Polar Bear at Brookfield Zoo Celebrates 17th Birthday with His Favorite Things
The fun part about birthdays is that there's no right or wrong way to celebrate them. The person of honor can choose what they want to do, or if they want to do anything at all--unless a surprise party is involved, of course. But when it comes to animals' birthdays, it's a bit harder to come up with a plan. After all, they can't communicate what they'd like in the same way a person can!
But when you get to know a furry friend, it becomes a lot easier to figure out what they like and dislike. That's why pet owners, farmers, and even zookeepers are able to surprise their animals with all kinds of fun snacks, activities, and enrichment for their birthdays. There's an endless number of ways to make an animal feel happy, and their birthday is a perfect time to go above and beyond.
Just ask Hudson the polar bear! This handsome guy celebrated his 17th 'bear-thday' at the Brookfield Zoo on December 13, and he had a few fun surprises to make his day more special than ever. They gave him his favorite things!
Aww, happy birthday, Hudson! Even though it probably felt like just another day to the massive bear, the zoo staff went out of their way to make sure he felt pampered and special. They made him not one, but two frozen treats! One was sweet, and the other was savory, so he could scratch, lick, and munch on whatever he was in the mood for.
Related: Pittsburgh Zoo Wishes Their Polar Bear a Very Fitting 28th Birthday
And then there was the barrel! The polar bear couldn't get enough of his new (and temporary) toy from the @brookfieldzoo, even after he crushed it into flatness. But the important part is that he had a ball doing it! All animals need some form of enrichment, after all, and this polar bear is no exception.
Enrichment Keeps Animals Stimulated, Curious, and Happy
'Enrichment' may sound like something used to help babies' brains develop, but it's actually so much more. It can help any person or animal engage with parts of their brain they may not be using in daily habits and behaviors. For example, snuffle mat enrichment for dogs will help them practice using scent to locate objects, while a cat tower allows felines to indulge their natural instinct to climb.
For zoo animals, though, enrichment can be a much larger production. Making flavored ice treats for birthday boy Hudson likely took a long time, and it's not always easy to source a barrel or something crushable. But these animal advocates knew exactly what they were doing, and they gave the curious bear a fun and enjoyable birthday.
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