Rabbit Hay-Go-Round
Elephant Puzzle Feeder
Dragon Cave Feeder
What is Animal Enrichment?
Animal Enrichment was a semester-long Industrial Design course at RISD that worked with the Roger Williams Park Zoo to create enrichment objects for animals in captivity and contribute to their mission to empower visitors to help them in conservation efforts to preserve wildlife and wild places. During the course of the semester, I worked on an individual project for the Giant Flemish Rabbit, a team of 6 for Three African Elephants, and a team of three for the Komodo Dragon,
Why It Matters?
Animals in zoos often have issues that are much different than what they might encounter in the wild. Because they no
longer need to do things such as hunt, make or find shelter, and protect themselves from predators, animals in captivity
can often suffer from boredom and other unique stresses. Animal Enrichment objects are objects designed to help animals focus on problem solving, presenting challenges for mental and physical stimulation, and other innovations that may benefit these animals.
longer need to do things such as hunt, make or find shelter, and protect themselves from predators, animals in captivity
can often suffer from boredom and other unique stresses. Animal Enrichment objects are objects designed to help animals focus on problem solving, presenting challenges for mental and physical stimulation, and other innovations that may benefit these animals.
Looking towards a more sustainable future, the United Nations has listed a series of goals meant to benefit and ensure a healthier planet. Animals both on land and in water need protection, and we must transform and repair our relationship with nature to focus on wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and preservation of natural habitats. Ensuring animal health and wellbeing in zoos helps these institutions to contribute to wildlife conservation and promote public education of important social and environmental issues.
The Results
Giant Flemish Rabbit(& friends)
The Hay Go-Round
Individual
I designed and built this 2-foot tall, rotating hay feeder to create a feeding challenge for the Giant Flemish Rabbit as well as a tool for socialization with other rabbits in the habitat.
Design Decisions
I used sisal rope to attach each Hay Ball (not shown) to the rotating frames that are placed on top of a lazy-susan. The rabbits will have to reach out and pull the hay from the wire balls and simultaneously play with the spinning frames. I chose an open frame to allow Zoo patrons to view the rabbits feeding with each other.
Obstacles
Avoiding plastics because rabbits enjoy digging and chewing on any material, even if it's not safe for them.
Observations
Habitat
Animal Behavior Research Tool
Sketches & Models
MVP 1
Initial Sketches
Construction
Construction photos coming soon.
Three African Elephants
Elephant Hay Feeder
Group of 6
We created a rolling hay feeder for the elephants to roll on the ground and grab hay from different sections.
Design Decisions
We drilled and screwed on three large truck tires to PVC pipes. The PVC pipes keep the tires at a set distance and provide stability. Some of the segments are blocked with tarp, while the others are woven rope to allow hay to pass though. This encourages the Elephants to roll the feeder around to access the hay from the woven rope sections.
Obstacles
Fear of Elephants eating natural materials, destroying tires, hiding them in the pool, and swallowing small parts. Lack of early communication with zookeepers, we learned too late that the three Elephanst hate sharing despite this being the goal of the zoo to facilitate socialization for the animals. The final prototype was actually gifted to the Buffalo as a result.
In my initial sketches, I had the idea for the three elephants to work together by twisting different shaped keys into the feeder to rotate a platform that carries the hay. After successfully twisting each platform, the hay will drop to the bottom where the Elephants can eat it. The last photo shows the 1st MVP which was a collaborative idea that was presented to the zookeepers. We wanted to use wooden circles or tires to rotate around a wooden cylinder.
Starting Over
Unfortunately, the feedback from the zookeepers forced us to redirect and experiment with different materials. We were restricted from using wooden materials and tires because the Elephants will eat and destroy them by dumping tires into the pool, creating a huge pain for the zookeepers.
Construction photos coming soon.
Komodo Dragon
Strength Training - Cave Feeder
Group of Three
Design Decisions
Obstacles
Observations
Initial Sketches
