The HESC collaborates with the National Zoological Gardens, the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty of the University of Pretoria and private animal nutritionists, for guidance on the dietary requirements of the animals.
Carnivore feeding
The staple diet of predators consists mainly of beef from three different feedlots approximately 350 km from the Centre. The Centre has a freezer room at each feedlot where the slaughtered carcasses of animals that succumb to stress and other non−infectious conditions are stored. The meat is fetched every week and taken to the Centre where it once again stored in freezer rooms until it is cut into portions that are fed to the animals. A supplement containing vitamins and minerals was developed to ensure that the animals are provided with a balanced diet. This supplement was found to be suitable for all the larger predators as well as the small cats at the Centre, Black-footed and African wild cats. This supplement was re-developed in 2010 and is finalized in 2011.
Herbivore feeding
The herbivores are held in camps ranging from 7ha to 23ha where they utilize natural vegetation as part of their diet. In addition, these animals are fed on lucern, teff with molasses, antelope cubes (Boskos) and soaked maize kernels. Excess fresh vegetables from the kitchen at the Centre’s cafeteria, and the tourist lodges on the property are added to the diet when available. The quantity of supplementary feed as well as the feeding intervals are determined according to the requirements of the animals and the availability of natural grazing . When all the feed is not consumed, the feeding intervals are extended. During very dry winter months, the animals are fed daily.
As the provided animal feed constitutes the major portion of the animal diets and the numbers of animals in the camps are low, the impact on the veld is limited. Feed utilization from the veld is below that of the ecological capacity. Annual ecological and veld surveys, on a consultative basis, are conducted by the Range and Forest Institute from the Agricultural Research Council in Nelspruit. During these surveys they review the veld conditions within the HESC as well and make recommendations when necessary.
Bird feeding
Ground hornbills are kept in cooperation with the Mabula Ground Hornbill Conservation Project and blue cranes are bred at the Centre. The feeding requirements for these birds are based on information from the National Zoo as well as different breeding and rehabilitation institutions in the country.
The adult blue cranes are fed on a staple diet of different seeds and poultry feed supplemented with insects and earthworms. The birds also forage in camps where other natural food and green plants are consumed. They are also fed green vegetables during drier periods. Blue crane chicks are fed on Avi-plus game starter and poultry chicken feed. This is supplemented by grated vegetables, apples, hard-boiled eggs and earthworms. The diet is also augmented with calcium-rich supplements.
The staple diet of the ground hornbills is reflected in the table below. This diet is supplemented by natural food such as small reptiles, rodents and large insects.
Species |
Type of food |
Intervals |
Supplements |
Ground hornbill |
8 day old chickens or 200g mince mixed
with cat pellets. Natural food when possible. |
Daily |
Minerals and vitamins |
Crane species |
Seeds, poultry feeds, greenery and earthworms. The bids also forage in camps. |
Daily |
Minerals and vitamins |
