September 15, 2008 Click on image to enlarge Start your school holidays off with a visit to Taronga Western Plains Zoo and see the big cats receive special enrichment feeds over the October long weekend. Visitors will be able to watch a special enrichment feed each day of the weekend with the African Lions receiving their meaty treats on Saturday 4 and Monday 6 October while the Sumatran Tiger will receive his enrichment item on Sunday 5 October 2008. "The big cat feeds are always a hit with the visitors and make for a great sight to see one of our Sumatran Tiger's scale a 6 metre pole for his meat or to watch the African Lions wrestle with meat on a bungee cord," said keeper Todd Jenkinson. "The feeds will be held once daily over the long weekend providing a great opportunity for the public to see these big cats use some of their natural hunting behaviours," said Todd. In addition to the big cat feeds over the October Long Weekend the Zoo will have a range of animal enrichment feeds throughout the school holidays for people to enjoy. "Over the NSW school holiday period keepers will be providing some of the animals with enrichment items such as piñatas filled with their favourite foods to assist in stimulating the animals both physically and mentally," said Todd. "Keepers provide novel objects to keep the animals interested and active in their environments.  All of these items are designed to encourage and stimulate the animals' natural skills and behaviours - from hunting and exploring to puzzle solving," said Todd. There will be lots for the family to see and do during the school holidays at the Zoo, with a full daily schedule of keeper activities, special behind the scenes encounters and tours as well as fun activity sheets and a holiday trail for children to participate in. Taronga Western Plains Zoo is located in Dubbo in Central Western NSW.  The Zoo is open everyday of the year from 9.00am to 4.00pm (exit gates close at 5.00pm). For more information about the Zoo contact 02 6881 1400 or visit www.taronga.org.au. For more information contact Media Relations:Ph: +61 2 6881 1413 Fax: +61 2 6884 1722 Email: wpz@zoo.nsw.gov.au