Tigers -- hunting, prey and captive feeding.

Captive feeding of big cats:

Zoos and other captive facilities vary in their diet plans for tigers. Some follow a daily feeding programme, whereas others endeavour to follow a more natural routine for their tigers and slot in a day of fasting. Others feed every few days.

An assortment of foods are fed, with common products being oxtail, horsemeat and a pre-prepared feline diet like Spectrum beef, or Mazuri whole feline processed food. Commercial felid foods come as dry mixes or in packages similar to dog rolls. A combination of raw meat and pre-prepared food provides a fully balanced diet containing most required minerals and dietary supplements. Some organisations also feed raw chicken, hamburger, bone meal, spirulina, charcoal, ash and beets.

The amount which is fed depends upon the weight and size of the tiger, as well as upon whether or not the animal is of the ideal goal weight:

Age in Years	Weight in Pounds	Weekly Food Consumption in Captivity (Approx)
14	340	65
13	178	62
8	330	*32
5	186	32

*This animal was about 40 pounds overweight and on a diet.

The following is an example of a feeding regime for the Sumatran tiger:

One day: fasting.
One day: chunk of horsemeat - male 9 lbs., female 6 lbs.
Five days: Spectrum feline diet beef - male 9 lbs., female 6 lbs.

(Continued Page 12)

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