EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — The El Paso Zoo is inviting the community to watch Taj, the zoo’s greater one-horned rhino, predict the winner of the upcoming World Cup match between Spain and Argentina.
As part of the zoo’s animal enrichment program, Taj will make his prediction on Saturday by choosing between two soccer-ball-shaped piñatas, one representing Spain and the other representing Argentina.
Zoo officials said both piñatas will be filled with identical treats and placed by zookeepers, with Taj’s choice determining his match prediction.
According to the El Paso Zoo, it will be the first time Taj has predicted the outcome of a World Cup match.
“World Cup prediction enrichment gives our animals a fun and engaging opportunity to stay physically active while stimulating their natural curiosity and problem-solving behaviors,” said El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens Director Gary Lunsford. “In the wild, animals spend much of their day foraging and exploring for food. Providing enrichment activities that encourage those same natural behaviors is an important part of ensuring their overall health and well-being.”
The zoo said the prediction is one of many enrichment activities provided to animals each day, as it will help promote the well-being of animals and support their natural behaviors.
Visitors are encouraged to wear their favorite team’s jersey or game-day attire and cheer Taj on as he makes his prediction.
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