Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Animal Care staff faces the challenge of caring for thousands of different animals -- from gigantic African elephants to tiny elephant shrews -- on a daily basis.

The Zoo’s annual Creature Comforts event is your chance to see some of the more unique “enrichment” activities keepers use to enhance the lives of the animals and keep them healthy both mentally and physically.

Creature Comfort activities are scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, August 11. Past demonstrations have included papier-mache prey for predators to pounce on, a “beehive” stuffed with treats on a bungee cord for the sloth bear and a puzzle feeder for the octopus to solve. Check clemetzoo.com closer to the day of the event for a more detailed schedule of activities.

During Creature Comforts visitors can also make an enrichment toy for their pets at home, learn about responsible pet care and see some animals eye to eye with Get Close encounters. The live animal shows in the Savanna Theater and the Ballarat Theatre also will be enrichment themed for the day.

Kids can participate in their own “enrichment” activities on a wellness walk through the Zoo. Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital will have several wellness stations set up throughout the Zoo where kids will be encouraged to do some short exercises and earn the chance to win prizes, including a one year family membership to the Zoo.

Northeast Ohio’s most-visited year-round attraction, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with hours extended to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is $12.25 per person, $8.25 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children younger than 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 90 and 480.

To learn more, visit clemetzoo.com or call (216) 661-6500.