I need some help trying to track down elements of SD's now-dismantled fabled ungulate collection, here are the one's that I'm not sure of. southern bush pig, Central European wild boar, Saharan dorcas gazelle, forest buffalo, Javan banteng, MacNeill's red deer, Nubian Soemmerring's gazelle, Spanish ibex, West Caucasian tur, bharal, wild goat
I seem to recall seeing both the Soemmerring gazelles and possibly the dorcas gazelles up near Polar Bear Plunge. I'm not 100% sure as I've seen 24 zoos in 8 weeks...but I'm fairly sure that they are still currently at the zoo. The other species that you mention were nowhere to be seen last week.
I just found this video of a Giraffe born yesterday. YouTube - Giraffe gives Birth at the San Diego Zoo - 8/19/08
The soermering's gazelle are in with the giraffes I think. I saw the two species mixed together on a picture I found on the web. It is a new mixed exhibit I think...
I believe most of the caprid collection at both the zoo and WAP went to Peace River's Texas branch at Iron Mountain (Marfa) - when I visited last, the park had just finished sending their Siberian ibex, and the zoo had just sent their Mishmi takins there as well.
I'm very disappointed with the SDZS any more. How do you dismantle such a collection? It's a shame in my opinion.
The nubian soermerrings gazelle appear to be in the new masai giraffe enclosure, with the giraffes. I want to know where the southern bush pig have gone though..
I had posted this on another thread, but figured I'd add it to this one: Safarious - IRON MOUNTAIN RANCH - West Texas / Clay Knight / Old Gallery Peace River's Texas branch at Iron Mountain (Marfa) seems to have Niligri Tahr, East and West Caucasian Tur, Takin, Blue Sheep, Arabian, Scimitar-horned and Beisa Oryx, Addax, White Lipped Deer, Slender-horned, Soemmerring's, and Addra gazelle, Markhor, and some type of Ibex. southern bush pig and Central European wild boar may both be at Shadow Nursery in Tennessee. I think most of the Saharan dorcas gazelle may have passed away. I know the Ex-Lowry Park Zoo director Lex Salisbury opened a Safari Ranch attraction in Pasco, FL that has a heard of Forest Buffalo. San Diego also had (maybe still has) one in the Ituri Forest Exhibit. Not really sure about MacNeill's red deer, based on Shadow Nursery's interest in deer, they might have been a likely location. Spanish ibex and wild goat might both be at Iron Mountain if not some other Texas location.
Bharal are up in the mountain field exhibit at the WAP says one of the African Tram tour guides along with Nubian Ibex and Auodads.
Is the Zoo still keeping pygmy hippos together with duikers and wolf guenos ?If yes, which species of duiker/s ?
Sadly, neither the zoo or the Wild Animal Park have Gray rhebok (Pelea capreolus) any longer. They are a very interesting species, in fact they are so unique that they are part of a monotypic subfamily known as Peleinae
About the Saharan dorcas gazelles (gazella dorcas osiris), from what I was reading, I thought that they went to an animal dealer named John Chatfield I also heard that in recent years, that they sent out their Pelzelns gazelles (Gazella dorcas pelzelni) into the private sector, does any one know where they are or how they are doing ? Another rare ungulate species from San Diego Zoo's past collection that I am very curious about are their Bawean deer (Hyelaphus kuhlii), last I heard they were sent into the private sector, but I cant tell you where they are or how they are doing, does anybody know ?
I'm so Sorry to read that.As far as I know, the Zoo imported them in ca.200o/01and has bred them succesfully. When I've visted the zoo in 2002, I saw a breeding group, three years later they already had a bachlor group of only males and a breeding group. Do you know, what excactly happend to them ?
The Gray rhebok at the ZSSD parks were sent into the private sector There is a dealer named Larry Johnson who has them, he is located on the outskirts of San Antonio They also have them at a a hunting ranch called Texas Hunt Lodge which is located in Ingram, TX They also have them at a place called Giraffe Ranch which is a non AZA facility in Florida Its like these zoos (especially San Diego) import these rare animals at the great cost of time, money, and lives and then they simply "phase them out" that is hugely short sided and irresponsible, they also claim to not have enough room on the ark, but then they spend 45 million dollars on these big theme exhibits (which honestly dont teach people anything) at the bat of an eyelash, sorry to aound harsh but it seems that these days its the entertainment/money people are running zoos these days
Its probably a change in institutional direction. Around the mid 2000-2010 the zoo suddenly started following AZA phase out recommendations more closely. Before the Zoo seemed to ignore the AZA just enough to be accredited. It's sad that we cannot see Vaal Rhebok anymore but some animals have to go. I would have prefered that the zoo just kept them in their South Africa field exhibit at the WAP. In regards to these new exhibits, I agree that they are terrible at teaching people anything. I have not seen tiger trek yet, but most of San Diego's interpretives are quite lacking in telling a good, memorable story. The sense of moving from one exhibit to the next to see whats in and then moving on is so managerial.
I agree that the zoo does need some better interpretives. I haven't seen Tiger Trail yet,but hopefully there'll be something else to look at besides tigers. To me,the interpretive exhibits that stick out the most are the Condor Ridge at the Safari Park and Monkey Trails and Forest Tales at the zoo, that to me is their best example of interpretive exhibits. Hopefully Africa Rocks will be a step in the right direction. :/
