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african Mixed species enclosure

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by Michael.Kohaut, 12 Apr 2013.

  1. Michael.Kohaut

    Michael.Kohaut New Member

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    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!;)
     
  2. elefante

    elefante Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    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.
     
  3. tschandler71

    tschandler71 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    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.
     
  4. elefante

    elefante Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Wouldn't one hippo and one Grant's gazelle get lonely?
     
  5. tschandler71

    tschandler71 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    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.
     
  6. Michael.Kohaut

    Michael.Kohaut New Member

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    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.
     
  7. tschandler71

    tschandler71 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I've seen several Rhino/Cheetah exhibits mentioned before.
     
  8. kiang

    kiang Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  9. baboon

    baboon Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Xiangjiang Zoo in China has a mix of black rhinoceros, nyalas, red lechwes and scimitar-horned oryx.
     
  10. Piko

    Piko Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  11. cloudedleopard

    cloudedleopard Well-Known Member

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    Nah. I know Cleveland Metroparks Zoo had rhinos and cheetahs together at a time.
     
  12. Nasua

    Nasua Well-Known Member

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    Zoom in Gelsenkirchen also keeps hippos together with some sorts of antelopes.