Meerkat
P12: Explain what factors affect the nutritional requirements of different zoo animals
There are a variety of factors that affect the nutritional requirements of a meerkat. Meerkats are omnivores which means they eat meat aswell as vegatation, However they also eat insects aswell. In the wild meerkats would forage in large groups and spread out from eachother to search for food whilst one would find higher ground to see any predators or potential dangers. The meerkats will only seperate around 6 metres apart so that they should still call eachother if they have found food or there is danger. They have adapted to eat smaller portions and also collect food to return to their offspring with to make sure that they are getting there dietary requirements since they aren't old enough to go out themselves. A meerkats diet consists of food such as: small rodents, grasshoppers, crickets, small snakes, birds, eggs, fruit, worms, lizards, ant larvae and poisionous scorpions. Meerkats have adapted to be able to get poisonous scorpions and they have learnt to do this by working in a pair were one will distract the scorpion from the front and when it goes to strike its stinger, the meerkat behind will bite the stinger and remove it. They then drag their prey across the ground which gets rid of most of the chemical defence. They find most of their food underground which is why their claws have adapted to become curved so that this enhances their digging and means that they dont have to always forage above ground which can put them in danger to predators. Meerkats have also adapted to get their water from their food source, however they will take advantage of a near by water source.
http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm
In captivity to replicate their natural habitat it is a good idea to scatter feed these animals so that they can forage for their food. Insects are aloud to be given alive since they are not classed as a animal with a complexed nervous system, however if the zoo wanted to feed them chicks or mice they would have to provide dead ones that have been frozen. To prepare the food we have to remove the rodents and chicks from the freezers and place them in a bowl to defrost. To prepare the insects for feeding time all we have to find is a smaller container to place the selected amount for that feeding day in until they get scattered around the enclosure. All containers and equipment used for feeding the meerkats must be washed before and after use to prevent contamination and for general hygiene. To also avoid cross contamination insects are kept in containers and equipment which is red in colour is used for meat and equipment that is green is used for vegatation. A water source is always provided within a zoo so that meerkats can take this to their advantage to drink or bath in, there would have to be a filter system to avoid a build up of algae. Insects and vegatation is very easy to get hold of unlike things such as a small snake, lizard or scorpions, but these food types can also be expensive where as insects are alot cheaper and you get alot more for the money. Alternative foods could be ferret biscuits which can be used as a treat but also cat food since it includes all of the daily requirements needed.
There are a variety of factors that affect the nutritional requirements of a meerkat. Meerkats are omnivores which means they eat meat aswell as vegatation, However they also eat insects aswell. In the wild meerkats would forage in large groups and spread out from eachother to search for food whilst one would find higher ground to see any predators or potential dangers. The meerkats will only seperate around 6 metres apart so that they should still call eachother if they have found food or there is danger. They have adapted to eat smaller portions and also collect food to return to their offspring with to make sure that they are getting there dietary requirements since they aren't old enough to go out themselves. A meerkats diet consists of food such as: small rodents, grasshoppers, crickets, small snakes, birds, eggs, fruit, worms, lizards, ant larvae and poisionous scorpions. Meerkats have adapted to be able to get poisonous scorpions and they have learnt to do this by working in a pair were one will distract the scorpion from the front and when it goes to strike its stinger, the meerkat behind will bite the stinger and remove it. They then drag their prey across the ground which gets rid of most of the chemical defence. They find most of their food underground which is why their claws have adapted to become curved so that this enhances their digging and means that they dont have to always forage above ground which can put them in danger to predators. Meerkats have also adapted to get their water from their food source, however they will take advantage of a near by water source.
http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm
In captivity to replicate their natural habitat it is a good idea to scatter feed these animals so that they can forage for their food. Insects are aloud to be given alive since they are not classed as a animal with a complexed nervous system, however if the zoo wanted to feed them chicks or mice they would have to provide dead ones that have been frozen. To prepare the food we have to remove the rodents and chicks from the freezers and place them in a bowl to defrost. To prepare the insects for feeding time all we have to find is a smaller container to place the selected amount for that feeding day in until they get scattered around the enclosure. All containers and equipment used for feeding the meerkats must be washed before and after use to prevent contamination and for general hygiene. To also avoid cross contamination insects are kept in containers and equipment which is red in colour is used for meat and equipment that is green is used for vegatation. A water source is always provided within a zoo so that meerkats can take this to their advantage to drink or bath in, there would have to be a filter system to avoid a build up of algae. Insects and vegatation is very easy to get hold of unlike things such as a small snake, lizard or scorpions, but these food types can also be expensive where as insects are alot cheaper and you get alot more for the money. Alternative foods could be ferret biscuits which can be used as a treat but also cat food since it includes all of the daily requirements needed.
