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Cheetah Outreach Animal Enrichment PlanWe can improve the welfare of our animals by using environmental and behavioral enrichment toenhance their physical, social, cognitive and psychological well being. Enrichment is just as critical toour animals’ welfare as nutrition and veterinary care.One of the most important roles of enrichment is increasing behavioural choices and encouragingspecies-typical behavior. We have looked at the physiology and natural and individual history of eachanimal at Cheetah Outreach to come up with a goal-oriented enrichment plan and appropriate ideasto elicit natural behaviours. The plan includes goals and enrichment activities to use for each animalat Cheetah Outreach.The use of a randomized schedule of enrichment provides a greater degree of novelty and reducesthe habituation to enrichment treatments. A monthly enrichment schedule is provided for each animalto ensure that enrichment is done consistently and that activities are varied each month. Activitiesmay be done on any day and at any time. Responses to enrichment activities are documented onmonthly activity forms and data is stored in a database which produces monthly reports that are usedto evaluate the effectiveness of the plan and monthly schedules, and make changes where necessary.Environmental EnrichmentOne of the goals of our enrichment programme is to provide a more stimulating environment for eachanimal and increase the use of enclosure space. Enriched environments provide choices to animals,privacy and a sense of security as well opportunities for climbing, leaping and jumping, rubbing.Elevated sites are especially important for cheetahs. The changing of enclosure furniture will alsopromote curiosity.Food EnrichmentForaging behaviors are important to the well-being of carnivores. Different ways of presenting foodcan stimulate the cats and encourage natural hunting behaviors, including stalking, crouching,pouncing, chasing, leaping, jumping, climbing, grabbing and pulling. In the case of the jackals andmeerkat, it can encourage more natural foraging.1Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

Sensory EnrichmentOlfactory enrichment can encourage investigation of smells, and resulting scent-marking, rubbing andgrooming. Visual enrichment can provide visual access to other animals and activities throughelevated sites.Novel EnrichmentIncreasing the diversity of natural behaviors can be accomplished through enrichment devices ornovel objects that can be manipulated by the animal. These objects promote exploration as well asnatural play and hunting behaviors.Social EnrichmentSocial groupings can encourage a whole repertoire of behavior that comes from living in a group,including social, territorial and courtship behaviors (this is especially important for male cheetahs).Social interaction with caretakers reduces stresses in captivity by building a positive relationship withhumans. Human interaction is particularly important for a social species like meerkats.ExerciseExercise through runs, walks and play encourages activity and maintains a healthy physical condition,as well as providing mental stimulation.Behavioral ConditioningBehavioral conditioning increases the intellectual focus of an animal. Animals choose to participate inthese sessions to maintain established or learn new behaviors. Behavioral conditioning can alsostrengthen the trust between handler and animal.2Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

Adult CheetahEnrichment Goals:1) Encourage activity through play and exercise2) Encourage natural play and hunting behaviors (stalking, chasing, running, chewing) throughfood and novel enrichment, and exercise3) Encourage investigation of scents and consequential rubbing and scent-marking througholfactory enrichment4) Increase visual stimulation through elevated sitesCurrent Enrichment:Environmental1) Hut with straw for shelter and privacy2) Shade area with thatched roof or shade cloth3) Platforms/large wooden boxes4) Scattered logs5) Large exercise enclosureFood1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)9)Whole or partial large carcasses (horse or wild game)Whole or partial rabbitsLarge bonesMeat with fur on itRaw horse or wild game skinBloodsicles with pieces of meat insideRaw eggsMeat in watermelonsMeat inside papier-mâché balls or boxesSensory1) Spending time in running enclosure2) Switching enclosures with other cheetahs3) Visual contact with other cheetahs, small carnivores and dogs4) Walking other animals next to enclosures5) Straw from other cheetah or small predator enclosures6) BrushingNovel1) Boomer and soccer balls2) Cardboard prey animal3) Mop3Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

Social1) Interaction with other adult cheetahs and cubs through fence2) Interaction with staff and volunteers3) Interaction with the public through encounters, walks and functionsExercise1) Runs2) Walks on harness and lead3) Chasing plastic bottle or bird wing attached to whipBehavioral Conditioning1) Target and station training (with voice commands, signals and/or clicker)2) Harness and lead training3) Jumping on objects and sitting on command4) Venue training (inside and outside)5) Transportation (loading and travelling in vehicles)6) Crate training (for visits to the vet, travel and in case of emergency)4Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

