The EAZA Nutrition Group (ENG), reporting to the Research Committee, seeks to improve communication and coordination among all those engaged in research, education, or application of comparative (zoo) nutrition, and those requiring nutrition information, chiefly within zoological institutions of Europe. The EAZA Nutrition Group organizes biennial conferences on zoo animal nutrition that are open to anyone interested in comparative and zoo animal nutrition.
The mission statement of the ENG is to promote and support nutrition in zoological institutions as an essential component of their conservation mission.
Latest Conference News
From 28-29 January, 2021 the 11th European Zoo Nutrition Conference was hosted virtually over Zoom due to the ongoing complications with travel and gatherings caused by the Corona virus pandemic. This was the first time this biennial conference was hosted online, and it meant that approximately 570 delegates from over 40 countries across the globe could attend making it one of the most successful meetings ever. Delegates consisted of zoo nutritionists, veterinarians, researchers, curators, animal keepers, other zoo staff and higher education students as well as private individuals. We hope that the next edition of the live Nutrition conference can go ahead as originally planned in Vienna, in January 2023, however details will be confirmed nearer the time.
The recorded sessions from the 2021 online conference can be found here and keep an eye out for the possibility of another online conference in the future to tide us over before 2023.
ENG Membership
Membership is open to all individuals who support the aims of the EAZA Nutrition Group or need to know how they can improve nutrition in their zoo. We regularly receive applications from people who want to join the ENG, and welcome all serious applications, each of which are considered independently.
As a member, you may be asked to provide guidance (our members often act as nutritional advisors to TAGs and/or EEPs) and assistance in a variety of tasks (e.g., conference organisation).
Before applying, please consider the following applicant criteria and what you could bring to the ENG. Applicants for membership should:
- be active in the field of zoo animal nutrition (e.g., designated as zoo nutritionist)
- have knowledge and expertise in zoo animal nutrition and research (e.g., degree in animal nutrition)
- have demonstrated interest and commitment to zoo animal or wildlife nutrition.
If you would like to join the ENG, please submit a completed version of this Membership form and a cover letter of application/motivation detailing your expertise and experience in zoo animal nutrition (and research), alongside mention of your intentions to join the ENG. Email your application to Lauren Florisson putting 'ENG Membership' in the subject line who will then forward your request to the working group.
Join the ENG Community
The EAZA European Nutrition Group is also active on Facebook, why not join the community by visiting the page and following @EAZAnutrition to keep up to date with the latest zoo animal nutrition news and research.
EAZA Nutrition Group News 2019
Read a special nutrition edition from the EAZA Nutrition Group, including the following articles based on the presentations given at the last EAZA Zoo Nutrition Conference, which took place in Marwell in January 2019.
| FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Reporting from the 2019 EAZA Nutrition Conference |
BACK ON THE MENU: Notes from a recent EAZA Nutrition Group meeting |
| CONFERENCE WISDOM: Just three of the many inspiring presentations made at the 2019 Nutrition Conference |
DESIGNER DIET: Finding the right diet for Paignton's giraffes |
| MAKING LIGHT WORK: Providing full-spectrum lighting for the animals in our care |
CHEWING IT OVER: Why dental anatomy affects an elephant's eating habits |
| A DIET FOR INSECTIVORES: A species-specific approach to feeding insectivores |
CREATING A BALANCED DIET: How to improve the daily diet of zoo-kept ruminants |
| STORAGE SOLUTIONS: Alternative techniques for storing browse |
WHY SIZE MATTERS: Studying the effects of pellet size on lemur eating behaviour |
| BROWSE: FRESH OR FROZEN?: Is frozen browse as nutritious as fresh? |
A NEW VIEW ON FEEDING: Why making animals work for their food can improve their welfare |
| FEEDING HABITS: The effects of diet and food presentation on flamingos | FOOD FOR AGED ANIMALS: Using diet to improve the welfare of older zoo animals |
| A PLACE IN THE SUN: Studying primates' need for vitamin D | |
Download your copy, or flip through the pages by clicking here
EAZA Nutrition Group News 2017
Articles based on the presentations given at the EAZA Zoo Nutrition Conference in 2017, which took place in Liberec, Czech Republic.
