Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Animals No Longer at Cleveland Zoo

Unless Im mistaken the most amazing species Cleveland ever had is missing from this list - a NIGERIAN Pygmy Hippo (Choeropsis heslopi),now thought extinct - in the early fifties (1952?).If this is correct it may have been the ONLY one ever kept in a zoo.

 

This has been debunked - the animal in question was from Liberia, not Nigeria.
A 1960 Cleveland guide says that a pygmy hippo received in May 1955 reportedly originated in Nigeria. However, this turned out to be incorrect.

 

Also unknow to many the zoo also did have a Cuscus. It was never on public display but was rather kept in the basement of the current Primate/ aquatic building. I remember seeing it, but like most nocturnal species was sleeping and only saw it's body on the tree in the cage it was in.

 

...additional species Metroparks (Cleveland) Zoo had also:

American Alligators

African Hunting Dog

Bateleur Eagle

Harpy Eagle

American River Otters

Prairie Dog's

Springhare

Red Lechwe ( note: for a brief time they didn't last long cause they learned to jump out of the exhibit )

 

The zoo had a ground cuscus on display in the old nocturnal section at one point as well - I remember it well, as that was the first time I saw the species. I don't have too many memories of specific exhibits in the nocturnal section, but I do recall the ground cuscus and springhare.