Vanessa Hunt and Samantha Eblin prepare food for the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium’s animals inside the commissary. Produce is the zoo’s biggest food expense.
Cayla Iske, director of nutrition, explains the zoo's animal diet database inside the commissary. “It’s almost like I’m a mom to 39,000 animals, trying to get everyone to clean their plates,” she said.
What does it take to feed thousands of animals? At Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, it requires a lot of work — plus blood, Cheerios and greens.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Photos: Take a behind the scenes look at how the Omaha zoo feeds its animals
Vanessa Hunt and Samantha Eblin prepare food for animals inside the commissary at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
A ring-tailed lemur eats inside it's exhibit at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER; THE WORLD-HERALD
A look at a whiteboard with information for the diet for the zoo's different bat species at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium commissary in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
Cayla Iske, director of nutrition, explains the zoo's animal diet database inside the commissary at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
Sierra Hagedorn prepares food for animals inside the commissary at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
Beth Nelson, who has been volunteering at the zoo for over 33 years, peels bananas for bat species at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
A bird eats inside the desert dome at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
A ring-tailed lemur eats inside it's exhibit at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
A mongoose lemur eats inside it's exhibit at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
Dalton Berry hangs up a container with food inside an exhibit for bats at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
A Western lowland gorilla eats some food at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
Lids for food buckets are see on a shelf at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
Sierra Hagedorn prepares food for animals inside the commissary at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
Beth Nelson, who has been volunteering at the zoo for over 33 years, peels bananas for bat species at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
A Colobus Monkey eats at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER THE WORLD-HERALD
A giraffe strips the bark off a branch at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
Vanessa Hunt and Samantha Eblin prepare food for the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium’s animals inside the commissary. Produce is the zoo’s biggest food expense.
Cayla Iske, director of nutrition, explains the zoo's animal diet database inside the commissary. “It’s almost like I’m a mom to 39,000 animals, trying to get everyone to clean their plates,” she said.
