Enrichment…Use Your Common Senses

With Robin Shewokis of The Leather Elves

Tuesday, February 6th

from 11:30 to 12:30 for all staff and volunteers

from 12:30 to 1:00 pm for Animal Management staff

In ARC West

Sponsored by Puget Sound Chapter of AAZK

For years facilities involved in the captive management of animals have been striving to find ways to enrich the lives of the animals in their care.  They have presented device after device either created by them or purchased commercially to keep the animals busy.  This has worked in most cases.  But now facilities are looking for better and more scientifically based programs of enrichment.

This interactive workshop is designed to get participants thinking about enrichment as a multi –dimensional process. It furnishes staff with the tools needed to create stimulating, engaging enrichment from idea to assessment. Enrichment can no longer be a piece of PVC without a purpose.  Participants are encouraged to look at all facets of the animals in their care and then design an enrichment plan that meets the specific needs of those animals.

Sensory activities encourage participants to remember that enrichment needs to target all of an animal’s needs  not just dietary.  Opportunities for problem solving and brainstorming allow staff to share ideas with colleagues that they may not work with on a daily basis.

Robin Shewokis is the owner of The Leather Elves, a company that designs and manufactures enrichment devices for animals in captivity.  The Leather Elves started as a family business that created enrichment for companion parrots.  After working with a few facilities that housed collections of parrots Robin realized that there was a need in facilities for enrichment targeting other species. So in 2001 The Leather Elves began working with zoos internationally to enhance the level of enrichment provided.  Since then Robin has consulted with zoos in the US and Canada, has spoken at Vogelpark Avifauna in the Netherlands and has distributed enrichment products worldwide. One of Robin’s goals is to work with facilities to increase staff’s knowledge of the enrichment process through workshops and brainstorming sessions.

Robin is a member of The American Association of Zookeepers and the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators. At the 2006 AAZK conference Robin received a certificate of appreciation for her contributions to the field of enrichment with regard to management of captive exotic animals.

Robin feels very strongly that we need to work with our youth to foster a love of all things natural. To this end Robin works with The Center for Ecosystem Survival to encourage children to look to the future of our planet. In 2004 she received the CES award for outstanding commitment to conservation.  Robin is currently working with SOS Rhino on a proposal for children’s book about the challenges facing the Sumatran Rhino.  She says that if you can get one child from a class of 30 interested in stewardship then you’ve made a difference.