In a horticultural twist at Werribee Open Range Zoo, aromatic plants have become the catalysts for captivating sensory and cognitive challenges for the animals.
African and Australian natives, including giraffe, camels, wallabies and servals, are receiving a selection of herbaceous plants from zookeepers to spark their curiosity and an array of intriguing natural behaviours.
The design and establishment of a new purpose-built herb garden at the zoo, which has the capacity to grow up to 200 fragrant and scented plants, is providing a self-sustainable source of flora to engage with the animals’ sight, smell and touch.
Zoos Victoria animal behaviour specialist Sue Jaensch said zookeepers are witnessing a range of behaviours that are helping determine animal preferences.
“Fresh herbs have amazing fragrances and flavours,” she said. “But each individual animal and species response and preference can vary. Our goal is to provide experiences that are beneficial for each animal, so understanding individual preferences helps to inform how we can specially tailor these experiences.
“Just like in the wild, these experiences offer the animals at the zoo the opportunity to encounter a diverse range of herbs that they can choose to eat, anoint themselves with or simply enjoy the smell of.”
The camels and giraffes were given a herb pesto, a mix of intensely scented herbs that invoked two very different but equally curious behaviours.
One of the giraffes spent plenty of time investigating his herbs, approaching, leaning down, and balancing on three legs as he extended his tongue to taste. This was followed with copious amounts of chewing and tongue flicking.
Meantime, a taste from the camels was met with plenty of head shaking as their prehensile, flexible lips flung around.
A serval was provided with catnip, rolling around to douse itself in the mint-like pungent scent. The wallabies chose to consume their rosemary and mint. One of the rhinos chose not to engage with his assortment of fresh herbs.
Zoo horticulture manager Craig Shalders said the herb garden is planted with thoughtfully selected herbs to meet the animals’ specific needs and has been sustainably designed.
“Raised garden beds provide the prime advantage of harvesting,” he said. “We’re also utilising water from existing tanks as a water source, while a careful selection of plant species means we have availability all year.”
Ms Jaensch said planting herbs at home can have some great benefits.
“Planting umbels, a family of herbs including parsley, coriander and dill, is a fantastic way to encourage to attract pollinators and insects into your backyard.”
