The Denver Zoo's polar bears responded well to the addition of the shipwreck, according to zoo staff. (Dave Parsons | The Denver Zoo)
(May 2, 2008) In his role as a Denver Zoo Planning Intern, Jeramy Boik, MA candidate in Landscape Architecture, managed the shipwreck structure project that was added to the zoo’s polar bear habitat this week. The $23,000 two-part shipwreck is constructed of steel and all-natural woods and finishes. Zoo staff’s expectations were exceeded when all four resident bears (Frosty, Voda, Olaf and Soosha) were given access to the ship for the first time. They spent a great deal of time exploring the new addition to their home, looking for hidden treats, climbing up to the top of the ship and playing with the attached balls and ropes. “The shipwreck is a great way to stimulate natural behaviors in the bears,” says Denver Zoo Manager of Behavior Programs Emily Insalaco. “We are conducting some formal observations, and so far, since the shipwreck was installed, not only have we seen more of some behaviors such as foraging for food, digging and manipulating objects, but we have also seen more variety of behaviors, including vocalizing and a bouncing behavior that we usually only see them do on ice or with favorite toys.” Landscape Architecture lecturer George Pond is Vice President for Planning and Capitol Projects at the Denver Zoo.
Update August 14, 2008: Jeramy graduated in the spring and has been hired as Design Coordinator at the Denver Zoo. He is now working on elephant feeders, updating a nocturnal exhibit for aye-ayes, and pre-construction preparations for the new Asian Tropics exhibit.