Kelly Kappen, nutrition manager at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, will talk about the nutrition requirements of exotic animals at the next Omaha Science Cafe at 7 p.m., Tuesday April 7, at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St.
Kappen earned her bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her master’s degree in animal nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
At the zoo, Kappen works with a wide variety of species, from tiny amphibians to large cats and primates, in order to improve the health and well-being of the animals.
In addition to closely monitoring the quality of feeds that are used at the zoo, Kappen is responsible for adjusting diets for the entire animal collection and managing the diet kitchen, where the staff is responsible for preparing the animals’ meals every day.
Very little is known about the nutritional requirements for most exotic species, so ongoing research is critical to improving longevity and reproduction of many endangered species, both in captivity and wild populations. By collaborating with other zoos as well as feed companies and universities, the Omaha zoo has become a leading institution in the field of exotic animal nutrition research.
Education also is an important component of Kappen’s work at the zoo, whether that be teaching interns about diet formulation and lab analyses, giving tours to kindergarten classes, or speaking to groups of zoo visitors and volunteers.
Science Cafes involve a face-to-face conversation with a scientist about current science topics. They are open to everyone (21 and older) and take place in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. Each meeting is organized around an interesting topic of conversation. A scientist gives a brief presentation followed by a question and answer period.
Pizza will be provided by The Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures for the first 50 people. For more information about Science Cafes, click here. Podcasts of previous Science Cafes also are available on the website or available for download on iTunes here.