Over the last six months, the enclosures at Hanoi Zoo have been improved – ensuring better lives for its resident animals.

The programme, carried out by international experts with support from Animals Asia and Change for Animals Foundation, focuses on providing stimulation for the animals, and has successfully fit 14 enclosures with a series of enrichment items.

Primates, clouded leopards, moon bears and tigers have all benefited from the enrichment provided by volunteers Matt Coker and Shane Fox from New Zealand and previously Erin Ivory from the US. The volunteers managed to raise US$4,000 to fund the programme with Animals Asia providing further logistical assistance and paying volunteers’ costs.

Matt Coker said:

“The project has been very successful. It’s fantastic to see the difference enrichment makes to the lives of these animals. We’ve been able to reduce aggression among the moon bears, provide quiet spaces for the clouded leopard and plenty of opportunities for the macaques to have fun.

“Working in a developing country can be difficult, but it was great to see some of the zoo staff rise to the challenge with a genuine passion and willingness to learn. They are now ready to teach others what they’ve learned.”

Animals Asia’s Animal Welfare Director Dave Neale said:

“Matt and Shane have done an excellent job, continuing the work that Erin Ivory started earlier in the year. There are already very real improvements on the ground, but there could also be much to come from this project.

“Many zoo staff have learnt how to create and maintain enrichment items and are beginning to see the value of it. Having witnessed affordable and achievable ways to improve the mental and physical health of animals at their facilities, it’s hoped that staff will take the initiative and implement future changes themselves.”

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