A Trip to the Zoo for Daisy Troop 941

Crestview Preparatory School of La Cañada Flintridge, Kindergarten Daisy Troop 941 recently took part in an exciting project with the L.A. Zoo coordinated through Crestview parent Cathleen Cox, Ph.D., who heads the Zoo’s research and enrichment programs.

In order to “spice up” the lives of predatory animals, the program utilizes specially constructed piñatas resemble potential prey which are filled with their normal diet.

The local girls used brown paper and flour glue to construct piñatas and then decorated them with non-toxic tempra paint to resemble zebras and ostrich eggs for the lions. At the zoo, Laurie Stites, enrichment volunteer, sprayed each piñata with animal scent and filled some with meat before placing them in the exhibit. The Daisies then witnessed the lions as they came into the exhibit and exuberantly “attacked” their tasty treats.

The girls learned this is one part of the Zoo’s enrichment program, which aims to provide zoo animals with surroundings that facilitate natural behavior.lyo-daisytroop941.0622.-BPhotoInfo1H1S722P20060622j14v3pnc(LA)AT THE ZOO ? Daisy Troop 941 visit the LA Zoo. From left, Cambria Cox-Bain, Emily Baker, Penelope Boone, Lindsey Uteda, Lauren Dundee, Sophia LePera, Taryn Harris, Katrina Bortfeld, Kaitlyn Lee and Raichelle Dunn.