One of the challenges of caring for over 1,200 animals at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center is ensuring that the animals stay healthy, not just physically but mentally. Our wildlife care team is regularly devising new techniques to keep the animals entertained int their enclosures through stimulating their senses and recreating natural behaviors. Sometimes, however, the animals create their own forms of enrichment! Such was the case with one of the smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata), Jimmy, who discovered the joys of playing with the water jet in in her pond!

Our elephant care team also recently just finished erecting an elephant proof tire tower for Lucky and Chhouk. The tower is durable enough to sustain the eager pachyderms’ bashing (although damage and destruction is to be expected with elephants) and can also be used to hide treats inside. The tower has proven to be a favorite of the other two elephants at the center, Sakor and Chamrouen, so the keepers installed a new one in the second elephant enclosure.

You can help us buy enrichment materials for the other rescued animals in our care by visiting our virtual gift shop!