Rare species in European zoos

26-05-2007

The giant otters in Hagenbeck/Hamburg have 3 cubs and they are doing well. They were born in early April. I guess the female otter in Duisburg will also give birth again soon, the cubs may be already born.

26-05-2007

You probably mean Sol in Dortmund, Duisburg doesn't hold females...

Looking very good for this species for now, a pair behind the scenes in Dortmund are moving to zoo Doué la Fontaine in France soon.

26-05-2007

The only Giant otters that have bred in the UK are the at the Chestnut Centre. The pair was very old and died. Apparently they have a new female. I've been told it came from Germany, Is this true?

26-05-2007

I also heared last year an otter was sent from Dortmund to "England" so it probably is.

Afaik the only otters in Europe before three new animals were imported where a male and his offspring (his female died). The elderly male still lives at Duisburg, and they had inbreeding problems breeding the brother/sisters. Afaik noone ever succesfully raised their offspring untill the 3 new animals were imported from south america, did the Chestnut Centre breed them? Or did they breed but did they never grow up?

26-05-2007

I think they were sent to a collection in Europe, But I don't Know. I 've only been once. I saw the elderly females, who has since died.

26-05-2007

Amazing animals none the less, just thought of another one for the topic:
- Tasmanian devils (Copenhage Zoo 2.2)

26-05-2007

Have you done Hooded cranes and Fiji Banded Iguanas.

According to ISIS only Parc paradisio has hooded cranes and only Chester, Zurich and Wuppertal have The Banded iguanas.

26-05-2007

Walsrode also holds Grus Monachus and Rotterdam also has banded iguanas

Else i could have added golden-headed quetzal as well

And i can't edit my first post anymore

04-06-2007

I saw hooded cranes at Whipsnade in the 1990s. I saw a Fiji banded iguana (one of the first four to be bred in the UK) at Cotswold Wildlife Park last year, and got soaking wet on my 4 hour visit. As soon as I left the rain stopped.

05-06-2007

As far as I know, this is the only place in Uk that has(ever?) exhibited this species, let alone bred them.

05-06-2007

Yes, I think that's right. They also have 3 other species of otter. Oriental short claw ,common otter and I think north american river otter. As well as that there is over 50 other native british species in the park.

14-06-2007

why "infamous"?

14-06-2007

Off course i ment famous. There have been so many rare and exotic species in that house over the last decades that it has gotten quite a reputation among European zoo-enthousiasts. Haven't seen it myself but it's supposed to be very good indeed.

15-06-2007

I was hoping you meant famous

I went to Frankfurt Zoo about three years ago, and the Grzimek House and the Bird House were my two favourites. The Grzimek House was absolutely fantastic, although the kiwi was hiding at the time.

15-06-2007

Another rare species are the New grass mouse at Chester zoo. They are the only ones of their kind in the UK.

Tree rats are rare being only represented by 2 zoos in Europe, Chester and I believe a German zoo.