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Coronavirus In Minnesota: MN Zoo Shares Educational Videos About Animals

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- While the Minnesota Zoo is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff decided to let some of the animals - who are originally from opposite sides of the globe - meet each other.

In a video shared on their Facebook page, Zookeeper Jessica and Zookeeper Dan introduced a tamandua named Cricket to a group of African penguins. Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, originate in South America.

"A huge part of our animal's care on a day-to-day basis is enrichment," said Jessica. "What that means is that we want to make sure that they are stimulated both physically and mentally."

Cricket The Tamandua Meets The Penguins

Here's your daily dose of cuteness from the Minnesota Zoo! Zookeeper Jessica and Zookeeper Dan introduced Cricket, the tamandua to the African penguins at their habitat. Besides being adorable, this video also is packed with lots of educational information about tamanduas! Did you know they use their tails to help them climb trees? Learn about that cool trick and more in this video. #ClosedButStillCaring #BringingTheZooToYou #WeNeedNature #MNZoo #NatureAtTheZoo

Posted by Minnesota Zoo on Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Apart from sharing tidbits about the zoo's animals, keepers are also showing how the animals get trained.

In one video, zookeepers train an Alaskan brown bear using the "husbandry training" method.

You can find more videos of the animals at the Minnesota Zoo here.

 

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