At the Zoo, our staff in the Animal Food and Nutrition Center work hard to make sure the animals eat well. It takes as many as 50 man hours per day to prepare the bulk foods and special diets needed throughout the Saint Louis Zoo. We use large mixing machines and food choppers to help prepare food quickly and efficiently. All food is accurately weighed and recorded before it's delivered to the animal buildings, and inventory is tracked by computer. The Nutrition Center keepers start their day at 6 a.m. in order to have all the food delivered by the time the animal keepers arrive to begin their daily routine. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, the food must be delivered 365 days a year. Our three Nutrition Center keepers and one nutritionist are dedicated to doing their part to keep all of the animals at the Zoo healthy and fit! Dr. Ellen Dierenfeld, the Zoo's nutritionist, first determines the nutritional needs of each animal. She determines how much protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals each animal needs, and which foods best provide these nutrients. She works closely with curators, keepers and veterinarians, to make sure our animals are eating healthy. The Nutrition Center keepers then take those recommendations and become personal chefs, packaging and delivering the food to the animal keepers who in turn prepare meals for individual animals. Each morning, bear keepers receive 80 pounds of fresh food, the Bird House gets 80 pounds of fruit and vegetables, and the Herpetarium is sent 15 pounds of reptile salad - just to name a few! Orthwein Animal Nutrition CenterThe new William R. Orthwein, Jr. & Laura Rand Orthwein Animal Nutrition Center provides over 7,500 square feet for food preparation, cold and dry storage in giant walk-in coolers and oversized cupboards, plus a loading dock for large packages - like 15 tons of herring! This new building also includes a fully equipped laboratory, larger work space and library for further nutritional studies. Staff are able to analyze and research the most appropriate diet for each species and continue to participate and spearhead in studies that further the science of nutrition. The new building is located on the River's Edge path. Stop by to peer in the large windows and see all that it takes to keep our animals well fed! Chow Down!Check out these animal diets to find out more information about what some of our Zoo animals are fed: Learn how animals in the wild eat - including their food chains, predator/prey relationships and feeding strategies:
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