Ring-Tailed Lemur
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 Ring-Tailed Lemur. These Lemurs are herbivores which means they are vegatation consumers, this means that they eat plants such as coriader but also each fruit and vegatables. They do not cosume any meats within their diets, however they do occasionally eat insects which they find in the wild. However, the are often classed as 'opportunistic omnivores'. In the wild Lemurs will eat tamarind trees which provides alot of their daily nutritional requirments since they provide leaves, stems and fruit, these plants are around all year so are a reliable food source for these specific animals. Because of the seasonal changes these trees are very reliable however food sources such as vegatables are not as reliable due to rainfall, if there isn't any rain for weeks or months this means that the vegatables cannot group, and neither can many other plants that the lemurs feed upon. A water source is another issue with reliablity so lemurs have adapted to getting most of their water source from food they eat such as aloe plants.
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ring-tailed_lemur
In captivity Lemurs are fed a range of fruit and vegatables daily to ensure that they are getting their daily nutritional requirements. In captivity you should scatter feed them fruit,vegatables and a variety of insects so that the lemurs have to forage for their food which also provides some nutritional feeding enrichment. This is a brilliant idea since it replicates their natural habitat and lifestyle where they would have to climb and look for fruit in trees. To prepare the food we have to wash the fruit and vegatables to prevent cross contamination, once we have washed them we can then chop them up into smaller pieces so that they are easily to eat and more food can be scattered around the enclosure. When chopping up the fruit and vegatables we must always use equipment that is green which also helps to prevent cross contamination with other food types such as meats. We chop up a variety of food and place it all into afew bowls depending how many animals are within the enclosure, we scatter feed half of the number of bowls used to make sure that there is enough to feed them again in the afternoon but to also make sure we can monitor how much they are eatting so that they do not overeat and become unwell. Insects are kept in containers to avoid cross contination and must also be washed out and cleaned if they are no longer in use. All equipment must be washed before and after use to prevent contamination and for general hygiene. Different water sources should be available for these animals at all times so they can access drinking water but also have a source where they can use it to bath but this can also be classed as enrichments, and it replicates their natural habitat. The water source used for bathing must include a filter system which will prevent the build up of algae but also means there is less work to be done each day by the keepers, which then always the lemurs extra time in the outdoor area where they will not become fearful or stressed by the keepers presents. Most of the fruit and vegatables fed to the lemurs wont be seasonal so this means that it is easier to get access and purchase these foods. However when strawberries come into seasonal they can be purchased and will be a nice change for the lemurs to have included in their diets. Having to purchase a large amount of fruit and veg can become costly however since lemurs are herbivores it is hard to find an alternative food source altogether, never mind a alternative food source thats cheaper. Insects and vegatation is very easy to get hold of unlike things such as a chameleons, small birds and caterpillers but these food types can also be expensive where as
insects are alot cheaper and you get alot more for the money. Alternative foods
There are a variety of factors that affect the nutritional requirements of a Ring-Tailed Lemur. These Lemurs are herbivores which means they are vegatation consumers, this means that they eat plants such as coriader but also each fruit and vegatables. They do not cosume any meats within their diets, however they do occasionally eat insects which they find in the wild. However, the are often classed as 'opportunistic omnivores'. In the wild Lemurs will eat tamarind trees which provides alot of their daily nutritional requirments since they provide leaves, stems and fruit, these plants are around all year so are a reliable food source for these specific animals. Because of the seasonal changes these trees are very reliable however food sources such as vegatables are not as reliable due to rainfall, if there isn't any rain for weeks or months this means that the vegatables cannot group, and neither can many other plants that the lemurs feed upon. A water source is another issue with reliablity so lemurs have adapted to getting most of their water source from food they eat such as aloe plants.
