Rubber ducks have waddled their way into Alexandra Park Zoo, but not for bath time, they’re being used to spark curiosity and natural behaviours in the turtle and frog enclosures.
The purpose of the ducks is to promote exploration using a novel object and zoo staff are excited to observe the investigative behaviours that come from this unique initiative.
Bundaberg Regional Council Natural Resources and Environment portfolio spokesperson Cr Gary Kirk said there were plenty of outcomes that may help better understand how these animals interacted with unfamiliar objects in their environment.
“For example, the turtles may see the ducks similar to fallen fruit that is floating along the water’s surface or an intruder that needs to be investigated,” he said.
“The frogs might have a totally different reaction and want to avoid the ducks at all costs.
“Overall, it’s all about finding out how these species exhibit natural behaviours that would assist in their survival.”
Cr Kirk said introducing novel items like the ducks was a simple but powerful form of environmental enrichment that not only encouraged natural instincts by also kept animals mentally stimulated.
“A good comparison would be giving your dog a squeaky toy for the first time, these encourage chewing, but the sound given by the toy may cause a flight response or may engage increased chewing depending on the individual,” he said.
As play is not well documented, the zoo staff are interested to see if any of the positive or negative reactions are displayed.
All responses will be recorded in the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), a global database used by zoos and aquariums to track animal health, behaviour and care.
These records will serve as a reference for the individual animals and may also be compiled as data for the species.
