Zoochat Challenge North America 2024

Thanks!

 

Did you also visit the Bergen County Zoo while you were there? It is such a cute little zoo!

 

I’m a local in the area and Visit the Bergen County Zoo quite often, I’ve already visited twice this year!

 

Also at Zoo Atlanta:
66.) Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

 

2/16/24
Homosassa State Wildlife Park
77. Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
78. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
79. Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
80. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

 

Yesterday I returned to the Mystic Aquarium for the first time in 10 years.

Mystic Aquarium (2.18.2024)

35. White Spotted Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum)
36. Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
37. Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)
38. Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum)
39. Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (2.18.2024)

40. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
41. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

 

Gorgeous weather for a zoo visit today!

Rosamond Gifford Zoo
18. Fennec Fox- Vulpes zerda
19. Red Wolf- Canis rufus
20. Andean Bear- Tremarctos ornatus
21. Stellar's Sea Eagle- Haliaeetus pelagic
22. Turkey Vulture- Cathartes aura
23. Barred Owl- Strix varia
24. Komodo Dragon- Varanus komodoensis

 

You started from the wrong post - your last entry was Gray Fox as #35, so your total now is 42.

You already counted Red-tailed Hawk from Seneca Park, so your total is 24.

 

Visited another small nature center today to miss my 4th Eastern Screech Owl this year; however, I still got an additional species.

Flat Rock Brook Nature Center 2.20
24) American Kestrel (Flaco sparverius)

 

Sorry for that mistake, just went back and edited the post.

 

Toronto Zoo: 21 February 2024
9. Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
10. Spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
11. Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)
12. American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
13. Grey wolf (Canis lupus)

 

I don't think I'll get particularly far, but I'm going to put myself on the board anyway for the fun of it.

El Paso Zoo 2/21

1. Lion (Panthera leo) El Paso Zoo 2/21
2. Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) - El Paso Zoo 2/21
3. Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) - El Paso Zoo 2/21
4. African hunting dog (Lycaon pictus) - El Paso Zoo 2/21
5. American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) - El Paso Zoo 2/21
6. Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) - El Paso Zoo
7. Jaguar (Panthera onca) - El Paso Zoo 2/21
8. Puma (Puma concolor) - El Paso Zoo 2/21
9. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) - El Paso Zoo 2/21
10. Western screech owl (Megascops kennicottii) - El Paso Zoo 2/21

 

I had an unexpected surprise today when I arrived for my regular research time and found that the zoo was open for Buffalo Public Schools' vacation week! There was one no-show, and I didn't wander to some sections of the zoo, so expect another small update whenever the zoo is next open.

Buffalo Zoo
25. Bald Eagle- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
26. Cinereous Vulture- Aegypius monachus
27. Arctic Fox- Vulpes lagopus
28. Spotted Hyena- Crocuta crocuta

 

Wooten's Everglades Airboats:
1. Lion - Panthera leo
2. American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis

Naples Zoo:
3. Tiger - Panthera tigris
4. Cheetah - Acinonyx jubatus
5. Cougar - Puma concolor
6. Serval - Leptailurus serval
7. Coyote - Canis latrans
8. American Black Bear - Ursus americanus
9. Striped Hyena - Crocuta Crocuta

San Antonio Zoo:
10. Clouded Leopard - Neofelis nebulosa
11. Fishing Cat - Prionailurus viverrinus
12. Jaguar - Panthera onca
13. African Wild Dog - Lycaon pictus
14. Fossa - Cryptoprocta ferox
15. King Vulture - Sarcoramphus papa
16. Burrowing Owl - Athene cunicularia
17. Nile Crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus
18. Dwarf Crocodile - Osteolaemus tetraspis
19. Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman - Paleosuchus palpebrosus
20. Gharial - Gavialis gangeticus
21. Tomistoma - Tomistoma melanogaster
22. Komodo Dragon - Varanus komodoensis

 

I've seen these threads before but never decided to contribute because I wouldn't see them until the end of the year. I haven't visited the usual places I visit yet this year, so my list is rather short to start.

Key West Wildlife Center (1/1/24)
1. Turkey vulture Cathartes aura

Key West Aquarium (1/2/24)
2. Bonnethead shark Sphyrna tiburo
3. Atlantic Nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum
4. Sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus

 

Probably my last update to this list for the next couple months.

Lincoln Park Zoo - 2/24
Mammals
17. Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

 

Today was a very successful repeat visit to the San Diego Zoo! I was finally able to see two of the most elusive mammals at the park, both of which I have only seen one other time in my many visits over the past year.

San Diego Zoo (Santa Diego, CA) - 27 February, 2024:
Canidae:
85. Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

Ursidae:
86. Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)

 

Detroit Zoo (2/27/24)
5. Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis
6. Cuvier's dwarf caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus
7. Tiger Panthera tigris
8. Lion Panthera leo
9. Polar bear Ursus maritimus
10. Brown bear Ursus arctos
11. Gray wolf Canis lupus
12. Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

 

Spent my weekend cataloging the nasty and ferocious apex beasts that are the giant panda and whale shark.

Georgia Aquarium, 3/2
10. Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
11. Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
12. Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)
13. Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
14. Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
15. Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
16. Zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum)
17. Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

Fish are well outside of my comfort zone, but I believe this to be totally accurate. Notably, I missed the Swellshark as my family was hurrying through the Cold Water Quest area and I didn't know it was in there until afterward.

Zoo Atlanta, 3/3
18. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
19. Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
20. Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
21. Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
22. Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
23. West African slender snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)
24. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
25. King vulture (Sarcoramphus papa)
26. Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
27. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
28. Milky eagle owl (Ketupa lactea)

Thought I was making a clean sweep here, only to get home and realize I had missed the lappet-faced vultures. My niece was dying to rush through the birds so she could get to the children's zoo, though, so I'm satisfied that I was at least able to get the milky eagle owl and hooded vulture on the board.

What's next? I don't have any solid zoo plans for the next 4 months, although I imagine I'll hit Riverbanks in that timeframe. That will add grizzly, two small cats, a handful of owls and vultures (maybe one of each now that I'm thinking on it), and at least one shark. Lowcountry Zoo would be a nice get, and isn't totally impossible - plus their red fox and gray fox might ironically be some of the harder species for me to get on the board. Aside from those, I might be coasting until my big blowout Texas trip in July.

Spoiler: Running list for my own satisfaction

1. Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
2. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
3. Lion (Panthera leo)
4. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
5. Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
6. Bat-eared fox (Otocton megalotis)
7. Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
8. Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
9. Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
10. Barred owl (Strix varia)
11. Milky eagle owl (Ketupa lactea)
12. Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo)
13. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
14. Harris’s hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
15. King vulture (Sarcoramphus papa)
16. Rüppell’s griffon vulture (Gyps rueppelli)
17. Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
18. American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
19. West African slender snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)
20. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
21. Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
22. Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
23. Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)
24. Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
25. Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
26. Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
27. Zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum)
28. Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)