do you think that a zoo could successfully group a hippo, black rhino, and a cheetah and possibly an African elephant in the same enclosure. what are the biggest problems you can foresee, how big would it have to be, and how many/ what gender should each spp. be. Thanks!
Aside from a hippo being lonely outside of a group (as well as female elephants if the elephant is by herself), the other problem would be the pachyderms being territorial. In general it probably isn't a good idea to to keep pachyderms together. The cheetah might fare okay since it would be able to outrun all of these animals, but even so, that probably would also do best in its own enclosure. Black rhinos are also aggressive and solitary.
Birmingham (AL) is mixing a male hippo, a white rhino trio, four bull elephants, 5 giraffe, 6 zebra, a grants gazelle, and an ostrich trio. Not all together and not all the time. Anyone who knows more about Dallas or Tampa, they also mix hoofstock and pachyderms.
The lone grant's is old and considers itself part of the giraffe herd. I don't know the situation with Tadpole being that he is relatively young I wonder if they are going to pair him with a female hippo. They recently completed our rhino trio with Max from Brevard in Florida.
this is all theoretical for a project btw and i have decided on two female hippos, three white rhinoceros's, and a female cheetah. got any input on cage design ie. enrichment nesting boxes, size.
Parco Natura Viva has a mixed white rhino/common hippo as part of their safari section. Parco Natura Viva - Centro Tutela Specie Minacciate