P13: Discuss how a balanced diet is produced for different zoo animals
All zoo's will have to reseach their animals months even years before they are able to house different animals at their location. This is so that they have enough time to create a suitable enclosure aswell as have time to put together a diet plan where all of the natural nutritional requirements are included. Meerkats eat a large quantity of insects which contains alot of their nutritional requirements and they also get their water from their food source so making sure you can replicate their natural feeding diets in the wild is important so that you can avoid nutritional supplements. Meerkats also need a supplement included in their diet which is calcium, so all of the meat that is fed to the animals have calcium dust rubbed onto them so that they are getting calcium in their diet without being forced to eat tablets which is unnatural to them.
All zoo's will have to reseach their animals months even years before they are able to house different animals at their location. This is so that they have enough time to create a suitable enclosure aswell as have time to put together a diet plan where all of the natural nutritional requirements are included. Meerkats eat a large quantity of insects which contains alot of their nutritional requirements and they also get their water from their food source so making sure you can replicate their natural feeding diets in the wild is important so that you can avoid nutritional supplements. Meerkats also need a supplement included in their diet which is calcium, so all of the meat that is fed to the animals have calcium dust rubbed onto them so that they are getting calcium in their diet without being forced to eat tablets which is unnatural to them.
P14: Discuss the role and inclusion of dietary supplements in feeding regimes for zoo animals
Meerkats are given calcium powder on their meats and this is to prevent them from lacking in calcium, helps with their growth, and also prevents them from getting metabolic bone diseases. Dietary Supplements are needed within a diet plan incase that their food source doesn't contain all of the nutrients needed for a health diet and lifestyle.
Meerkats are given calcium powder on their meats and this is to prevent them from lacking in calcium, helps with their growth, and also prevents them from getting metabolic bone diseases. Dietary Supplements are needed within a diet plan incase that their food source doesn't contain all of the nutrients needed for a health diet and lifestyle.
P15: Explain how enrichment can be provided through nutrition and feeding
Enrichment can be provided through nutrition and feeding in a number of different ways. A method used in most animal centers and zoos is scatter feeding, this is taking an every day routine and spreading their food around the enclosure so that they will have to forage for their food. This avoids them being fed from a bowl or a specific place everyday so they won't be trying to find their food like they would in the wild because it would have been handed over by the zoo keepers to just be eatten and the bowl to be removed again. Another method is taking the scatter feeding to the next level which could be taking pieces of wood or a large branch and drilling holes into it, once you have drilled quite afew holes you could then place meal worms into the holes so that the meerkats will have to try and get them out. This is a form of enrichment since it isn't allow the meerkats time to get bored and they are always busy and looking for something since they do this for numerous hours a time in the wild. These methods of enrichment allow the meerkats to be earning treats such as mealworms and other delicious treats but it is also given them some of their nutritional diet requirements in the process.
Enrichment can be provided through nutrition and feeding in a number of different ways. A method used in most animal centers and zoos is scatter feeding, this is taking an every day routine and spreading their food around the enclosure so that they will have to forage for their food. This avoids them being fed from a bowl or a specific place everyday so they won't be trying to find their food like they would in the wild because it would have been handed over by the zoo keepers to just be eatten and the bowl to be removed again. Another method is taking the scatter feeding to the next level which could be taking pieces of wood or a large branch and drilling holes into it, once you have drilled quite afew holes you could then place meal worms into the holes so that the meerkats will have to try and get them out. This is a form of enrichment since it isn't allow the meerkats time to get bored and they are always busy and looking for something since they do this for numerous hours a time in the wild. These methods of enrichment allow the meerkats to be earning treats such as mealworms and other delicious treats but it is also given them some of their nutritional diet requirements in the process.
M4: Devise a feeding plan for a range of zoo animals
