Steinecker-Quast Johanna, Osmann Christine, Liesegang Annette
Zoo Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2024 May;108 Suppl 1:15-23. doi: 10.1111/jpn.13887. Epub 2023 Oct 5.
Feeding giant anteaters and tamanduas as insectivorous species provides a lot of challenges for zoological institutions. In the last decades an in-house mixture, called 'Dortmund mixture', was the most common feed used in giant anteaters and tamanduas in many countries within the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria ex-situ Programme (EEP). Some nutritional problems occurred due to imbalances in the diets. The more recent nutritional recommendations for both species advise an adapted and balanced complete feed formulated for insectivorous species due to different problems arising with an in-house mixed feed as Dortmund mixture. To objectify the present situation a questionnaire was designed and sent out to 78 institutions of the EEPs for giant anteater(s) and tamandua(s). The questionnaire was divided into different sections and asked for data on husbandry, health status, feeding, especially feed composition, feed supplementation and faecal consistency. It was completed by 45 institutions with data for 130 animals, 89 giant anteaters and 41 tamanduas. The data thus represent 54% and 59% of the EEP populations. For both species, a complete feed is mainly utilised. Especially institutions that have integrated anteaters and tamanduas into their facilities during the last 10 and 20 years, use a complete feed. Regarding the in-house mixtures, there are distinct differences, both in composition and amount of each ingredient used. The evaluation of the feeds used for enrichment, for example, shows a clear species difference. While in tamanduas mainly insects are used for this purpose, in giant anteaters it is mainly fruits and avocado. In contrast to the past, many anteaters today are fed an adapted complete feed. Surprisingly, concerning feeding supplements the use of fat-soluble vitamins and combined vitamin-mineral preparations is still common in both species. More effort needs to be put into enforcing current feeding recommendations, especially for the giant anteaters.
作为食虫动物，饲养大食蚁兽和小食蚁兽给动物园带来了诸多挑战。在过去几十年里，一种名为“多特蒙德混合物”的自制饲料，是欧洲动物园和水族馆协会易地保护计划（EEP）中许多国家饲养大食蚁兽和小食蚁兽时最常用的饲料。由于饮食不均衡，出现了一些营养问题。鉴于自制混合饲料（如多特蒙德混合物）会引发不同问题，针对这两个物种的最新营养建议是使用专门为食虫动物配制的经过调整的均衡全价饲料。为了客观了解当前情况，设计了一份问卷并发送给EEP中负责大食蚁兽和小食蚁兽的78个机构。问卷分为不同部分，询问了饲养管理、健康状况、喂食情况，特别是饲料成分、饲料补充剂和粪便稠度等数据。45个机构完成了问卷，提供了130只动物的数据，其中89只大食蚁兽和41只小食蚁兽。这些数据分别占EEP种群的54%和59%。对于这两个物种，主要使用全价饲料。特别是那些在过去10年和20年将食蚁兽和小食蚁兽纳入其设施的机构，使用全价饲料。关于自制混合物，在每种成分的组成和用量上都有明显差异。例如，对用于丰容的饲料的评估显示出明显的物种差异。小食蚁兽主要用昆虫进行丰容，而大食蚁兽主要用水果和鳄梨。与过去不同的是，如今许多大食蚁兽喂食的是经过调整的全价饲料。令人惊讶的是，在饲料补充剂方面，脂溶性维生素和复合维生素矿物质制剂在这两个物种中仍被普遍使用。需要做出更多努力来执行当前的喂食建议，特别是针对大食蚁兽。
