Improving the feeding of captive felines through application of field data

The tactics employed by large felines in food‐getting in the wild are contrasted with the conditions which prevail in captivity. While zoos cannot recreate a completely natural existence, there are points at which nature's ways can guide management in improving the quality of life for zoo animals. Equating an adequate diet with good nutrition leads to dietary substitutions which ignore non‐nutritive requirements. Among the issues discussed are substitute activities, oral health in relation to food texture, and the psychological aspects of feeding.