Dietary intake and digestion in snow leopards (Uncia uncia) at the Bronx Zoo

Citation

Armato D, Ramos L, Monge Y, Tancredi D, Dierenfeld E. 2003. Dietary intake and digestion in snow leopards (Uncia uncia) at the Bronx Zoo. In Ward A, Brooks M, Maslanka M, Eds. Proceedings of the Fifth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Minneapolis, MN.

Abstract

Although the nutritional requirements of the domestic cat are well known and various investigations have been conducted with larger exotic felids no published information on digestion in snow leopards, Uncia uncia, is available. Two three-day intake and digestion trials were conducted on 4.6 adult (ages 3-15 years) captive-born snow leopards at the Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY in December, 1996. Routine management was not altered during the study; leopards were housed outdoors in individual concrete holding dens. Body weight averaged 37.76 kg ± 5.92 kg (mean ± SD) and remained stable throughout the trial. Each cat was offered 1.14 kg of Nebraska Frozen Feline Diet (Animal Spectrum, North Platte, Nebraska, 69102). Total fecal output was collected daily, and fecal and dietary samples were analyzed according to standard laboratory techniques.

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