Teatime with the toucans

Do you like to have a nice cup of tea every now and then? Well, Kalimba the keel-billed toucan does too!

As a special part of her diet, Kalimba receives a specially made black tea to drink as she enjoys her fruit salad made up of blueberries, pear, papaya, kiwi, banana, and honeydew melon. Yum!

The reason for this carefully catered diet is because toucans are especially susceptible to what is called iron storage disease. Their bodies can have trouble processing iron and will store too much of it rather than letting it pass through their bodies normally. In the wild, toucans will typically drink their water from puddles formed in tree roots and other cavities. That water has dripped off of the leaves and plants, collecting tannins on the way that the toucans can drink to help them store that iron. Here at Zoo Atlanta, our Bird, Veterinary, and Animal Nutrition Teams have worked together to create a low-iron diet for Kalimba. The fruits she receives on a daily basis are either low in iron or have the ability to help it pass through the body easier, preventing it from being stored. By receiving a special tea high in tannins, which are also known to bind to iron and help it pass through her body without being stored, Kalimba is able to consume tannins as her wild counterparts do. Our Bird Team regularly monitors her behavior, and the Veterinary Team occasionally examines her blood and liver iron levels to make sure she is as healthy as can be.

Knowing the natural behavior and history of the animals we work with is really important to keeping them healthy and providing the best care we can. Here at Zoo Atlanta, we strive to give each and every one of the animals the best, and that includes their diets. So next time you visit the Zoo, stop by Sips, grab a drink, and raise it to Kalimba the keel-billed toucan while she drinks her tea!

Claire S.
Bird Team