Our first-ever Animal Enrichment Workshop was a waving success!

From 7 to 9 July 2026, the Two Oceans Aquarium hosted our very first Animal Enrichment Workshop, bringing together staff, volunteers, and animal enthusiasts for three days of learning, building, and hands-on fun. The workshop was hosted by Aquarist Aytron King, who has a keen interest in enrichment, and focused on animal care and how we can better support the well-being of the animals at the Aquarium. 

Day one: A look back at zoo history

The workshop kicked off with a fascinating history lesson, tracing how zoos and aquariums have evolved over the years from spaces of animal captivity solely for human entertainment to hubs of conservation and education. This shift in purpose is exactly why enrichment matters so much today: It helps us replicate the wild habitats of the animals in our care, giving them opportunities to explore, problem-solve, maintain their natural instincts, and simply be animals. 

The five categories of enrichment

The teams also explored the SPIDER framework; a planning tool widely used in zoos and aquariums when designing enrichment activities. The name spells out the six steps of the process: Setting goals, Planning, Implementing, Documenting, Evaluating, and Readjusting. It gives animal care teams a simple way to plan enrichment, put it into action, keep track of how it went, and then refine it for next time. At its core, enrichment is about encouraging exercise, mental stimulation, and co-operative behaviour. 

Day two: Putting theory into practice

Day two moved from theory to hands-on learning. Participants were split into groups and tasked with designing an enrichment tool for a specific animal, including family favourites like octopus, zebra fish, and turtles. The catch? Everyone had to build their tools using the same simple materials: Fire hose, bungee tie, pool noodles, and hula hoops. It is amazing what a bit of creativity can do with such everyday items, and you would be surprised at just how many clever enrichment ideas came out of these humble materials. 

Size was one of the biggest factors groups had to consider, since a tool needs to be big enough or small enough to suit the animal it is designed for, so there is no risk of injury. The group that chose the small rays as their enrichment focus put this into practice. By wrapping a pool noodle around a hula hoop to keep it afloat, securing it with a bungee tie, and then attaching a ball filled with food, the rays could safely engage with the tool as it floated on the surface. 

Day three: Putting the tools to the test

On the final day, it was time to see the enrichment tools in action. Before anything was introduced to the animals, each tool was checked and approved by the animal keepers in charge of their respective exhibits, making sure everything was safe and suitable. 

With the green light given, participants got to watch as the tools were introduced to seahorses, octopus, zebra fish, turtles, and penguins. It was a huge success, with most of the animals engaging enthusiastically with the tools their new admirers had built for them. The keepers were just as thrilled, seeing first-hand the enrichment ideas the teams had put together and how well the animals responded to them. 

One standout moment came from the kelp forest fish. Their enrichment tool was made primarily from fire hose, braided into a square knot browser with food tucked into the open gaps. The fish engaged with the device eagerly, and within just 20 minutes, all the food had been emptied out.  

A first for Two Oceans Aquarium

This workshop was the first of its kind for the Two Oceans Aquarium, and what a way to start! More than 30 staff and volunteers took part, all gathering to learn more about the incredible world of animal enrichment. 

The workshop was a big win for the Aquarium, and the energy and enthusiasm from everyone involved made it clear that this will not be the last one. A second workshop could well be in the works, so watch this space!