Add hot sauce to beet pulp to get picky elephants to eat fiber
June 14, 2018 3:41 AM Subscribe
Behind the scenes in the National Zoo kitchen. "Pumpkin spice is a favorite of the lions, sending them into a flurry of activity—rolling, rubbing and scent marking... Turns out, lions love this seasonal scent just as much as we do."
Do they wear Uggs?
posted by chillmost at 4:38 AM on June 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by chillmost at 4:38 AM on June 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
OMG, that turtle and his valentine.
I got to feed the red pandas at our zoo as part of a recognition thing at work. It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life, even when he put one of his paws down my shirt while grabbing for the apple slices (he lost his balance in excitement, I didn't have produce in my bra). Sometimes I think of his quiet little "nom nom nom" sounds and it makes my day. <3
posted by librarianamy at 4:41 AM on June 14, 2018 [27 favorites]
I got to feed the red pandas at our zoo as part of a recognition thing at work. It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life, even when he put one of his paws down my shirt while grabbing for the apple slices (he lost his balance in excitement, I didn't have produce in my bra). Sometimes I think of his quiet little "nom nom nom" sounds and it makes my day. <3
posted by librarianamy at 4:41 AM on June 14, 2018 [27 favorites]
Know who else like hot sauce? Giraffes like hot sauce!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:09 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:09 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Lions are so basic.
posted by DigDoug at 6:03 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by DigDoug at 6:03 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Lions are so basic.
You go ahead and say that to them in person.
posted by srboisvert at 6:27 AM on June 14, 2018 [23 favorites]
You go ahead and say that to them in person.
posted by srboisvert at 6:27 AM on June 14, 2018 [23 favorites]
Fun article! When I worked at a zoo I preferred being on meal duty because it meant I wasn't out in the enclosures scooping poop.
posted by elsietheeel at 6:35 AM on June 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by elsietheeel at 6:35 AM on June 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
I chose the wrong profession.
posted by stripesandplaid at 7:16 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by stripesandplaid at 7:16 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
So pumpkin spice is disguised catnip?
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:17 AM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:17 AM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I really enjoyed this. I also enjoyed seeing the different scent enrichment options in the video link--droppings from farm animals or porcupines, wool from the alpaca shearing. And it reminds me how long it's been since I went out to the zoo.
posted by theatro at 7:23 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by theatro at 7:23 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I am glad they have a way to convince elephants to eat fiber. A constipated elephant is not something I like to consider.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 8:55 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Midnight Skulker at 8:55 AM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Oh man, I love this!
the agoutis are named Hazelnut, Nutella, and Filbert
excuse me, I'm dying of joy
posted by sciatrix at 9:23 AM on June 14, 2018 [7 favorites]
the agoutis are named Hazelnut, Nutella, and Filbert
excuse me, I'm dying of joy
posted by sciatrix at 9:23 AM on June 14, 2018 [7 favorites]
I just loved seeing the Gorilla eating popcorn with his big meaty fists. This is a great post!
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 10:02 AM on June 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 10:02 AM on June 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
Do they wear Uggs?
No, but they’re the ones that turn the sheep inside out.
posted by TedW at 10:07 AM on June 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
No, but they’re the ones that turn the sheep inside out.
posted by TedW at 10:07 AM on June 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'm not sure which of the pumpkin spices provokes the same reaction as catnip, but I totally believe it's possible. One of my cats goes bonkers when I get strawberries. She is obsessed with the leaves, not the fruit. So I pull off the leaves before I cut the berries up and sprinkle them on the floor. She just rolls and purrs and nibbles to her heart's content!
posted by jhope71 at 10:28 AM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by jhope71 at 10:28 AM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Geraffes were going to lick the wall ANYWY! Why not give the puny humans something to talk about? I think it’s cool they know what a picture of a leaf on a tree looks like
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:59 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 12:59 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Geraffes are so dumb.
posted by Dr. Curare at 11:28 AM on June 14 [+] [!]
But not as dumb as my local zookeepers, who decided to build the new "Africa" section of the zoo with thatched roof buildings. The giraffes were very grateful for the snacks, and since then the roofing material has not been replaced. Though I can't be too harsh on them, that last picture is of Joshua, the 4th giraffe calf they've brought into the world
posted by FirstMateKate at 12:46 PM on June 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Dr. Curare at 11:28 AM on June 14 [+] [!]
But not as dumb as my local zookeepers, who decided to build the new "Africa" section of the zoo with thatched roof buildings. The giraffes were very grateful for the snacks, and since then the roofing material has not been replaced. Though I can't be too harsh on them, that last picture is of Joshua, the 4th giraffe calf they've brought into the world
posted by FirstMateKate at 12:46 PM on June 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
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