Dolichotis salinicola, lesser mara

Dolichotis salinicola
Lesser mara or Chacoan mara

De Paay is the ONLY zoo in Europe with this species.
They keep 1.1 and are hoping they will reproduce.

Kept in an aviary with red-eared macaws.

Wow, not sure I've ever seen a picture of D. salinicola before - wasn't expecting them to look so different.

Certainly some interesting things at De Paay!


Have to say though, that 1.1 is not exactly the best base for a new zoo population. Do you know where they came from? I wonder if it would be possible to bring in more animals.

My guess is that they came from the same animal trader as the greater grisons came. But I wouldn't be surprised when this species is kept by some private breeders.

Yes, I suspect you may be right on both points.

Visited De Paay as part of a busy zoo tour last week (photos will follow) - unfortunately the Chacoan/Lesser Maras there have both died earlier this year (cause of death unknown as per a keeper). We did, however, see a single individual at Best Zoo later in the same day - very attractive little species.

Crazy to think that this species first showed up in an European zoo in 2011. They're everywhere these days!!