then explained to him your post. When I got done, he said: " I know what it's like." And we both had tears in our eyes.

Pet will be missed by all - even those of us who didn't know her - because of your compassion and willingness to share your experiences via this community.

I am truly sorry for your loss - and what an great lasting memory of her you now have.

-frank

Oh Webbie... I am so sorry for your loss and your pain.

Thanks for your sentiments Frank and J.C. Another volunteer was in the barn at the same time and was taking some final pictures of Pet and took some of me with Pet so hopefully I will have a photo to go with the memories.
I really feel for the keepers and staff who will be present Wednesday. She is very special to all of them.
One bit of nice news today is that we have an offer to bury Pet in one of the parks in the metropolitan area. The details were sketchy and not all worked out yet, but I certainly hope that it comes to pass rather than just "dispose" of her.

Man Web, I can fully relate as I too am a lover of animals. The good side of Pet’s passing is that she isn’t suffering anymore and after 50 plus years of being pigeon toed, she can finally run free in a much better place thanks to all of the volunteers who give selflessly to this noble cause. Feel good that you were given the opportunity to love her.
“They never forget!”

The good side of Pet’s passing is that she isn’t suffering anymore and after 50 plus years of being pigeon toed, she can finally run free in a much better place thanks to all of the volunteers who give selflessly to this noble cause. Feel good that you were given the opportunity to love her.
“They never forget!”
Thanks for the kind words, Ron. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get to go to the same place some day. I am very thankful for the opportunity to give to the zoo. I really don't know what it was that caused me to decide to become a zoo volunteer over the many other volunteering opportunities out there as I was never a steady zoo goer, but whatever it was, I will never regret the decision. I won't forget Pet either.

This is a picture of the last moments I spent with Pet.

Such a tremendously sad and heartwarming day you must have had, Webwader. Thank you for sharing this with us. The world is truly a better place because of people like you.

Such a tremendously sad and heartwarming day you must have had, Webwader. Thank you for sharing this with us. The world is truly a better place because of people like you.
I hope you don't mind Joe....but all I can do is quote you.
Webbie, you know.

Thank you jsant01. Yes, it was both sad and harmwarming. I don't know if I make the world a better place but it certainly makes me feel better. One of the reasons I started this thread was to try and convey what a rewarding experience volunteering can be. I hope that others feel free to share their volunteering experiences here too.
Yes, LadyRidge, I know. :)