“Enrichment occurs on a daily basis at the Zoo, but a lot of times it’s behind the scenes,” said Sue Pfaff, assistant curator of mammals for Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “On Enrichment Day, we showcase all of the activities that the animals actually get to do throughout the year. A day like this educates the public about animal care at the Zoo and gets the community involved in conservation, furthering the mission of Riverbanks.”

Activities will kick off at 10am at the grizzly bear exhibit when the bears are presented with ice blocks stuffed with treats. Guests can stroll around the Zoo and discover the thrill of enrichment at staged presentations every 30 minutes at different exhibits. From penguins to elephants, watch wildlife in action as staff members enhance their surroundings with natural and artificial encounters.

Enrichment stimulates the animals’ senses and encourages their natural behaviors. The physical and mental stimulation brought about by these activities help maintain and enhance the health and well being of Riverbanks’ animals. Enrichment encounters typically draw a popular crowd and provide rare photo opportunities.

Children and parents can participate in a host of uncommon sense activities and games in the main plaza. Get the “Scoop on Poop” with a multiple choice guessing game for children to determine which fecal material belongs to which zoo animal. Another popular activity is: “What’s on the Menu.” This is a match game that showcases the different diets that zoo animals consume at Riverbanks and in the wild. A tattoo station will also be set up offering free removable animal tattoos. Crafts also will be available for children to learn how to enrich their own pets.

The timed enrichment sessions are sure to be the highlight of the day, but don’t miss the live animal encounters where you can touch and feel real animals. Parents can bid on silent auction items such as the opportunity to train and feed the sea lions today or become an assistant in the next Amazing Animals Bird Show. These one-of-a-kind experiences raise money for Riverbanks’ animal enrichment fund.

To learn more about animal enrichment at Riverbanks or to view a full itinerary of events for Saturday, please visit Riverbanks' Animal Enrichment page online. Schedules will also be available at the gate on the day of the event. There is no additional charge to attend Enrichment Day at the Zoo