Innovative feeding techniques

nanoboy

Well-Known Member
What are some of the more innovative/weird animal feeding techniques at zoos around the world?

For example, I read somewhere about a bus (in China?) that drags meat around a tiger (?) enclosure whilst patrons inside the bus get to watch. I also read about a tiger zoo in China (Harbin?) where patrons pay to see tigers being fed LIVE animals - you pay for the animal, $ = chicken, $$$$ = cow etc.

What are some of the more unorthodox feeding sessions out there?
(Orthodox - for me at least - is bird seed in a tray, and chunks of meat on the floor.)
 
There is a tiger park in China that also empties a trailer full of live cattle into a pasture full of tigers in front of guests watching in a bus. I believe there is a video on youtube of it.


 
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I've seen several zoos (Adelaide Zoo used to do this), where they have zip lines across their hunting dog enclosures which is used to propel meat at relatively high velocity through or around the enclosure so that the dogs need to chase it to get it.

Of course, there is the almost standard type of fake-termite mound for various termite and ant eating animals.

Melbourne zoo has a great Gorilla enrichment area where they are given sticks and need to move some food through a maze in order to get their treat - it's great in that the mazes are made of transparent perspex and visitors can sit and watch the gorillas from the other side.

Auckland Zoo put meat up a tree so that their tigers needed to climb to reach it.
 
I can't remember which Gorilla enclosure it is, but one has a herb garden that is kept under a grid so can only be grazed to a certain length. There are a few of those scattered around the enclousre and becuase they aren't fully eaten they constanly grow back.
 
Fascinating stuff.

I just saw the Youtube videos. Crazy.

Lee456, I am not sure I understand. Is it like special herbs that they like or something?
 
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