Pet Connections Visits the Seneca Park Zoo

This past December, participants from the Pet Connection program visited the Seneca Park Zoo. Despite the cold and snowy weather, participants were able to see each enclosure at the zoo. We were also provided with a tour of the zoo and an explanation on how clickers are used with training the animals. 

Clicker training is the use of a small mechanism that makes a clicking sound to reinforce a behavior. For example, the meerkats have been trained to go through a small door when they hear the clicker so their food can be placed safely in their enclosure. We also learned that larger animals, such as rhinoceroses, have names used by the public and names used in private for training purposes.

We also visited the Eco Center, where participants were able to learn some facts about snakes and got to touch the skins of various snakes. Did you know that snakes have vertebrae that extend from skull to the tip of their tail? Animals like the lions were also a “big” hit. We were able to get up close and personal with them as they sat on the heated rocks near the windows. Afterwards, we stopped by the animal hospital to see some of the equipment available for sick animals and visit the snow leopards.

We are all very excited to visit the zoo again soon and continue learning about different animals.