Reflections

As an Australian and an exchange student from Sydney I figured I'd perhaps tackle the subject matter from an (Australian) endemic approach, therefore creating something for the enrichment of kangaroos (in the setting of joeys skipping within a certain enclosure).

Research

Preliminary approach was to google the endemic species of Australia. There are tons! I decided to take a brief look at one of the links provided at the top of my own google bubble at walkthroughindia

The list generated showcased a list of likely some of the more popular species as following: Kangaroos, Koalas, Echidna, Platypus, Wombat, Macrotis, Wallaby, Super Glider, Tiger Quoll, Cane Toad, Thorny Dragon, Inland Taipan, Tasmanian Devil, Goanna, Dingo

Nevertheless, I decided to follow up and learn a bit more on a semi-academic resource, Wikipedia about Australia and Fauna of Australia, where I learned that, technically, most of the species roaming the land down under are in fact endemic, making it truly unique with a wide range of species and animal classes.

Preliminary Ideation

From the more interesting points I have learned:

- Mention

○ Echidna being as if a porcupine

○ Platypus (didn't know about it)

○ Everybody loves wombats

○ Thorny Dragon - first time I'm seeing this and it looks amazzzing!

○ Dingos (particular saying Haram Dingo in relation to putting forbidden objects like tomato sauce on a kinda endemic form of Kebab for Australia known as an HSP, clearly a loanword from Arabic)

§ What's not here are Quokkas (very interesting animal)

□ What's very interesting is the distinction between Kangaroos and Wallabies (and that's what I'd like to focus on)

® Because they are essentially the same thing

◊ But wallabies are cuter

◊ There are also tree kangaroos

◊ Many marsupials exist: koalas, wombats etc....

I personally don't know too much about kangaroos and wallabies but I'd love to learn!

Also, a question: Does San Diego Zoo have kangaroos?

- They do!

§ Western Gray Kangaroos and Red-necked Wallabies!

Does Bronx Zoo have kangaroos?

- They do! ...kinda

○ Only a tree kangaroo and one kangaroo that is being treated

Questions about kangaroos:

- Behaviour of Kangaroos

○ What do they do?

○ Why do they fight?

§ How do they know how to use specific techniques?

- Differences between kangaroos

○ Do tree kangaroos and wallabies fight the same way?

○ How different is their behaviour?

Planet Earth: Technique to stay cool:

- Temperatures in Australia get extreme

○ Even at coast it gets quite uncomfortable

Distinct features of kangaroos:

- Hopping to move around

- Having a pouch (!!!) <- I'd like to recreate one

- Highly adaptable

- Don't consume much water

- Believed to have excellent hearing and smell

- Problems with eyesight

Research Resources: (still hatching)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammar_wallaby

Enrichment I

Tammar Wallaby

Tammar Wallabies, Kanagaroos and Wallaroos can move around the environment at quite fast speed. Some of them will naturally scour through tens of kilometers in search of food. In an enclosed space, that is technically a problem, therefore stimulating their natural senses may be an approach worth exploring, for the physical wellbeing of the animals themselves.

Nevertheless, as I understand it, San Diego's Safari Zoo already does have plenty of space. Still, more space could potentially be introduced and I was wondering whether a space that would be particularly set aside and its features physically and/or audio-visually augmented would be something that could introduce a bit of variety into the lives of wallabies but which could potentially extend onto other species. Considering that defining what enrichment is for animals and how exactly it might benefit them, I decided to approach the topic from two different perspectives.

Concept 1: Augmented Reality

What if there was an artificial space introduced, that has a projected environment of a jungle, north pole or any other? How would animals react to that, without actually being there? Would it enrich their life to any extent? If projecting environment was not an option, what about introducing a radically different lighting color? Could it potentially introduce any positive change to their behaviour? Would they want to visit it on their own? Most animals do not see the world as humans within the same frequency (visible) spectrum, although wallabies apparently are dichromats. What if there was a form of an exhibition showcased, would it generate interest? What form of art could stimulate wallabies to take interest? By introducing an empty space with a projector and a set of light reflecting of a series of mirrors and prisms, an environment could be built either with the use of static props such as rock and alike or with none, plane white space with a projected environment encompassing the entire area.

While I am unsure whether humans are allowed to freely interact with animals such as wallabies in zoos (they often are at a variety of sanctuaries across Australia), such a device could potentially lead to the animal's enrichment if adapted appropriately and perhaps also introduce an accommodating linkage between the animals and humans, by educating the sensory devices of the animals and how they respond to the environment, while still potentially generating some (unknown) form of enrichment for the wallabies. In the end, often humans equip their dwellings with a variety of objects and environments for their pets to thrive in an artificial way. Perhaps there is a way to do the same for species roaming wild or semi-domesticated?

Tammar Wallaby

Concept 2: Wallaby Spa

All this hopping all day! It must be exhausting!? What if, there was a way for the wallabies to really chill and rest in a more efficient, effective way. Let's draw a parallel from humans, there is a number of activities they will do to just enjoy a break. I assume in such case we don't differ that much from an ever-hopping wallaby but do we share the joy for a massage? Would wallabies enjoy a place to rest that was augmented in some ways?