On June 16 the approximately 4,000 furry, feathered, scaly and finned residents of the Denver Zoo will host a crowd of well-dressed visitors, who have purchased tickets to "Do at the Zoo" to help ensure that the aforementioned residents continue to have a well-stocked larder of special dietary needs throughout the year: more than 18,000 pounds a week, according to zoo public relations manager Sean Andersen-Vie.
Examples: produce alone --; 4,400 pounds a week --; as much as possible sourced locally; commercial pellets and bagged feed --; 2,000 pounds a week; fish, meat, miscellaneous --; 2,800 pounds; hay --; 9,000 pounds (fluctuates seasonally). Special bamboo for the red pandas is grown and purchased; several types of bugs are stocked; krill, a tiny crustacean, gives the flamingos their beautiful color --; and probably the weirdest menu item is bovine blood for the vampire bats, zoo nutritionist Jennifer Parsons said. Elephants alone eat 400 pounds of grass hay a day and the great apes receive 80 pounds of green. The Avian Propagation Center and Bird World creatures eat about 4,000 mealworms a day, while seals and sea lions go through 110 pounds of fish and polar bears munch on another 20 pounds.
Guests will benefit from the expertise of more than 60 restaurant chefs, while the needs of the assorted critters are planned and provided by Parsons, the special zoo nutritionist, and the team of caretakers, who are "really in tune" with each individual. Parsons is in a relatively new field and is one of only about 30 in the U.S., she said. Her Denver position is new. She studied animal science and zoology, she said, with a master's degree necessary.
She previously worked at the San Diego Zoo, which is about twice the size of Denver's. About 25 zoos have full-time nutritionists, she said, and she compares notes with her colleagues regularly, as well as employees at zoos in the U.K., Berlin and Australia. There are annual conferences, which help, she said. Sometimes, a new-to-the-collection species arrives on the scene and she consults with a specialist who has cared for it, as she does when animals are transferred in from another zoo, and may need transitional treatment, even though the zoo has a feeding program in place for that particular species. Each individual has careful records kept about its needs and likes and dislikes.
Animals' needs change seasonally, Parsons said, including special needs when pregnant and nursing babies --; and as they age. The aim when possible is to encourage animals to forage for their food as they might in the wild. Some will be supplied with fresh tree limbs to munch on and parents teach their young what to do in general. "We need to stimulate their minds. You don't see them pacing."
She makes daily morning rounds with caretakers and veterinarians --; "much as a dietiTian would in a hospital" to check on her charges. Her most difficult challenge is to keep a constant supply of fresh vegetation and she is trying to source more locally.
Signage on animal cages and enclosures tell a bit about what each specimen eats, Parsons said. This topic is discussed in presentations for zoo visitors and the Nutrition Department is included in educational tours.
"And we have overnight camps for kids," she added.
Do At the Zoo
Guests, 21 and older, will flock to the Denver Zoo on June 16 (7-10 p.m.) to graze on exotic international and American dishes from more than 60 Denver restaurants, paired with favorite drinks. Perhaps they may visit their favorite critters and will join with others to enjoy musical entertainment at four locations by the Gin Doctors, Dragondeer, Brightenstar and Colorado Southern.
Menu offerings vary widely --; from Baur's sausage-stuffed calamari and steamed claws and Maggiano's mini Italian meatballs; Osteria Marco's basil pesto foccacia bites; Linger's Colorado lamb sliders and banana pudding with salted caramel sauce from Helliemae's Handcrafted Caramels (plus many other treats for that sweet tooth). Many area brewers and a cider maker will be on hand to slake thirst.
Tickets cost $175 and are available by calling the zoo at 720-337-1460 or online at denverzoo.org. There will be $10 valet parking or guests may find their own free parking. We'll hope for one of those perfect, mellow summer evenings!
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Animal-lovers-will-turn-out-for-zoo,215900
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