FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2020

PORT CLINTON, Ohio, November 12, 2020, animal residents at African Safari Wildlife Park have enjoyed weeks of fall-themed enrichment thanks to community donations and local vendors, including Walmart (Fremont) and Kroger (Port Clinton and Sandusky).

Local farms and grocery vendors, such as Kroger in both Port Clinton and Sandusky, have graciously donated hundreds of pounds of pumpkins to African Safari to use in their animal enrichment program. Enrichment is a way that Animal Care Staff give animals the opportunity to express their natural behaviors. It can come in many forms, such as a new food added to their diet, a new object in their environment, a smell (perfume), or a puzzle feeder.

“We are so grateful to the members of our community and local vendors like Walmart and Kroger for thinking of us and the animals,” said African Safari Wildlife Park Director, Kelsey Keller. “Pumpkins are a healthy and fun treat for the animals that our Animal Care Staff love to use in our daily enrichment program. Plus, watching the animals with the pumpkins enriches the Staff as well – all of the animals have a different way of interacting with the pumpkins.”

At this time, the Park is no longer accepting pumpkin donations, but would like to thank those who have reached out wishing to donate.

Visitors to the Park in the upcoming days and weeks can see the animals in the Drive-Thru eating, nosing around, and possibly smashing their pumpkins. The Park encourages visitors with photos to use the hashtags #PumpkinPaloozaASWP and #AfricanSafariPumpkins on social media.