In Ngā Kākano, we learnt about animal enrichment. We learnt that there are five different types of enrichment. There is physical enrichment, nutritional enrichment, social enrichment, sensory enrichment, and cognitive enrichment. We used what we learned to make toys for cats and dogs. We used cardboard, toilet paper rolls, fabric, and newspaper to make interesting and fun enrichment toys.

On Monday the 14th of November, we went on a trip to Wellington Zoo on a bus. We stopped at the park next to the zoo to eat our morning tea and then we went through the special zoo entrance and met a keeper. She took us to wait for our tour guide next to the squirrel monkeys. Half of our group went on a tour about native animals and our half went on a tour about enrichment. She took us behind the scenes where visitors aren’t usually allowed. We learnt about the enrichment that the zoo gives its animals. They use a lot of paper mache, which we are now using to create enrichment toys to give to the zoo. We helped them put bark into the meerkats’ enclosure for them to rummage for bugs. We got to see the baby meerkats. They were so cute and so tiny.

We also saw lions, otters (which were Gerrard’s favourite), ducklings, giraffes (which were Charlotte’s favourite), and a tiger. We didn’t get to see the Tasmanian devils because they camouflaged into their enclosure. We had a good time seeing the animals, learning about enrichment toys, and having fun with our friends.

At the end of the day, we got on the bus and went back to school.

Spot the enrichment toy in the photo!