8 May 2025
This May half term it’s Feeding Time at the Zoo, with interactive fun for the kids, from games and pop-up kitchens to a Teddy Bears’ Picnic.
To get ready for the foodie family adventure, here’s seven things our animals eat that may surprise you…
1. Fish shakes
Our penguin chicks are given special shakes to make sure they’re getting all of the nutrients they need in a liquid form, so it’s easy for them to swallow – albeit a bit messy! Find out how to make the perfect fish shake.
You can pick up your own shake – not fish flavoured – from our Penguin Beach Café.
Did you know?
Some foods can alter the appearance of animals? We give our Javan green magpies a powder called yel-lux which contains yellow colouring to keep them vibrant and green. Without the additional yellow, their feathers would start to turn blue.
2. Blood ice lollies
We all enjoy an icy treat on a hot day, including our Sumatran tigers. Perhaps not everyone’s flavour of choice, our keepers make them out of blood – watch how.
You’ll be pleased to know that we’ve got a fabulous selection of ice lollies for humans too.
3. Insect porridge
Our tamanduas eat termant, a special powder which is partly made of crushed insects along with other nutritious ingredients, designed for animals that would typically eat termites in the wild. Keepers mix the termant with water to make a porridge consistency, which our tamanduas love to slurp up with their long tongues.
4. Sugary cordial
Sunbirds have high metabolic rates and eat nectar in the wild, which is primarily made of sugar.
It’s really important that we replicate this for our sunbirds in Blackburn Pavilion so that they also have lots of sugar in their diet. Our keepers make them a special nectar mix, a bit like a squash, to ensure they have enough energy.
5. Tree gum
Gum Arabic is a food item that replicates tree sap. When you mix it with water, it becomes a sticky liquid that our keepers pour into holes in logs. This is great enrichment for animals like our bushbabies and pottos as they can gauge it out, replicating natural behaviours in the wild.
6. Fruit tea
Primates like our gorillas and squirrel monkeys enjoy fruit tea, which can also be frozen in the summer to make icy treats to keep them cool.
They enjoy a selection of different fruit teas, and it’s a great way to ensure they stay hydrated without having excess sugar. Watch our keeper Glynn make fruit tea for our gorillas.
7. Anything
Komodo dragons aren’t fussy. They’re opportunist carnivores so eat pretty much anything, dead or alive! In fact, they can eat up to 80% of their body weight in one sitting!
Find out more fun foodie facts this May half term – book now for Feeding Time at the Zoo. All activities are included in your Zoo entry or membership.
Book Zoo tickets today
Under 3s go free!
Children under 3 can visit the Zoo free of charge. And remember, with a Zoo membership, you can enjoy unlimited free entry to London and Whipsnade Zoos the whole year round!