With the summer in swing, everyone is looking to escape from the heat, including our animal counterparts. As this video shows, one precious armadillo is trying to cool off using a splash pad, and it is totally adorable!
This armadillo, who goes by the name of Chip, just loves hanging out on his splash pad to escape the heat of a sweltering summer day.
Well, wasn’t that just the cutest video? Chip the armadillo is about as happy as a clam getting to play on his splash pad. And it’s lucky for him, too, because some animals have to share their splash pads.
As this video’s captioned notes, this mind-bogglingly cute activity is a prime example of “animal enrichment in action.” For those who are unfamiliar with animal enrichment, the caption explains it.
Related: Potbelly Pig’s Pure Joy Over Experiencing Splash Pad Is Giving Us the Feels
Enrichment is an activity that can stimulate the animals’ natural behaviors and thus keep them physically and mentally engaged.
As for Chip, splashing around on his splash pad mimics the type of water play and foraging that he would do if he were out in the wild.
Why Enrichment Matters
Beyond simply being cute or fun, proper enrichment is essential for animals to live the best lives. It is an important part of their welfare, especially when they are living in captivity.
Places like the Tallahassee Museum use enrichment activities to help rescued wildlife thrive. These thriving animals can then go on to serve as “ambassadors for their species in the wild by encouraging natural behaviors,” according to this video’s caption.
Additionally, this is important because being able to watch these adorable enrichment activities plays an important role in helping local communities connect to and understand wildlife.
So, animal enrichment activities can be just as enriching for the humans who enjoy watching and learning about animals.
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