Who would have ever guessed that giraffes enjoy popsicles
made out of scallions? Or that anteaters feast on dog
food topped with avocados three times a day? These
were among the fascinating details of animal nutrition
that we learned on our “behind the scenes” tour
of the Reid Park Zoo on Tuesday morning, October 25.
Vivian VanPeenen, the Curator
of Education at the Zoo,
showed us around. We saw the “night cages” where
the animals are when they are “off exhibit.” We
also toured the kitchen where the animals’ meals
and treats are prepared. The zoo spends between $150,000
and $200,000/year on food. The care that the staff
takes in preparing the animals’ meals is readily
apparent. Feeding the animals is not just a matter
of throwing something into a cage -- rather presentation
and variety are taken into consideration. For example,
fish for some of the bears are frozen into ice balls,
which gives the animals something with which to play.
Ms. VanPeenen explained that the zoo cooperates with
accredited zoos around the country in making decisions
about which animals to breed and when to breed them.
For example, Reid Park Zoo has two female elephants
that have been together for years. One is an Asian
elephant and the other is an African elephant. The
African elephant is particularly valuable because she
came from the wild rather than being born in captivity.
Ms. VanPeenen explained that nationwide there is concern
that if we are not more successful in breeding the
African elephants currently in our zoos, in twenty
years there won’t be any more African elephants
in this country. Consequently Reid Park Zoo would like
to breed their African elephant. This would require
1) expanding the elephant enclosure at the zoo so that
off spring can be accommodated or 2) sending the zoo’s
African elephant to another zoo. Fortunately for Tucson,
the City has authorized the zoo to use additional acreage
in Reid Park Zoo to expand the elephant enclosure.
The new enclosure should be done in four to five years.
Because elephant gestation is 22 months, and because
offspring typically stay with their mothers for two
years after birth, this should be perfect timing!
We also toured the surgical and quarantine facilities
at the zoo and had a chance to feed the three resident
giraffes. The consensus among the group at the conclusion
of the tour was that we all wanted to work at the zoo!
Who would have ever guessed that giraffes enjoy popsicles
made out of scallions? Or that anteaters feast on dog
food topped with avocados three times a day? 
These
were among the fascinating details of animal nutrition
that we learned on our “behind the scenes” tour
of the Reid Park Zoo on Tuesday morning, October 25.
Vivian VanPeenen, the Curator
of Education at the Zoo,
showed us around. We saw the “night cages” where
the animals are when they are “off exhibit.” 
We
also toured the kitchen where the animals’ meals
and treats are prepared. The zoo spends between $150,000
and $200,000/year on food. The care that the staff
takes in preparing the animals’ meals is readily
apparent. Feeding the animals is not just a matter
of throwing something into a cage -- rather presentation
and variety are taken into consideration. 
For example,
fish for some of the bears are frozen into ice balls,
which gives the animals something with which to play.
African elephant. The
African elephant is particularly valuable because she
came from the wild rather than being born in captivity.
Ms. VanPeenen explained that nationwide there is concern
that if we are not more successful in breeding the
African elephants currently in our zoos, in twenty
years there won’t be any more African elephants
in this country. Consequently Reid Park Zoo would like
to breed their African elephant. This would require
1) expanding the elephant enclosure at the zoo so that
off spring can be accommodated or 2) sending the zoo’s
African elephant to another zoo. Fortunately for Tucson,
the City has authorized the zoo to use additional acreage
in Reid Park Zoo to expand the elephant enclosure.
The new enclosure should be done in four to five years.
Because elephant gestation is 22 months, and because
offspring typically stay with their mothers for two
years after birth, this should be perfect timing! 
We also toured the surgical and quarantine facilities
at the zoo and had a chance to feed the three resident
giraffes. The consensus among the group at the conclusion
of the tour was that we all wanted to work at the zoo!
