Through innovative training and enrichment programs, EWC Inc. Has improved the animals' interactions with keepers, veterinarians and visitors in zoos across the country. Dr. Weiss' groundbreaking work at the Sedgwick County Zoo focused on stress reduction for the zoo's residents and resulted in happier animals, keepers and the viewing public. Her research on enrichment has been featured in numerous magazines, peer reviewed journals and national TV programs. Most recently, Dr. Weiss' innovative enrichment designs were featured in several magazines, including on the cover of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's Communiqué magazine. EWC Enrichment/Training programs include:

ZOO WORKSHOPS ARE UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

TRAINING:

FOR IMPROVED HUSBANDRY:
From reducing stress when shifting animals to training a large group of animals to feed co-operatively, Dr. Weiss can develop a program suited specifically for your zoo.

FOR VETERINARY CARE:
Safe training for all animals to voluntarily present teeth, arms, legs or simply to turn around results in reduced stress when veterinary care is needed.

FOR VISITOR EDUCATION:
Develop programs inspiring wonder, awe and appreciation in your visitors — leaving them with the knowledge of how important conservation is and of your zoo's efforts to provide a stimulating and enjoyable environment for your animals.

ENRICHMENT DESIGN:
Ultra high tech (pneumatic tubes) and ultra low scale (toilet paper tubes, piñatas) enrichment designs are available for reptiles, amphibians, birds and large mammals. An example of an EWC enrichment design is a group of pneumatic pop-up meerkats for lion enrichment. By raising a plastic meerkat out of an artificial termite mound randomly throughout the day, a lion on exhibit will hunt and attempt to "catch" the meerkat. Upon capture, a food reward is delivered from the bottom of the mound to the lion and the meerkat is saved to use another day. Daily enrichment items range from toilet paper tubes and other food-stuffed items that can be pre-prepared by staff or volunteers to organized, directed play/interaction with handlers to innovative, reusable PVC devices.

ENRICHMENT EFFECTIVENESS:
Designing enrichment is only the beginning. Animals in zoos are constantly evolving, needing new challenges and enrichment. EWC can develop a program for your zoo to implement and study this exciting field enrichment, providing exciting research opportunities for your zoo.