Scrum and play - converting old rugby balls into new enrichment!

Inspired by the news of old Christmas trees being given to various zoos after Christmas for food, play and enrichment, Milton Keynes Rugby Club reached out to the team at the Park to recycle and repurpose some of their old and soon to be replaced rugby balls as tools for animal enrichment.

A rugby ball doesn’t last much beyond a season of hard and regular use, and with over 400 balls ‘in play’ at any one time across the Club the balls need replacing regularly. Normally they would go into the bin for disposal, but the Club approached Woburn to see if there would be any use for a quantity of balls to be repurposed as play, enrichment or feeding items for the various animals that live in the Park.

Following fantastic fundraising efforts, MKRUFC recently purchased 400 replacement balls ready for the start of the new season from September, and an initial batch of 50 old rugby balls were donated to the Safari Park residents.

Mark Taylor, Vice Chair of Milton Keynes Rugby Club commented ‘We know a number of our members and their families use the Safari Park to enjoy the fabulous animals. It made total sense, after seeing the Christmas trees being re-used elsewhere.

This is a great way for us to share our old Rugby balls with our friends at Woburn, and for them to use their expertise on how best to use them with their animals.

Anything we can do to improve sustainability at the club from using LED lighting, to lower utility bills and recycling old kit all helps both the club and the environment, and we are really focussed on that. It is also great to know we can help the Safari Park keep their animals entertained and even more delighted to see that the Lemurs, sporting our club colours, are the earliest adopters!’ 

Catherine Doherty, Deputy Head of Animal Encounters at Woburn Safari Park said: ‘We’re really grateful to the Club and its members for their kind donation of rugby balls.

Enrichment plays a big part in the lives of the animals at the Park and although the types of activities vary, every form is designed to keep the animals minds and bodies active and to help the animals engage their natural instincts.

The rugby balls could be coated in different scents and be hidden or buried around the enclosures, used to hide food or delicious treats, become part of a more elaborate system for bigger group to work together - or simply be used to chase about and play! Our Keepers have some fantastic ideas, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with!’

Scrum and see for yourself...!

Look out for the balls being used in the reserves and enclosures at Woburn throughout the summer!