Hogle Zoo animals to feast on Thanksgiving

Hogle Zoo will celebrate Thanksgiving this year with the annual "Feast with the Beasts" Thursday, Nov. 26, 9 a.m. to noon.

Visitors will be able to see many zoo animals, from black bears to tigers, tearing into tasty meals. Baby elephant Zuri will receive heaping helpings of pumpkin squash surprises.

Thanksgiving is a special time to offer the animals some extra treats that also serve as enrichment, which keeps animals mentally stimulated and encourages natural hunting and foraging behaviors. Enrichment can be anything from meat hidden inside a turkey-shaped pinata to a layered pumpkin "pie," as long as it promotes the animals' expression of natural behavior.

According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, enrichment is an essential part of keeping animals mentally healthy by providing them something new each day.

For more information go to www.hoglezoo.org.