Philadelphia Zoo Black Jaguar Eating Meat on Bone

The black jaguar in Big Cat Falls tears at meat on a bone and delights and amazes zoo visitors.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Philadelphia Zoo
• zoos
• jaguar
• black jaguars
• cat
• cats
• mammal
• mammals
• Big Cat Falls
• April
• spring
• 2009
• Monday

[goldeneyesofafrica]

Thanks for this! Love it!

[ZooVisitorMM]

@goldeneyesofafrica You're welcome! I will try to record more videos of him as often as possible. I'm glad you like him.

[awesomeH2O]

What kind of animal meat are the big cats fed each day?

Since animals in captivity cannot use as much energy as they do in the wild, they require less food than wild animals. I know that many big cats eat about 15 pounds in the wild, but how much do they require in zoos?

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O All the cats receive meat that meets USDA standards for humans! They eat mostly beef. They get bones three times a week, twice with meat on the bones, once just the bone to gnaw on. They also get ground beef with added nutrients that is prepared especially for carnivores.

For enrichment, they are given liver, rabbits, fish, and sometimes rats and mice.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O I am not sure exactly how much they eat. That probably varies. But the Zoo has a full-time nutritionist who monitors the diets of each and every animal in the Zoo.

[awesomeH2O]

I think it is good that in zoos and sanctuaries are able to provide animals with specialized diets.

[ZooVisitorMM]

Thank you for your input.

It is the first zoo to be chartered in the U.S., and, in my opinion, it is one of the best zoos in the world!

However, the Philadelphia Zoo is only 45 sq. acres. I think the average size for big city zoos is closer to 75 or 80 acres.

It would be wonderful if it could expand, but it is surrounded by neighborhoods and the Schuylkill River.

[snapper842002]

its the oldest zoo in the country and one of the largest

[dargay]

hmm i didnt know there was a zoo in philadelphia.