Blog

Complex Carnivores: New Feeding Pole Encourages Natural Hunting Behaviors

At the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, caretakers strive to encourage the natural behaviors of the animals in their care through enrichment. Enrichment is the action of improving or enhancing the quality of something. This can be accomplished in a multitude of ways, from introducing unfamiliar scents that encourage an animal’s sense of smell to installing climbing structures that encourage an animal’s climbing skills. Other forms of enrichment encourage natural feeding... Read More

Enrichment African painted dogs Lions Lion Overlook Carcass Feeding Enrichment Pole

Pups in Training: OKC Zoo’s African Painted Dogs Receive Voluntary Hand Injections

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is home to a pack of five African Painted dogs, consisting of our matriarch, Xena, 9, her mate, Dojo, 9, and their three offspring Tex, Back Slash and Spot, who are four years old. All of the Zoo’s painted dogs are involved in a behavioral training program here at the Zoo that allows caretakers to train new behaviors through positive reinforcement. Training works to mentally stimulate the pack, as well as present them with the opportunity to... Read More

African painted dogs Animal Care OKC ZOO animal training

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Notes from the Field: Jennifer D'Agostino Embarks on Mission to Save Painted Dogs

Starting in 2017, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden partnered with the Painted Dog Research Trust (PDRT) to support its efforts to conserve the endangered African painted dog. Dr. Greg Rasmussen, PDRT founder and executive director, has worked for almost two decades protecting and studying the species, with populations totaling fewer than 7,000 in the wild. An essential part of the Zoo’s ongoing commitment to the PDRT includes sending staff members to Zimbabwe annually to... Read More

at Thursday, December 5, 2019

Veterinary Science African painted dogs Fieldwork Zimbabwe Painted Dog Research Trust Field Conservation Notes from the Field

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Notes from the Field: Sabrina Heise Shares Reflections from Zimbabwe

Starting in 2017, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden partnered with the Painted Dog Research Trust (PDRT) to support its efforts to conserve the endangered African painted dog. Dr. Greg Rasmussen, PDRT founder and executive director, has worked for almost two decades protecting and studying the species, with populations totaling fewer than 7,000 in the wild. An essential part of the Zoo’s ongoing commitment to the PDRT includes sending staff members to Zimbabwe annually to... Read More

at Tuesday, December 3, 2019

African painted dogs Painted Dog Research Trust Field Conservation Notes from the Field Zimbabwe Fieldwork

Thursday, April 4, 2019

African Painted Dog Conservation Event a Success

Thanks to Fassler Hall and to the generosity of Oklahoma City Zoo fans, the Painted Dog Research Trust (PDRT) raised $1,000 for African painted dog conservation! Dr. Greg Rasmussen, director of the PDRT, was on-hand for "PAWS for a Cause" at Fassler Hall in Oklahoma City on Thursday, March 28. Fassler donated 20% of sales to PDRT from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This generated $1,000 for the conservation organization. Since 2016, the Oklahoma City Zoo has partnered with the... Read More

at Thursday, April 4, 2019

African painted dogs Global Conservation Efforts Oklahoma City Zoo Conservation Painted Dog Research Trust

Category: African painted dogs