EAZA NUTRITION GROUP

EAZA is committed to the promotion and support of nutritional knowledge in zoological institutions

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.

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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

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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

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Programmes and abstracts

European Zoo Nutrition Conferences (Programmes and abstracts)

International Symposium on Pet Bird Nutrition

To order contact: josef.kamphues@tiho-hannover.de

 
 
 
 
 
 

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