Animal Nutrition Center
Kitchens are not just for foodies. The Dallas Zoo is constructing a new commissary where the nutrition department prepares meals for almost 1,500 animals every day. This kitchen is stocked with fresh produce, specialty meats, and bags of dry food as well as unusual items such as mealworms, crickets, and monkey biscuits. You’ll even find things in your own pantry, like peanut butter, juices, and applesauce.
All the critters get healthy, balanced diets. The Dallas Zoo is one of only 14 zoos in North America with a full-time nutritionist on staff, so we know how to create nutritious meals for animal appetites.
The Zoo rings up a hefty $680,000 grocery bill every year. That’s why we are asking for your help. We have the funds to stock the shelves; we just need your help to buy the $93,000 worth of equipment* to prep, prepare, and deliver the meals. Please consider funding one of the items on our wish list and contact the Dallas Zoological Society Development Department at 469.554.7400 or development@DallasZoo.com.
Check out the Dallas Zoo Animal Nutrition Center Wish List to see how you can help!
*Please note that the equipment on the wish list is very specialized, so we can only accept monetary contributions. We are not able to use donations of actual items.
Dallas Zoo Animal Nutrition Center
Equipment Wish List
|
ITEM DESCRIPTION |
COMMISSARY USE |
COST |
| Conveyor dishwasher | Daily use for cleaning and sanitizing food containers and utensils. | $15,000 |
| Industrial food processor | Daily use for chopping fruits, vegetables, and greens. | $13,000 |
| Cutter/mixer | Used for grinding complete feeds to a powder for various animals. | $12,000 |
| Powered pallet stacker | Used daily for moving feed. | $7,000 |
| Meat saw | Used for cutting frozen meat into appropriately sized pieces. | $3,000 |
| Blixer | Used to prepare specialized mixes or to grind small amounts of pelleted diet. | $3,000 |
| Gram scale | Used for preparing supplement mixes (capable of weighing 0.01g). | $2,500 |
| Ice machine | Used to keep diet ingredients at proper temperature. | $2,000 |
| Bench scales | Used for daily preparation of animal diets (metric/US conversion, 0.01 lb.). | $1,080 |
| Stovetop/oven (4-burner) | Used daily to cook various food stuffs. | $1,000 |
| General purpose scale | Used daily for preparing animal diets (150 lb. capacity). | $1,300 |
| Retractable hose and sprayer (under sink mount, ½ inch hose) |
Used daily to wash kitchen floor. | $700 |
| Retractable hose and sprayer (wall or ceiling mount, ½ inch hose) |
Used daily to rinse larger waste from containers prior to placing in dishwasher. | $4,700 |
| Rolling ladder | Used to access feed on second tier of racking. | $600 |
| Commercial microwave | Used to thaw food items needed for immediate use. | $500 |
| Food storage boxes (various sizes) |
Used daily for thawing meat, fish, and prey items. | $900 |
| Bun rack/poly box storage rack | Storage racks will allow proper rotation of meat and prey items. | $450 |
| Food containers (various sizes) |
Used to deliver food to animal areas and to store food in the commissary. | $800 |
| Platform truck with casters | Used to move diet items from storage areas to delivery van. | $320 |
| Racks, shelving, and other items | Various daily uses. | $22,930 |
