April 6th, 2021, 10:55AM / BY Erin Stromberg
How do you get an elephant to exercise, safely introduce two songbirds or prepare a cheetah for a veterinary exam? In this series, get an insider’s look at how animal keepers use activities, food, training and toys to care for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s animals. Find out how enrichment stimulates the senses, why training builds trust, and how keepers come up with new ways for animals to explore and use their natural behaviors each day.
Above: This leaf-tailed gecko hatchling receives his medication from a syringe, which he laps up with his impressive tongue.