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/ring-tailed_lemur
In captivity Lemurs are fed a range of fruit and vegatables daily to ensure that they are getting their daily nutritional requirements. In captivity you should scatter feed them fruit,vegatables and a variety of insects so that the lemurs have to forage for their food which also provides some nutritional feeding enrichment. This is a brilliant idea since it replicates their natural habitat and lifestyle where they would have to climb and look for fruit in trees. To prepare the food we have to wash the fruit and vegatables to prevent cross contamination, once we have washed them we can then chop them up into smaller pieces so that they are easily to eat and more food can be scattered around the enclosure. When chopping up the fruit and vegatables we must always use equipment that is green which also helps to prevent cross contamination with other food types such as meats. We chop up a variety of food and place it all into afew bowls depending how many animals are within the enclosure, we scatter feed half of the number of bowls used to make sure that there is enough to feed them again in the afternoon but to also make sure we can monitor how much they are eatting so that they do not overeat and become unwell. Insects are kept in containers to avoid cross contination and must also be washed out and cleaned if they are no longer in use. All equipment must be washed before and after use to prevent contamination and for general hygiene. Different water sources should be available for these animals at all times so they can access drinking water but also have a source where they can use it to bath but this can also be classed as enrichments, and it replicates their natural habitat. The water source used for bathing must include a filter system which will prevent the build up of algae but also means there is less work to be done each day by the keepers, which then always the lemurs extra time in the outdoor area where they will not become fearful or stressed by the keepers presents. Most of the fruit and vegatables fed to the lemurs wont be seasonal so this means that it is easier to get access and purchase these foods. However when strawberries come into seasonal they can be purchased and will be a nice change for the lemurs to have included in their diets. Having to purchase a large amount of fruit and veg can become costly however since lemurs are herbivores it is hard to find an alternative food source altogether, never mind a alternative food source thats cheaper. Insects and vegatation is very easy to get hold of unlike things such as a chameleons, small birds and caterpillers but these food types can also be expensive where as
insects are alot cheaper and you get alot more for the money. Alternative foods
P13: Discuss how a balanced diet is produced for different zoo animals
Every animal center whether it be a zoo, park, or education center will try their best to replicate any animals natural diet. This is so that they use natural foraging behaviours aswell as getting all of their nutritional requirements. So since Ring-Tailed Lemurs diet would consist of vegatation and insects, this is providing a balanced diet. There is also a water source providing for drinking eventhought they get most of their water from their diet of plants and vegatation. Lemurs can also be give biscuit treats that are made up of vitamins and minerals that can help balance out the diet.
http://www.zutrition.com/ring-tailed-lemur-nutrition-guide/
Every animal center whether it be a zoo, park, or education center will try their best to replicate any animals natural diet. This is so that they use natural foraging behaviours aswell as getting all of their nutritional requirements. So since Ring-Tailed Lemurs diet would consist of vegatation and insects, this is providing a balanced diet. There is also a water source providing for drinking eventhought they get most of their water from their diet of plants and vegatation. Lemurs can also be give biscuit treats that are made up of vitamins and minerals that can help balance out the diet.
http://www.zutrition.com/ring-tailed-lemur-nutrition-guide/
P14: Discuss the role and inclusion of dietary supplements in feeding regimes for zoo animals
Ring-Tailed Lemurs are given fibre biscuits within their feeding plan and this is to ensure that they are getting all of the nutritional requirements needed, these biscuits contain a range of vitamins and minerals. Dietary supplements are needed within a diet plan incase their food source doesn't contain all of the nutrients required for a health diet and lifestyle.
Ring-Tailed Lemurs are given fibre biscuits within their feeding plan and this is to ensure that they are getting all of the nutritional requirements needed, these biscuits contain a range of vitamins and minerals. Dietary supplements are needed within a diet plan incase their food source doesn't contain all of the nutrients required 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 enclsoure 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 keepers to just be eatten and the bowl to then be removed again. Hanging food on pieces of string around the enclosure from trees, plants, and branches is another method of enrichment since the Lemurs would still have to try and find the food, but it also relicates their natural habitat were they would have to find fruit hanging from trees. Another method of scatter feeding them some insects would also be classed as enrichment since they would have to forage for them, this can prevent boredum since they could search for hours daily for food instead of showing stereotypical behaviours. This methods of enrichment are based around nutritional feeding so help with their nutrition requirements.
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 enclsoure 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 keepers to just be eatten and the bowl to then be removed again. Hanging food on pieces of string around the enclosure from trees, plants, and branches is another method of enrichment since the Lemurs would still have to try and find the food, but it also relicates their natural habitat were they would have to find fruit hanging from trees. Another method of scatter feeding them some insects would also be classed as enrichment since they would have to forage for them, this can prevent boredum since they could search for hours daily for food instead of showing stereotypical behaviours. This methods of enrichment are based around nutritional feeding so help with their nutrition requirements.
M4: Devise a feeding plan for a range of zoo animals
Ring-Tailed Lemur image: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/baby-boom-at-perth-zoo/story-e6frg12c-1225942654914