The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo spends about $630,000 a year on food for its 2,000 animals, with food shipped in from all over the world.
Feeding time at the Cleveland ZooAnimals, just like people, adhere to different diets. Some are carnivores, only interested in meat, and others are herbivores that prefer fruits and vegetables. Insectivores eat insects, and omnivores check the “all of the above” option on the menu.for its 2,000 animals, with food shipped in from all over the world.
Many of the carnivores rely on raw meat, including beef, horse, or chicken. Additionally, whole prey, rabbits, and mice are added to the mix to provide the necessary blend of muscle, bone, organs, fur, and skin in their diet. Whole prey is delivered to the zoo humanely euthanized and fresh, frozen immediately before delivery. No whole prey is fed to animals alive, an industry standard.
For carnivores that eat fish, the regular rotation is herring, capelin, mackerel, and sardines, but supply depends on the fishing season and time of year. Sometimes, the quality of fish isn’t up to standard. In the past, capelin delivered near the end of the fishing season was mushy, forcing zoo officials to switch from one region to another or try different types of fish altogether.
Fruits and vegetables are the bulk of the food the zoo orders for its animals, with yams, apples, carrots, romaine lettuce, green beans, hay, bananas, and endive making up 9 of the top 10 foods the zoo purchases by quantity. The most well-known insectivore may be the giant anteater - it’s right in the name - and anyone who has had amphibians or reptiles as a pet knows that geckos and frogs also love their bugs. However, even some creepy crawlers, like tarantulas and assassin bugs, will eat insects.
It’s worth mentioning that some insectivores don’t necessarily just eat bugs. Insectivores will also eat some fruits. While the anteater can consume 35,000 ants a day, they also have a particular affection for avocados.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
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