Lunch at the Zoo: What Zoo Animals Eat and Why

A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what zoo animals eat, and why.

How do you feed a hungry crocodile without becoming dinner yourself?
What do you feed a baby porcupine?
Do elephants need vitamin pills?

In the wild, animals can usually find the foods they need to eat. But zoo animals can't go out and search for their own meals. Instead, nutritionists must discover what foods each animal needs to stay healthy and happy. Whether serving lunch to poisonous snakes, making dinner for a thousand animals at once, or caring for babies who have lost their mothers, life for the zoo staff is never dull.

This fascinating and informative book looks behind the scenes at some of the largest zoos in the country to discover what--and how--they feed their animals.

Joyce Altman is the author of Dear Bronx Zoo. She lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, with her husband, her daughter, and her two cats.

Rick Chrustowski grew up in Indiana and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is the author and illustrator of Bright Beetle. Mr. Chrustowski lives in a small farmhouse in Wisconsin.