Care
Feeding and food costs
Food is a running charge per animal, published per species. This page shows the range across the 136 records and how feeding enrichment fits in.
The Zoopedia publishes a periodic food expense for every species. Because it is per animal, a large group multiplies the cost — which is why a hungry herd can quietly bankrupt a young zoo.
| Band | Species / value |
|---|---|
| Lowest published cost | $36 — Greater Flamingo |
| Highest published cost | $1328 — Western Lowland Gorilla |
| Species with a published cost | 136 |
- Read the food cost before buying the group, not after the first bill.
- Feeding is also enrichment: feeders appear in the food-based enrichment list.
- A habitat that fails feeding welfare shows it quickly, so check the category before assuming illness.
FAQ
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
Is food charged per animal or per habitat?
Per animal, as a periodic expense published in the species record.
Which species are cheapest to feed?
The table above names the lowest and highest published values; the full list is on each species page.
Do feeders count as enrichment?
Yes — food-based enrichment includes feeder items, which is why feeding and welfare overlap.