Could High-Tech Toys Help Animals Act More Wild?

In the past year, the Stone Zoo in Massachusetts has introduced several captive animals to technology-based toys and devices, aiming to enhance their well-being and encourage more wild-like behavior. The zoo is collaborating with Rébecca Kleinberger, an engineer and computer scientist at Northeastern University, to explore the potential of technology in the lives of captive animals.

Hudson, a 10-year-old arctic fox, was introduced to a programmable puzzle box that dispenses kibble when activated. When his keepers approached his enclosure, Hudson quickly recognized their presence and engaged with the puzzle feeder, demonstrating his interest and ability to manipulate the device. Kleinberger's team has also introduced two black bears to a motion-sensitive bubble machine, a family of colobus monkeys to an interactive cabinet of mirrors, and other animals to various technological enrichment tools.

Implementing technology in animal care may appear artificial at first, but it could potentially help captive animals behave more in line with their natural instincts. The unpredictability of the natural world, where animals face shifting circumstances and dangers, is diminished in captivity. However, technology can offer animals a degree of control over their environment, which can be beneficial.

A wobbly chew toy might entertain a fox for a few minutes, but it lacks the adaptability and shifting schedule of a teched-up puzzle feeder. Similarly, a device that allows a hyacinth macaw named Sampson to control his own playlist not only provides entertainment but also enables the bird to make the technology his own. Determining the benefits of technology for animals is a process of trial and error, with researchers and keepers learning from the animals' responses to different devices.