Cheetah CubsEnrichment Goals:1) Encourage activity through play and exercise2) Encourage natural play and hunting behaviors (stalking, chasing, running, chewing) throughfood and novel enrichment, and exercise3) Encourage socialization with humans through bonding with handlers and volunteers4) Prepare for ambassadorial duties through behavioral conditioningCurrent Enrichment:Environmental1) Hut with straw for shelter and privacy2) Thatched shelter for shade and protection from rain and wind3) Platforms/large wooden boxes4) Splash pool (during summer)5) Large exercise enclosureFood1)2)3)4)5)6)7)Meat with fur on itParts of rabbit with furLarge bonesBloodsicles with pieces of meat insideRaw eggsMeat inside watermelonsMeat inside papier-mâché balls or boxesSensory1) Spending time in running enclosure2) Spending time in other cheetah enclosures3) Visual contact with other cheetahs, small carnivores and dogs4) Walking other animals next to enclosureNovel1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)Plastic bottles, rubber/plastic balls and toys in splash poolBalls, Kong toys, rope toys and fire hose toysToys/balls hung from bungee cordOstrich feathersCardboard boxesCardboard prey animalFlying disc made of cardboardPapier-mâché balls5Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

Social1) Interaction with cheetahs through fence2) Interaction with staff and volunteers3) Interaction with the public through encounters, walks and functionsExercise1) Runs2) Walks on harness and lead3) Chasing plastic bottle, bird wing, animal hide or other toys attached to whipBehavioral Cconditioning1) Target and station training (with voice commands, signals and/or clicker)2) Harness and lead training3) Jumping on objects and sitting on command4) Venue training (inside and outside)5) Transportation (loading and travelling in vehicles)6) Crate training (for visits to the vet, travel and in case of emergency)6Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

ServalsEnrichment Goals:1) Encourage activity through play and exercise2) Encourage natural play and hunting behaviors (stalking, chasing, pouncing, leaping, grabbing)through food and novel enrichment3) Encourage investigation of scents, rubbing, marking and grooming through olfactoryenrichmentCurrent Enrichment:Environmental1) Hut with straw for shelter and privacy2) Scattered logs, climbing limbs and branches3) Patches of tall grass and vegetation4) Platforms5) Underground burrow6) Splash poolFood1) Whole or partial wild game carcasses2) Pieces of rabbit with fur3) Meat with fur on it4) Large bones5) Whole or partial birds with feathers6) Whole rats and mice7) Baby chicks8) Raw eggs9) Scattering meat on logs and platforms10) Throwing pieces of meat in air11) Hanging meat from pole12) Meat inside long tube or box with holes13) Fish/meat inside watermelon14) Fish/meat/mice in papier-mâché balls15) Fish/meat inside rubber ball with holes or in Kong toy16) Fish/meat/mice in water in splash pool17) Foraging for snakes, lizards, frogs and mice on walksSensory1) Visual contact with cheetahs, other servals, caracal, jackals, bat-eared foxes, dogs2) Spending time in other enclosures3) Walking other animals next to enclosure4) Snake skin7Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

5)6)7)8)Novel1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)9)10)Springbok hideFresh catmintRub fish gel on objectsBrushingSoft, rubber or rope toysToy hung from bungee cordBallsFeathersBags of leavesCardboard boxesRoll of toilet paperPlastic bottles, balls or other toys in splash poolBlowing bubbles into splash poolPlaying with water from hosepipe or sprinklerSocial1) Interaction with other serval, caracal, bat-eared foxes and dogs through fence2) Interaction with staff and volunteersExercise1) Walks2) Chasing and jumping for plastic bottle, toy, feather or bird wing attached to whipBehavioral Conditioning1) Target and station training (with voice commands, signals and/or clicker)2) Harness and lead training3) Jumping on objects and sitting on command4) Venue training (inside and outside)5) Transportation (loading and travelling in vehicles)6) Crate training (for visits to the vet, travel and in case of emergency)8Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal

CaracalEnrichment Goals:1) Encourage activity through play and exercise2) Encourage natural play and hunting behaviors (stalking, chasing, pouncing, leaping, jumpingand climbing) through food and novel enrichment3) Encourage investigation of scents, rubbing, marking and grooming through olfactoryenrichmentCurrent Enrichment:Environmental1) Hut with straw for shelter and privacy2) Scattered logs and climbing limbs3) Patch of tall grass4) Platforms5) Moveable small dog house6) Empty splash pool with branchesFood1) Whole or partial wild game carcasses2) Whole squirrels with fur3) Meat with fur on it4) Large bones5) Large bone on a bungee feeder6) Whole or partial birds with feathers7) Whole rats and mice8) Baby chicks9) Bloodsicles with pieces of meat or mouse inside10) Large bloodsicle with rope hung on bungee feeder11) Raw eggs12) Scattering meat on logs, branches and platforms13) Hanging meat, mice, baby chicks from poles14) Meat inside watermelon15) Meat inside boxes or papier-mache ballsSensory1) Visual contact with cheetahs, servals, jackals and dogs2) Walking other animals next to enclosure3) Spending time in other enclosure4) Brushing9Produced by Cheetah Outreach (Last Updated: April 2016)cheetah@intekom.co.za Http://www.cheetah.co.zaHomes Provided by Heartland and Eikendal