Alaskamike
Well-Known Member
The grazing instinct.
I have an observation and would be interested if anyone sees similar behavior or has an opinion about it
I have 2 young leopards , 8 & 9mos old - Dunk & Hyde. When I feed them I set em down in front of a pile and they immediately start eating. But before too long they are both off on their walkabout on my large lanai. While exploring they are putting their nose on every speck of dirt or blade of anything growing up in the cracks between the paving bricks. If they like it they eat it, then are off for more walking. I have to be careful nothing is on the bricks they shouldn't eat as they bite at everything for a check.
I tried an experiment and spread out some grass and broadleaf in very small pieces around the lanai. This seemed to be the ticket and each of them stops and takes a few bites every time they come across a tid bit and then moves on.
They seem to want to eat in this way as opposed to just sitting on a pile of food and eating till stuffed
They also have a 8'x 8' enclosed outside pen that they spend the days in and it's fully planted so they always have food available. This may change their need to stuff themselves in one sitting also.
Has anyone else witnessed this grazing behavior / need? Walking away from a pile of food to find just one little tidbit someplace else ?
I do like that it provides them a reason to walk long distances. It's amazing how active they both are. It's like they are on a treasure hunt.
They are supervised since " Dunk" has tipped into the pool a few times for a swim.
Hence the name. Lol.
I have an observation and would be interested if anyone sees similar behavior or has an opinion about it
I have 2 young leopards , 8 & 9mos old - Dunk & Hyde. When I feed them I set em down in front of a pile and they immediately start eating. But before too long they are both off on their walkabout on my large lanai. While exploring they are putting their nose on every speck of dirt or blade of anything growing up in the cracks between the paving bricks. If they like it they eat it, then are off for more walking. I have to be careful nothing is on the bricks they shouldn't eat as they bite at everything for a check.
I tried an experiment and spread out some grass and broadleaf in very small pieces around the lanai. This seemed to be the ticket and each of them stops and takes a few bites every time they come across a tid bit and then moves on.
They seem to want to eat in this way as opposed to just sitting on a pile of food and eating till stuffed
They also have a 8'x 8' enclosed outside pen that they spend the days in and it's fully planted so they always have food available. This may change their need to stuff themselves in one sitting also.
Has anyone else witnessed this grazing behavior / need? Walking away from a pile of food to find just one little tidbit someplace else ?
I do like that it provides them a reason to walk long distances. It's amazing how active they both are. It's like they are on a treasure hunt.
They are supervised since " Dunk" has tipped into the pool a few times for a swim.
Hence the name. Lol.