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Grooming continued

We encourage grooming in primates,
said Skelton. “We offer a variety of
materials like hay, wood wool, and leaves
which can stimulate grooming activities
as they pick out pieces of debris from
their fur,” she said.
“Our care staff also provide scent
enrichment that can encourage scent
washing, or rubbing with pungent-smelling
items such as onions. This is a communal
and even therapeutic activity. Some
scientists believe this can also be medicinal
as plant rubs help primates get rid of or
prevent parasites.”

Animal Pedicures

The nails, claws, and hooves of some
animals need special attention and care.
Some of our animals are trained to
participate in this care. Many of our big
cats are trained to voluntarily present
their paws to animal care specialists to
be examined. They hold still while their
nails are trimmed. “If the nails get too
long, they can grow into the pad of the
foot,” said Pohl. Our vigilant staff prevent
this from happening.
Preventative hoof maintenance is
an essential part of the overall care of
our ungulates, or hoofed animals.
An overgrown hoof can cause long-term
harm to an animal’s feet, legs, and entire
body. A hoof trim is a painless procedure
for the animals because their hooves are
primarily composed of keratin—the same
hard substance that human fingernails
and toenails are made of.
An annual physical exam of an
ungulate includes a hoof trim. But some
animals—reticulated giraffes and African
dwarf goats—need this service once a

Left, top: A goat gets a hoof trim.
Left, bottom: A giraffe presents its hoof to be trimmed.

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