Chessington zoo desires your undesirable Christmas fragrance for its animals – here is why
Let’s face it, there’ll be many an unwanted gift destined for the bin this Christmas, but Chessington World of Adventures has put out a plea for fragrance donations for their furry inhabitants
Have you ever imagined a meerkat wearing Mugler or a capybara in Calvin Klein?
Those were the images that were conjured up when Chessington World of Adventures put out a plea for perfume for its animals. But fear not, the zoo’s residents won’t be donning the latest scent but rather using them to create stimulating experiences at the attraction.
Meerkats, monkeys, capybaras, binturongs, otters and servals will be among the species to be getting a whiff as part of the zoo’s animal welfare programme.
The sensory experience involves encouraging animals to exhibit natural behaviours similar to those they would display in the wild.
Adam Douglass, zoo manager at Chessington World of Adventures said: “Enrichment plays a critical role in ensuring our animals lead happy, healthy lives, and scent-based activities are particularly effective for stimulating their natural instincts.
“Interestingly, our animals seem to have a nose for luxury – Calvin Klein and Jimmy Choo perfumes are firm favourites among many of our mammals. Perfume donations might seem unusual, but they’re a simple way for the public to support our work and bring real benefits to the incredible animals in our care.”
Animal enrichment is a vital part of Chessington Zoo’s enrichment programme, which focuses on five categories: nutritional, structural, cognitive, social and sensory. Sensory enrichment stimulates animals’ ‘Flehmen Response’, which is a natural behaviour that allows creatures to access information carried through smell.
This type of enrichment also has health advantages including increasing fitness, building muscle and allowing the animals to interact with their environment.
Visitors can take part in the initiative by dropping off their sealed, unused perfumes at the resort’s Lodge Entrance between Christmas and the New Year. It’s an easy way to make a meaningful contribution to the wellbeing of the zoo’s animals while enjoying the festive fun at Chessington World of Adventures.
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