Why Browse Matters - Enrichment and Nutrition for Exotic Animals
- Melody McDonald
- Sep 22, 2025
- 2 min read
When it comes to caring for exotic animals, diet isn’t just about meeting basic nutritional needs, it’s about supporting their natural behaviors and overall well-being.
One of the most effective ways to do this is through browse: fresh tree branches, leaves, and shrubs that mimic what animals would naturally forage in the wild.
What Is Browse and Why It’s Important?
Browse plays a vital role in the health and enrichment of many species. While not all herbivores require browse to survive, yet almost all can benefit from it in some way. For animals like giraffes, camels, rhinos, elephants, primates, and tortoises, browse provides more than just nutrition. It engages their natural instincts in ways like stripping bark, chewing leaves, and foraging - which helps reduce stress, improve digestion, and encourage physical activity.
Some animals are considered browse specialists, meaning they have evolved to consume these plants as a primary part of their diet. For example:
Giraffes and camels naturally browse leaves and twigs high off the ground.
Elephants and rhinos strip bark and chew woody branches for both fiber and mental stimulation.
Primates explore and forage, using browse as a tool for enrichment and diet variety.
Tortoises and other reptiles benefit from nutrient-rich leafy greens and stems.
In captivity, these animals may lose access to natural forage, making browse a critical substitute for their health and happiness.
Enrichment Through Natural Feeding Behaviors
Enrichment isn’t just about fun activities, it’s about recreating an animal’s natural environment and behaviors as closely as possible. When animals are given browse, they’re able to engage in instinctive behaviors such as:
Searching and foraging for food
Peeling bark and stripping branches
Problem-solving to reach leaves and stems
Interacting socially while feeding
These activities help prevent boredom, reduce unwanted behaviors like pacing or aggression, and improve overall welfare. Even small amounts of browse can have a big impact on mental and physical health.
Safety and Best Practices
According to the Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG), there isn’t a universal list of “safe” browse plants across zoos. Every species and even individual animals may respond differently depending on the plant’s chemistry and the animal’s physiology.
To ensure safety and optimal care:
Offer a variety of plant types rather than relying on just one or two.
Secure branches so animals can pluck leaves naturally without risk of choking or injury.
Introduce new browse slowly and monitor for any reactions, adjusting as needed.
Work closely with nutritionists and horticultural experts to maintain safe, balanced diets.
These steps help reduce risks and ensure that browse is a positive addition to the animals’ care routine. Download The (Nutrition Advisory Group's) NAG's white paper "It's Green, Not Black and White" here:
For facilities like zoos, wildlife parks, and sanctuaries, providing browse isn’t just about nutrition, it’s about commitment to the highest standards of care. By integrating browse into daily routines, caretakers give animals a chance to express natural behaviors, stay active, and live richer, healthier lives.
For more information on how to get browse for the exotic animals in your life or in your facility contact us using the button below!
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