Coatis soccer enrichment

Soccer-themed behaviour enrichment at Johannesburg Zoo continues. Every Friday until June 4, 2010, zoo animals will be playing with balls of different sizes and shapes to celebrate the forthcoming FIFA Soccer World Cup spectacle.

This week, a family of Coatis will do their tricks. The furry friends will be enticed to play with boomer and papier-mâché balls filled with mince meat and grapes, as this is their favourite food. Coatis will be chirping, snorting or grunting to show excitement. These curious fury friends will be rolling and tossing balls up and down trying to get hold of their favourite treats.

The zoo has 9 coatis, consisting of 1 male and 8 females. The oldest of the Coatis are two females of the age of 8 born in the wild. There other Coatis were born in captivity at the zoo. Coatis are found in forest areas, they are omnivorous eating fruits, invertebrates and other small animals. Females live in large groups, called bands consisting of 15-30 animals. Males are solitary and only join the band during mating season.

Following which the females will chase him away after the mating season. Gestation period is 77 days and females gives birth to 2-4 young at a time. When young males reach maturity they live the band. Coatis communicate their intentions or moods with chirping, snorting or grunting sounds. These cute and inquisitive animals can live up to 14 years in zoos.

The programme has been exciting for zoo staff, visitors and the animals. All matches have been unique with lions attacking its attacking their opponents before tackling the ball! Animals get enough exercise at the end of each session.
Session takes approximately 30 minutes and there are still 8 sessions left.

Johannesburg Zoo prides itself on its husbandry practices and believes that the programme adds to the quality of life of our animals. Behaviour enrichment is not an event but a way of life for our animals!

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Coatis soccer enrichment.