Creating a Thunderstorm for Insect Enrichment

How does a man-made thunderstorm benefit insects’ lives? Animal enrichment is when zookeepers create conditions that mimic challenges that creatures would face in the wild, but without all the risks. In this video, Museum Educator Jason shows us how jungle nymphs and thorny devil walking sticks express natural behaviors when subjected to an artificial thunderstorm. The insects sway like branches in the wind, and when the storm is over, they use the warm, humid environment with moist soil to lay their eggs. But these weather patterns in the wild are being disrupted by climate change, leaving stick insects vulnerable.