Tasty termite treats at London Zoo
Monday 25 July 2005
If you haven’t seen it already, a new termite mound has been installed in the sloth bear’s enclosure which is well worth a look!
The construction is a great enrichment device for their bears, as it enables them to display a range of natural behaviours in extracting honey and insects through specially designed tubes.
The bears are extremely curious and have been putting on a very active and noisy display in trying to extricate food.
The sloth bear originates from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh and are so-called because their long curved claws resemble those of a sloth. However they are currently threatened due to habitat loss and poaching – the gall bladder being used in traditional Oriental medicine.
The termite mound was constructed with funding raised through a partnership between Haggerston Girls school in Hackney, News International and Hackney Education Business Partnership last year.
The girls were asked to research and develop a fundraising proposal that they then presented to News International, who donated £6,000 for the construction.
