Zoo throws bubble party for lions and gorillas with surprising results

Ever wondered what happens when lion cubs and gorillas see bubbles for the first time? Well, zookeepers at one Australian zoo decided to find out.

A bubble party recently erupted across animal habitats* as keepers at Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria treated the lions and gorillas to some fun new enrichment*, with very different reactions from each species.

Keeper Kristina Sleeth said two-year-old lioness Kianga was instantly fascinated by the bubbles.

“When we turned the bubble machine on, Kianga came over straightaway and was super interested, watching the bubbles and trying to figure them out,” Ms Sleeth said. “She honestly looked like a Disney princess, amazed by the bubbles. It was very cute.

“Female lions are very thoughtful and clever; the boys aren’t always that switched on.”

While the adult lions boldly investigated the bubbles, three-month-old cubs Kwame and Sukari were more interested in wrestling each other and biting their mum’s tail.

“The cubs were a bit more reserved and trying to work it all out, so they spent a lot of time watching everyone else,” Ms Sleeth said.

The cubs have been growing quickly, eating solid meat, finding confidence in the pride and building bonds with their dad, grandma and half siblings.

“They think they own the place even though they’re still tiny and floppy,” Ms Sleeth said.

The zoo’s western lowland gorilla troop — silverback Motaba and his sons Yakini and Ganyeka — were less interested in the bubbles themselves, preferring to chase each other around and beat their chests while enjoying snacks of nuts and dried fruit.

“The gorilla boys couldn’t have cared less about the bubbles and mostly gave them side-eye,” Ms Sleeth said. “But they had a great time eating lunch while the bubbles floated around them.”

Enrichment activities are an important part of animal care at Werribee Open Range Zoo and other animal sanctuaries, encouraging animals to investigate new sights, smells and experiences.

African lions are classified as vulnerable* on the International Union for Conservation* of Nature’s Red List, with as few as 23,000 remaining in the wild across sub-Saharan Africa, due to habitat loss, poaching* and conflict with humans.

Werribee Open Range Zoo is part of a regional breeding and conservation* program helping secure the future of the species. Visitors can see the lion cubs and gorillas out on habitat every day from 9:00am at the zoo. Kids under 16 visit free of charge at all Zoos Victoria properties on weekends, Victorian school holidays and public holidays.

POLL

GLOSSARY

habitat: the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually lives

enrichment: the act or process of improving the quality or power of something by adding something else

vulnerable: able to be easily physically or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked

conservation: the act of conserving or keeping something from change, loss, injury, death or extinction

poaching: the illegal hunting or capture of animals that are not one’s own

EXTRA READING

Cute cubs born on Valentine’s Day

Lion cubs on patrol as juveniles rule

Gorilla caught playing in the rain

QUICK QUIZ

How old are cubs Kwame and Sukari?

Which two alternative activities were they more interested in than the bubbles?

How many African lions are estimated to be left in the wild and what is their conservation status?

What are some of the major issues impacting the species’ survival in the wild?

What did the gorilla troop prefer to do rather than interact with the bubbles?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

1. Animal enrichment guide

Create your own guidebook of animal enrichment activity ideas. Each page should have a heading with the name of the activity; a sentence or short paragraph explaining the activity and why it might be enriching to animals; and a sketched diagram or illustration.

Time: allow 30+ minutes to complete this activity

Curriculum Links: English

2. Extension

Write from the point of view of your favourite animal experiencing one of the enrichment activities from your guide book for the first time. Try to capture how the activity might make them feel – fascinated, frustrated, excited, etc.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity

Curriculum Links: English

VCOP ACTIVITY

Animal alliterations

With a partner, choose one of the pictures from the article.

Make a list of nouns you could use to name the animal in the picture. For example, instead of a tiger, you could also say cat, or feline.

Pick your favourite noun and identify its initial sound — what sound it starts with, not necessarily what letter.

Now, using the initial sound, make a list of adjectives to describe the animal. Try to be specific. Don’t just look at the animal as a whole, look at their different features as well.

Build on these same sound words, and add any verbs and adverbs you could use to describe the animal and their movements.

Try to put it all together and use as many same sound words in a sentence, to create an alliteration about the animal in the picture. For example: the terrifying tiger, tiptoed through tangled trees chasing his prey.