By XAVIER SMERDON
MONKEY business was afoot in Werribee last week when some of the Werribee Open Rage Zoo’s lesser known animals were the focus of some fun and games. Every Thursday a team of volunteers works with the zoo’s keepers to create a range of enrichment items for the animals, which are then used throughout the week. Last week Star visited the zoo to capture the Vervet Monkeys’ reactions to one of their favourite enrichment items – pine cones with honey and small pieces of apple and pear wedged inside the petals. Another popular enrichment item takes the form of cardboard tubing tied up at the ends with Elephant grass. The Vervet Monkeys need to work at the ties in order to get to their treat inside the tubing, which encourages their problem-solving skills. A spokesperson for the zoo said each species of animal had its own enrichment plans which help stimulate their imaginations. 116235 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
