Food in the Vienna Zoo: This is Number One

This year it was 300 tons, slightly more than usual. "The reason for this is newly arrived animal species such as wild donkeys and golden takins, as well as the appetite of the four and a half ton elephant bull," explained feed master Michael Kober on Monday. The zoo relies on regional feed. About a third of the hay comes from the Neusiedler See - Seewinkel National Park.

The approximately 160 tons of green fodder come from the self-managed meadows in the Gütenbachtal. The 1,500 cubic meters of feed branches come from the Vienna Woods.

Bamboo plantation largely covers demand

Since a panda pair has been living in the zoo again since spring, a large amount of bamboo of various species was needed in 2025. An adult panda eats almost 30 kilograms of bamboo per day. The zoo's own bamboo plantation in Burgenland now covers 60 percent of the demand - even bamboo shoots can be harvested there.

The demand for saltwater fish has increased this year according to the zoo, among other things due to breeding success with all three penguin species. Of the total of nearly ten tons of freshwater fish, two tons come from the pond in the Laxenburg Castle Park, which has been leased by the zoo for over 60 years. The particularly large and fatty carp serve not only as food for the polar bear but also as enrichment.

Monthly feed costs over 80,000 euros

About 27 tons of meat - from beef to chicken to mice - were fed to leopards, lions & co. The demand for fruits and vegetables is also enormous at 170 tons. The list of feed is as diverse as the Schönbrunn animal world: seeds, dairy products, eucalyptus, eggs, insects, and much more are needed. The monthly feed costs amount to around 85,000 euros. Many of the feed products come from regional and sustainable production. "Procuring, storing, and distributing feed of the best quality is the main task of our feed management. High-quality feed is the foundation for healthy animals and was therefore also a central point in the certification by the animal welfare organization Global Humane," said Folko Balfanz, operations manager and deputy zoo director.

(APA/Red)

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