Previously, we interviewed Enrique Sánchez, who told us about the daily tasks the staff carry out at the park, but he also told us about other little-known activities and anecdotes from the park.
At Terra Natura Benidorm, a team of veterinary surgeons is responsible for surgical procedures in a large operating theatre installed at the park. Recently, a fatty lump was successfully removed from one of the dromedaries.
The Keepers also like to be present when the animals need surgery, demonstrating the bond they have established with the animals in their care, an example of this, was when one of the keepers who, despite being on holiday at the time, wanted to attend the surgical procedure and be there when the animal in their care recovered.
The park has a large kitchen where three people work daily on food preparation. There are four or five cold storage facilities, where all kinds of raw meat, grain, and fruit are kept, ensuring optimal care and a balanced diet for each animal’s requirements.
Enrique Sanchez relates some anecdotes about the animals at the park, for example, the tigers and other felines come out to face the waiting public in the mornings but are fiercely protective of their privacy, preferring to feed in their shelter.
The Elephants or pachyderms often get agitated and anxious, but relax when classical music is played to them, so they are not so different from us humans!
Elephants are a fascinating species. In captivity, their nails grow rapidly and require regular trimming, as they do not cover the average 60 kilometres per day that wild pachyderms do. As a result, keepers need to give them a manicure every two weeks. To perform this safely, the elephants are positioned behind a barrier, with one foot extended. This setup creates a calm environment and allows the trimming to be done safely.
Enrique Sánchez also highlighted their intelligence and awareness of their surroundings, especially in positive situations. This awareness enables them to cooperate with caretakers and veterinary staff during examinations and procedures. In this case, it involves an ear prick, which is initially difficult to perform with most of the park’s species.
Things are always busy at Terra Natura Benidorm and the park is constantly evolving.
One of the most recent developments has been the installation of a virtual reality system , enabling visitors to interact with the animals in 3D. The park becomes the first natural environment to implement this technology which visitors can access from the official website, www.terranatura.com and then by downloading the Kali program, named after one of the tiger cubs born at Terra Natura a few months ago. This allows the users to observe the growth of a virtual animal, as well as other experiences, to create a virtual zoo in their homes.
