Marcus Clauss
Head of Research and Co-Director
Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife - Zurich
Marcus Clauss is head of research and co-director of the Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. A certified veterinary specialist in animal nutrition and a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition, he focuses his research on digestive physiology, feeding strategies and the nutritional needs of zoo animals and wildlife.
After studying veterinary medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Clauss completed an MSc in Wild Animal Health through the Royal Veterinary College and the Zoological Society of London. He worked at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin before joining the University of Zurich in 2005. He has been a guest professor of animal nutrition at Ghent University since 2008 and became co-director of the Zurich clinic in 2024.
His research examines how anatomy, diet and digestive systems influence feeding and nutrition across species, including giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses. Through scientific publications and lectures, he shares research on comparative nutrition, digestive physiology and zoo animal husbandry with veterinary professionals and the international zoo community.
