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Kerplunk

Lionesses
Type

Cognitive Enrichment

Animals

Animals with the capability to grasp and manipulate sticks

Problem Solving

Object Manipulation

Behaviors

Destruction

Why We Like It

This enrichment is fun for keepers and visitors to watch, and takes a good amount of effort on the animal's end to extract the sticks (unless you have apes...). The animal must work to pull out bunches of sticks before they're rewarded with large outpouring of food. This is a great mental and physical exercise for lots of animals.

Materials

  • PVC Pipe (small animals - 3" dia, large animals - 5"-7" dia)

  • PVC end cap to fit pipe

  • Eye bolt with locking nut and washer

  • PVC glue

  • Drill

  • Sticks

How to Make It

  1. Fasten the eye bolt to the PVC end cap by drilling a hole through the top of the end cap, threading the eye bolt through, and securing with a washer and locking nut

  2. Secure the end cap to the PVC pipe using PVC glue. Let dry.

  3. Drill various holes through the PVC pipe using a drill bit that will make large enough holes for your sticks to pass through (the size of the sticks you'll use will depend on the size of your animal)

  4. Clean the kerplunk

  5. Turn the Kerplunk upside-down and fill it with food (the larger pieces the better)

  6. Pass sticks through the holes of the kerplunk. Each stick should pass through two holes.

  7. Turn right side up and hang from the eye bolt

WildThink did not create and does not own any of the enrichment items shown on WildThink's enrichment database. Enrichment items are the property of their respective "sources", which can be found below the title of each enrichment item. WildThink is not responsible for any animal injuries or deaths that may occur whilst using enrichment found on WildThink's enrichment database. It is the responsibility of animal caretakers, managers, curators, and attending veterinarians to ensure that each enrichment item and the materials used to make the enrichment item are safe and suitable for an animal prior to use. WildThink is not liable for enrichment malfunctions.

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