Amur tiger Ash enjoys snow sculpture enrichment
There’s toys, there’s snow, and there’s enrichment – and then there’s what Amur tiger Ash got to enjoy on Monday.
It was next-level tiger joy – the kind of surprise that sets a new bar for engaging our animals!
Talented sculptor Eric Jones created a large snow sculpture depicting a sika deer inside our Amur tiger habitat for Ash to enjoy — and eventually take down.
Jones, whose incredible sculptures have become well-known in Western New York, took roughly to create the masterpiece — and it took Ash far fewer minutes to take it down in an exciting start to the Buffalo Zoo’s Polar Bear Days.
Jones began constructing the sculpture around 8 a.m. Monday, starting out with a large block of snow and using sculpting tools and even shovels to shape the deer.
Once the deer took its form, the coloring and detailing process began. Jones used Gatorade to color the deer tan, and for the final touches, Buffalo Zoo keepers provided him with chunks of meat consistent with Ash’s diet to hide within the sculpture.
Once the sculpture was completed, it was time for Ash to check it out herself.
Ash wasted no time getting an up close look, walking over almost immediately to the snow deer. After just a few minutes of inspection, she was ready for action.
Ash jumped up onto the deer’s back and pawed at the head, knocking it clean off the sculpture! Moments later, the body of the sculpture was pushed over as she dug for the meat treat inside the snow — all to the delight of dozens of Zoo visitors!
While this display was certainly an exciting one, it’s also beneficial enrichment for Ash. A sizable snow sculpture like this not only provides something fun and new for her to experience, but it also helps replicate natural behaviors, as if she was hunting down prey in the wild.
In this case, the “prey in the wild” part is quite accurate! Sika deer are native to Eastern Asia and are common prey for Amur tigers, who also call the region home.
While this snow sculpture was a very special enrichment treat for Ash, you’ll notice other large enrichment items like barrels that many of our larger carnivore animals use for similar effect in their habitats.
The snow sculpture was just one highlight of Polar Bear Days, which continues on Thursday and Friday with $5 off Buffalo Zoo admission, plenty of keeper talks, daily activities and more!
Don’t miss out on the final two days of fun, and support polar bears and conservation in the process! Get your tickets at the gate or online here.
