Australian Zoo gives animals herb taste test - and camels don't like pesto!
- Published
A giraffe at Werribee Open Range Zoo explores the herbs it has been given as part of an enrichment program
At Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria Australia researchers wanted to find out how much animals like giraffe, camels and wallabies like herbs - they are herbivores after all!
The zoo recently created a new purpose-built herb garden, which can grow up to 200 fragrant and scented plants, giving the animals plenty of opportunity to engage sight, smell and touch.
Zookeepers gave them each a selection of herbs to spark their curiosity and to see how they behaved, which could help the keepers to know what tastes and scent they might like.
Zoos Victoria animal behaviour specialist Sue Jaensch said: "Fresh herbs have amazing fragrances and flavours, but each individual animal and species response and preference can vary.
"Our goal is to provide experiences that are beneficial for each animal, so understanding individual preferences helps to inform how we can specially tailor these experiences."
Just like in the wild, these experiences offer the animals at the zoo the opportunity to encounter a diverse range of herbs that they can choose to eat, anoint themselves with or simply enjoy the smell of.
What tastes and smells did the animals like?
The camels didn't seem to enjoy the taste of the fresh herbs they were given.
The camels and giraffes were given a herb pesto, a mix of intensely scented herbs - but they had quite different reactions.
One of the giraffes spent plenty of time investigating his herbs, approaching, leaning down, and balancing on three legs as he extended his tongue to taste.
He followed this up with large amounts of chewing and tongue flicking.
When it came to the camels, they smacked their lips and shook their heads at the pesto treats.
The serval sniffed its herbs before rolling around in them - a sign of approval!
Another animal - a serval - was given catnip and rolled around to cover itself in the mint-like smell.
The wallabies chose to try out rosemary and mint, while the rhino wasn't interested in his assortment of fresh herbs at all!
Zoo horticulture manager Craig Shalders said the herb garden had been planted with thoughtfully selected herbs to meet the animals specific needs and was sustainably designed.
"Raised garden beds provide the prime advantage of harvesting," he said.
The new zoo herb garden has more than 200 plants
"We're also utilising water from existing tanks as a water source, while a careful selection of plant species means we have availability all year."
This isn't the first time the zoo has given the animals the opportunity to try out foods which are a bit different.
A number of years ago zookeepers piled up smelly mounds of popcorn, gorilla bedding and rhino poo as a way to stimulate a number of natural behaviours among the giant mammals.
- Published21 February 2023
