On New Year's Eve, although the Taipei Zoo is closed for one day, the zookeepers have prepared a variety of special dishes for the animals to enjoy. In addition to seasonal vegetables, the menu includes cilantro and monkey rice cakes, with zookeepers revealing the animals' first reactions after tasting these treats.
The zoo has also invited the public to observe which "New Year dishes" the animals are enjoying during this festive period. Since winter began, the Taipei Zoo has adjusted its animal diets to include fresh seasonal ingredients. Recent menus feature items like white radish, taro, bok choy, passion fruit, and cherimoya as part of the Spring Festival offerings.
Some recipes even include small amounts of nuts and dried fruits such as walnuts, longan, red dates, figs, and chestnuts, which are exclusive to the New Year celebrations. The zoo noted that in an effort to provide a diverse range of vegetables for the animals to try, zookeepers recently introduced cilantro. The response was mixed; some animals seemed uninterested in the scent of cilantro or were not keen on its tender leaves that are low in moisture and fiber.
When chimpanzees received cilantro, they watched it fall to the ground without any reaction. A few nibbled on it but soon lost interest, while others looked at the zookeepers in disbelief as if questioning what this food was. In response to the Spring Festival, the zoo carefully crafted a dish favored by primates called "Green Pea and Red Date Monkey Rice Cake," which was quickly devoured by the white-necked macaques.
The zoo explained that green peas are rich in plant-based protein and various vitamins such as folate and vitamin K, which contribute to muscle maintenance, emotional relief, and bone health in animals. Red dates provide vitamin C and abundant dietary fiber, offering antioxidant properties and aiding digestion.
This is also the first time that natural ingredients like green peas and red dates have been included in rice cake preparation. The Taiwanese monkey area and African animal zone residents quickly consumed the rice cakes as soon as zookeepers presented them.
During this festive season, visitors to the zoo are encouraged to observe which dishes the animals are enjoying. The zoo aims not only to meet nutritional needs but also to encourage more natural behaviors among the animals, enhancing their welfare and contributing to their happy lives.