Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 13 hours ago
When you next visit our Zoo – you might spot the lions and tigers engaging in enriching play!
Behavioural enrichment is an essential part of the science of care, and our skilled keepers provide enriching activities for the tiniest tamarin to the largest of cats.
When it comes to big cats like tigers, behaviour is strongly centred around the acquisition of food – and this goes beyond simply consuming it.
We utilise artificial enrichment items like weighted mussel buoys to replicate natural behaviours – such as the detection, capture and dragging of a prey item. Tigers are literally built for this and can drag prey items up to 150 kg!
As carnivore team leader Nick explains, “Hunting behaviours like this are natural and intrinsically motivating for them. Similar to the way in which your cat might want to chase a fly or a piece of string – these behaviours are innate within the animal.”
Our friends at Sea Cleaners provide us with used buoys that they find floating in the Hauraki Gulf. This is a win for the animals we care for and for the animals in the ocean.
When you next visit our Zoo – you might spot the lions and tigers engaging in enriching play!
Behavioural enrichment is an essential part of the science of care, and our skilled keepers provide enriching activities for the tiniest tamarin to the largest of cats.
When it comes to big cats like tigers, behaviour is strongly centred around the acquisition of food – and this goes beyond simply consuming it.
We utilise artificial enrichment items like weighted mussel buoys to replicate natural behaviours – such as the detection, capture and dragging of a prey item. Tigers are literally built for this and can drag prey items up to 150 kg!
As carnivore team leader Nick explains, “Hunting behaviours like this are natural and intrinsically motivating for them. Similar to the way in which your cat might want to chase a fly or a piece of string – these behaviours are innate within the animal.”
Our friends at Sea Cleaners provide us with used buoys that they find floating in the Hauraki Gulf. This is a win for the animals we care for and for the animals in the ocean.
