Brno zoo - Grizzled giant squirrel

Grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura) - a rare species from Sri Lanka

Hi Kowari, do You have information about the degree of the relationship among the European population of the species (Leipzig Zoo, Zoo Brno, Zoo Ostrava)? Or just between the two Czech zoos? So the same bloodline or not?

It appears that the ones in Brno are brother and sister...

The female Giant Squirrel at Leipzig died from tuberculoses in 2008.
Its exhibit is home of 1,1 Southern Luzon giant cloud rats now....

Leipzig former giant squirrel came from Plzen zoo's stock in 2006 where it had arrived in 2003. I suppose Brno's ones were imported later, but before 2007, when those in Ostrava arrived, so the giant squirrels in the two Czech zoos are almost certainly unrelated.

It seems that some of the Czech zoos (Brno, Ostrava, Prague, Plsen?) have built up a connection with the Colombo Zoo, exchanging animals.

The following link mentions a first animal exchange between Brno and Colombo (Sri Lankan Leopards for a Chapman Zebra and a P-Horse) that took place in 2004. In 2007, Brno Zoo received the two GGS's and a Fishing Cat.

www.zoobrno.cz/files/200002331-38d1abfc97/AJ_Report_3.pdf

It reminds me of the fox squirrels over here in the states.