Innovation Inquiry: The Cincinnati Zoo Challenge
The Inquiry to Innovation class was an interdisciplinary class which paired students with zoo staff and an experienced designer and architect to design enrichment for several species of zoo animal. Our team worked with the little penguins and senior aviculturist Cody Sowers to create a feeding trough system for the little penguins.
The Challenge
Little penguins are a more primitive species of penguin which live in Australia and New Zealand. Cincinnati Zoo has a notably large colony of little penguins. One of their largest problems is bumble foot, an inflammatory condition of the foot caused by the penguins walking on hard substrate or spending too much time on land. In the wild, little penguins spend most of their time swimming to catch fish. However, in captivity, getting penguins to swim has proved a challenge since they have no need for it- they're fed by zoo staff. Our task was to prevent bumble foot and promote more natural swimming habits.
The Design
The concept was a penguin feeding trough which would use a current to circulate fish through the system, mimicking fish swimming and encouraging natural swimming and hunting behaviors. Originally, the design was to be underwater to promote diving. However, through collaborative work with zoo enrichment designers and engineering and design students, this was redesigned to be an above-ground apparatus with the current and fish level to the surrounding water's surface. It was kept at the proper level above water by pool noodles sewn into fire hose. There is a pump with tubing creating the current to push the fish.
The Future
The trough was first introduced with no pump and no fish to gradually familiarize the penguins with the apparatus alone first. The penguins were incredibly receptive to the device when it was first introduced to their habitat. They stood on the shore to investigate and some even swam closer to investigate. The keepers discussed the possibility of placing the trough into the penguins' indoor enclosure as well to get them used to feeding from it. For the future, zoo staff will continue to introduce elements such as the pump and fish to the device gradually. This will ensure that the primitive penguins are not frightened by the sudden changes. I, as well as the students I worked with, look forward to seeing how the penguins will continue to interact with the trough.