Learn How we care for Red River Hogs

It is hard to believe that we are already heading into the end of 2023. It has been another fantastic year of growth and progress at Blank Park Zoo, as we continue to expand our impact, magnify our reach, and inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education, research, and recreation.

Our animal care professionals work selflessly and tirelessly all year to provide state of the art care to the animals that live at Blank Park Zoo. This includes not only the best possible diets and habitats, but high-level mental enrichment as well. As you can see in the video above, staff work with the animals on voluntary movements such as putting their legs on a block or touching a point of contact. By using positive reinforcement, our staff builds a trusting relationship with the animals, while teaching valuable skills for veterinary procedures in a safe and stress free way. This is a critical element to successful veterinary care. By shaping these behaviors and building trust, our veterinary staff can perform many procedures and examinations without the use of anesthesia. The items seen in the video, along with many other pieces of enrichment and equipment, are hand-built for the animals by our staff. Caring for the animals who call the zoo home is our top priority, and we can't do it without you.

As we look towards 2024, we hope to continue to grow our reach and impact in wildlife conservation and education through more programming, increased audiences, and more funding available to send directly into the field. We cannot do this without your support. Please consider a donation today by clicking here.

Thank you for your support, and have a wonderful holiday season.