Tortoise enrichment

Question
I am a student at Santa Fee Community College Teaching Zoo.  I am doing enrichments for several types of tortoises.  We usualy do the same kind of enrichments like rub downs, different fruits and vegetables, and greens.  I was wondering if you had any original ideas for enrichments?  We have galapagos, red foots, and burmease brown tortoises.  Thanks for your time.  Tessa

Answer
These are just off the top of my head things, please don't assume I know anything about zoo animal management, or working with the big tortoises!

- Rainfall. My redfoot enjoyed a nice, warm rain! Rigging a drizzle hose over a portion of the enclosure on hot days would be enough, I think.
- Compatable cagemates, like puppies or quail. As you know, some tortoises are pretty curious, and should be curious about a cagemate.
- Hiding food. Naturally these guys are not as agile as apes, but I'd bet that hiding food inside stuff, under things, overhead, in bushes, etc. would be fun.
- Climbing piles. My redfoot seemed to enjoy clambering over stuff and digging into things. Perhaps a brush pile or piles of leaves, etc.
- Caves, especially on hot days. Cool, dark places to hide out in- a simple box would work, but a barrel partiually buried at a slant would be better.

Lessee... peanut butter, maybe even a peanut-butter and dried fruits 'candy bars', fish in the bathwater...

OK, I think I'm tapped out for now.

Good luck!