Parrots at Caldwell Zoo asking for rubber toys and corn husks during the zoo's annual enrichment tree event. Melissa McTee, staff

As area residents shop for their loved ones this Christmas season, the staff at the Caldwell Zoo, 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd., are asking for help fulfill special Christmas wishes of their zoo critters.

The giraffes are asking for a disco ball, elephants would like peanuts and the birds are requesting a bubble machine.

Lauren Furch, zoo educator, said the zoo’s enrichment committee and staff gather each year to come up with a list of items that will make their animals’ lives more interesting. The wished-for items then are placed on ornaments and hanged on a tree positioned inside the zoo’s main office. Residents can browse the tree and consider purchasing items.

“Every year we have a great turn out, we never get everything listed on the enrichment tree, but we always seem to have a great turn out,” Mrs. Furch said, adding that after asking for a few air pop popcorn machines the community donated four, which are all being used in different departments throughout the zoo for the animals to enjoy a monthly treat. “The public is very into it, and even after the season is over, we have donations come in.”

She said providing environmental enrichments – anything new to see, smell or do – is an important part of caring for the animals. 

According to information provided by the zoo, enrichments are anything that cause the animal to interact with its environment, encouraging natural behaviors similar to what the animal might encounter in the wild. Mrs. Furch said the items also keep animals from becoming bored in their enclosures, which can lead to stress. 

“The zoo keepers research the items they want for the animals in their departments, and they have to go through an approval process to make sure that the item is safe and won’t harm the animal,” Mrs. Furch said.

The enrichment tree was put up Nov. 1, and a few enrichment items have already been delivered. Mrs. Furch said she was able to give one some of the first items – a toy rubber bird and corn husks – to the parrots who all reside at one of the first displays at the zoo.

She said the parrots went to the toy immediately and started to claw at it and nibble on the corn husks that were inserted inside the toy.

Mrs. Furch said there’s also an Amazon wish list available online for those who cannot visit the zoo in person. Online shoppers can purchase items from the list and have them delivered to the zoo. 

Mrs. Furch said the zoo does not accept monetary donations, so those wanting to make a contribution can purchas Visa giftcards or Amazon giftcards. 

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