Animal Diaries Archive

Bottle theft

25 August 2006

Last week in our Animal Diaries we introduced you to the frenzy of Kids Zoo bottle feeding, a busy experience for keepers and animals alike! Now, this week, we thought we’d take you in for a closer look at one of the cheekier aspects of bottle time.

For you see, when the feeding times come around, there’s a bit of a game that always goes on… the ‘who can get the most milk’ game! Despite the careful pains we go to in making sure each animal has exactly the right amount, there are always some who try to get more. These babies tend to become quite notorious when it comes to snatching bottles, so we always have to keep on top of their tricks and wily ways.

A firm favourite method is the ‘passive aggressive’ trick, that our little kids Lincoln and Sammy have perfected. They simply have to sidle up against any of their penmates currently drinking a bottle, and lean on them with gradually increasing strength! Slowly but surely, they press their own little face closer and closer and closer, and as soon as an opportunity comes up (like their ‘victim’ taking a breath!) they’ll make the lunge to latch onto the bottle. More popular amongst the bigger, less patient animals is the ‘bump and steal’ method, which simply involves sneaking their way underneath the other animal, and then quickly bumping them upwards and out of the way, leaving the bottle free for the taking.

Naturally, we keepers always have our eyes on what’s going on and are quick to sort things out if any of these ‘bottle thieves’ are successful! But you can appreciate just how well adapted these little critters are to making the most of any situation. After all, out in the wild it sure pays to get big and strong as quickly as possible, to lessen your chances of becoming a quick meal… ‘survival of the fittest’ starts early. Fortunately, Kids Zoo works with more of an ‘equal opportunity’ philosophy, and we work hard to make sure each and every baby gets their fair share!