Ex-situ conservation of endangered species and adherence to an effective and sustainable management system is the need of the hour to prevent further extinction of native species, of which nutrition plays a crucial role in dealing with the current situation. As a science, zoo nutrition is still in its infancy, and knowledge of the dietary requirements of zoo animals is inconsistent and few in comparison to those of domestic animals. Feeding captive animals by simulating their natural feeding behavior in free-ranging habitats and the other way of feeding zoo animals is to feed as per the requirements of the domestic animal model of the species concerned. However, it is not the ideal way of feeding captive animals as there is a huge difference in their metabolism and in the uptake of nutrients among different species also the nutritional needs of animals of the same species kept in captivity and those living in the wild may vary. Thus, when creating a feeding program for captive animals, we mostly rely on a mix of these techniques. ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute and other national institutions have already started a research program in this area, and a significant amount of information on feeding procedures and feed requirements has been gathered. All of these study findings and methodologies have been appropriately taken into account while determining the nutritional requirements for zoo animals in the Indian environment.
