World Enrichment Day 2025
PUBLISHED 12/11/25
This World Animal Enrichment Day, we're sharing just some of the creative ways we keep over 800 animals active, curious, and engaged every single day. From puzzle feeders and hidden treats to new scents and unusual objects, every activity is designed to spark natural behaviours and keep minds and bodies healthy.
Celebrated each year on November 12th, this special day highlights the vital role of mental and physical stimulation in animal welfare. Enrichment takes many forms - from dynamic habitats with fresh climbing structures and foliage, to cognitive challenges that encourage foraging and problem-solving. Our keepers even handcraft bespoke enrichment tools, using everything from herbs and spices to feathers and fur, to keep things as fresh and exciting as possible for the animals.
Drusillas Head keeper, Gemma Romanis, said: “Animals need new and exciting things in their day to keep them stimulated, much like your pets at home. In addition, introducing new and unusual things helps encourage them to use natural and instinctive behaviours such as recognising scents, foraging, and problem solving. If we just handed them food in the same way every day, they would lose their natural abilities.”
Every species at Drusillas has its own favourite forms of enrichment - and some might surprise you! The penguins, for instance, can’t get enough of chasing bubbles, racing to be first in line as they waddle and dive after the glimmering globes.
Meanwhile, our feline residents, including servals and lynx, prefer scent-based fun. Visitors often donate unwanted perfumes, which the cats relish far more than their original recipients - rubbing, rolling, and purring in delight.
When summer heats up, animals cool down with icy treats packed with frozen nuts, fruit, and vegetables. These refreshing snacks don’t just beat the heat; they also challenge the animals to use their paws and mouths to extract every tasty morsel.
Enrichment even helps the animals join in on national celebrations. From a royal “tea party” for the King’s coronation, complete with edible cakes and teacups to investigate, to a Wimbledon-inspired play session with giant tennis balls, there’s always something new to explore. Even the Park’s famous Mystic Meerkats get involved, with their playful “predictions” for the biggest football fixtures offering the perfect mix of mental stimulation and fun.
Gemma continued; “We love theming our enrichment and over time, we’ve learned which activities each species enjoys most, and our keeping team takes real pride in creating new challenges for them. They’re an incredibly creative bunch - one day they might be hunting down the perfect termite-filled log for our armadillos, the next crocheting a custom scent pad for our lynx. No two days are ever the same!”