| MORE FIBRE, LESS SUGAR: How dietary changes can affect primate health and welfare |
THE ROTIFER SOLUTION: An insight into the successful feeding of ornamental fish |
| NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY CLAWS: The connection between diet and claw health in takin |
A DIET FOR DRAGONS: How revising the diet of the sea dragon can reduce mortality during transition |
| GOING FRUIT-FREE: How reducing fruit intake can alter lemur behaviour |
KITCHEN SECRETS: The advantages of a centralised nutrition centre in zoos |
| PREVENTING DIETARY DRIFT: Paignton Zoo shares the results of its research into dietary drift |
SOLVING THE RHINO PROBLEM: Why the black rhino needs special dietary care |
| INSIDE THE ZOO KITCHEN: How to run an efficient and cost-effective kitchen |
BEAR NECESSITIES: Investigating the link between dental health and oral pH |
| NUTRITION MATTERS: A report from the Ninth European Zoo Nutrition Conference |
Download your copy, or flip through the pages by clicking here
Resources
How can I get get involved in zoo and wildlife nutrition? (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Programmes and abstracts
European Zoo Nutrition Conferences (Programmes and abstracts)
- 10th European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Marwell (2019)
- 9th European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Liberec (2017)
- 8th European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Arnhem (2014)
- 7th European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Zurich (2012)
- 6th European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Barcelona (2010)
- 5th European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Chester (2008)
- 4th European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Leipzig (2005)
- 3rd European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Antwerp (2003)
- 2nd European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Marwell (2001)
- 1st European Zoo Nutrition Conference - Rotterdam (1999)
International Symposium on Pet Bird Nutrition
To order contact: josef.kamphues@tiho-hannover.de
ZOOQUARIA - Zoo Nutrition Special Editions
Zoo Animal Nutrition Books
These books gather together the scientific contributions to the European Zoo Nutrition Conferences. The books are now out of print, but second-hand and library copies are available.
- Zoo Animal Nutrition I (2000) (out of print) - Edited by J. Nijboer, J.-M. Hatt, W. Kaumanns, A. Beijnen, U. Gansloßer (eds.). Filander Verlag, Fürth ISBN-10: 3-930831-29-5
- Zoo Animal Nutrition II (2003) (out of print) - Edited by A. Fidgett, M. Clauss, U. Gansloßer, J.-M. Hatt, J. Nijboer. Filander Verlag, Fürth ISBN-10: 3-930831-51-1
- Zoo Animal Nutrition III (2006) (out of print) - Edited by A. Fidgett, M. Clauss, K. Eulenberger, J.-M. Hatt, I. Hume, G. Janssens, J. Nijboer. Filander Verlag, Fürth ISBN-10: 3-930831-57-0 / ISBN-13: 978-3-930831-57-9
- Zoo Animal Nutrition IV (2009) (out of print) - Edited by M. Clauss, A. Fidgett, G. Janssens, J.-M. Hatt, T. Huisman, J. Hummel, J. Nijboer, A. Plowman. Filander Verlag, Fürth ISBN-13: 978-3-930831-72-2
Useful links
The EAZA Nutrition Group has selected a list of relevant useful websites.
Zoo Animal Nutrition
NAG Online - A list of AZA groups that have provided information to the Nutrition Advisory Group about their husbandry manuals, some including feeding guidelines
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing - Search for nutrition related books and journals. Most articles viewable online for free.
Nutritional Compositions
USDA National Nutrient Database - Search the USDA National Nutrient Database online. From this page there is a link to also view reports on foods by individual nutrients, e.g. calcium.
FAO International Food Composition Tables - A summary of human food tables, many of which are online.
National Food Institute Denmark - Danish food table: very clear in English and of course in Danish.
Nutrient Requirements
National Academies Press - A set of nutrient requirement books, possible to read each online for free, a page at a time.
National Academies - The National Resource Council Committee on Animal Nutrition produces a series of reports on the 'nutrient requirements of domestic animals'.
DEFRA UK - Guidelines for nutrient requirements in the United Kingdom.
Societies and Proceedings
NAG Online - Conference proceedings from the Nutrition Advisory Group: papers from the 1st and 2nd conferences are available to download; hard copies of proceedings from meetings in 1999, 2001 & 2003 are available to purchase. Contents can be previewed online.
International Zoo Yearbooks - International Zoo Yearbooks 6, 16 and 39 have special sections on nutrition.
Comparative Digestive Anatomy resource
Miscellaneous
The Auk - All issues of The Auk from 1880 to 1999 are free online
Highwire Press - A repository of high impact, peer-reviewed content, with 1269 journals and 6 million full text articles from over 140 scholarly publishers.