Has any zoo successfully exhibited shrews?

At the time of my last visit to Philadelphia Zoo (2013), Philly zoo had on exhibit 2 species of Elehant-Shrews (black-and-rufous and short-eared), tree shrews, AND American Least Shrews(Cryptotis parva), which are, of course, true shrews

There is a youtube video on them titled "Philadelphia Zoo Least Shrews and Cricket"

 

They are no longer at the zoo, unfortunately. I visited in July 2014 and emailed the zoo beforehand to find out if they were on-show and, if not, if I could perhaps still see them along with a few other species. From the very nice man who replied:

It might interest some people to know that he then went on to incorrectly identify the zoo's two elephant-shrew and tree-shrew species as actual shrews.

~Thylo

 

There is an article about captive shrew colonies in the International Zoo Yearbook volume 15 (1975) mentioning several species.
I have only seen a wild shrew once, crossing a road; but I have seen them caught in Longworth traps and once or twice I have found freshly dead specimens as some predators will kill shrews, but then choose not to eat them.
The display at Slimbridge, which has been mentioned already, has been running since 2009, generally holding a pair of water shrews. I have seen the shrews several times, but it does require both patience and luck, and I have given up trying on busy days. The animals are active intermittently during the day and as the enclosure has plenty of cover, the first sign of activity is usually a movement in the foliage, which may be followed by a dash to the feed bowl (a coffee jar lid), a mouthful or couple of nibbles and a dash back into cover. If you see this happen, you may see it again several times within a period of about 10 minutes or you may not. I find them fascinating, but they do not make a particularly successful display for the majority of visitors.

Alan

 

From what I understand keeping shrews fed isn't too hard as long as the Food bowls are topped up with wet dog or cat food, they will eat small amounts throughout the day. They can then be supplemented with inverts once a day.

 

The British Wildlife Centre in Surrey has a wonderful building of small mammal enclosures. They did have water shrew but I don't think they do now.

 

I went to The British Wildlife Centre today and they do still have water shrew. I only saw one individual, though it is very possible there were more.

 

A very large collection of papers dealing with al kind of aspects of Shrew-biology, on page 271 a paper on captive breeding the Common shrew :

no.18 (1994) - Advances in the biology of shrews / - Biodiversity Heritage Library

 

I've now seen Eurasian Water Shrew at Wildwood during my trip to the UK.

~Thylo

 

Tama Zoo have a mole-shrew house that is quite amazing.

 

The article mentioned in post 22 is Establishment and maintenance of shrew colonies, G.L.Dryden (Internatioanl Zoo Yearbook volume 15, pages 12-18).

International zoo Yearbook volume 20 also has a piece about shrews, pages 18 and 19, in Insectivirous mammals in captivity by John F. Eisenberg.

The Zoo Yearbook breeding lists (volumes 1 to 36) record the following species.

Crocidura spp.
C.leucodon
C.russula
C.r.judaica
C.r.monarcha
C.suaveolens
C.s.cassiteridum
Cryptotelis parva
Diplomesodon pulchellum
Sorex araneus
Suncus etruscus
S.murinus


There are also mentions of the breeding of Blarina brevicauda, althogh this species is not listed in the zoo yearebook breeding lists..

 

I've seen the following shrew species at the following locations:

1.) (Blarina brevicauda) Northern short-tailed shrew (wild Cape Breton Highlands NP- Nova Scotia, trapped near University of Maine)
2.) (Cryptotis parva) American least shrew (Philadelphia Zoo, Brookfield Zoo)
3.) (Diplomesodon pulchellum) Piebald shrew (Moscow Zoo, Tierpark Schönebeck)
4.) (Neomys fodiens) Eurasian Water Shrew (Moscow Zoo, British Wildlife Centre)
5.) (Sorex araneus) Common shrew (Moscow Zoo)
6.) (Sorex cinereus) Masked Shrew* (wild Long Island, NY, trapped near University of Maine)
7.) (Sorex dispar) long-tailed shrew (trapped near University of Maine)
8.) (Sorex hoyi) American pygmy shrew*? (trapped near University of Maine)
9.) (Sorex minutissimus) Eurasian least shrew (Tama Zoo)
10.) (Sorex unguiculatus) Long-clawed shrew (Tama Zoo)
11.) (Suncus etruscus) greater white-toothed shrew (Berlin Tierpark)
12.) (Suncus murinus) Asian House Shrew (Plzen Zoo, Ueno Zoo)

*indicates animal was recently deceased

Also found out Maine Wildlife Park used to keep a Short-tailed Shrew and Star-nosed Mole earlier this year, and in years past.

Hope to post some of my recent shrew photos soon!

 

Plzen has Pygmy white-toothed or Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus ) exhibit in the Rhino house.

 

When did Brookfied have Least shrews.

 

I saw them back in 2006 I believe.

 

I have only seen shrews while I've been in Europe. Both of these were observed within a month of eachother and in the UK , two live species seen : the common shrew and the water shrew. The water shrew was seen crossing a stream and the common shrew was seen (unexpectedly) when picking up a flat plywood board in a rural area which it was hiding beneath.

Sadly I've only managed to see dead pygmy shrews in Spain. These had been predated on and dropped by kestrels or domestic cats.

I dont think these are strictly / taxonomically speaking shrews , but I would have loved to have seen a desman while I was in Spain and I would also like to one day see a Solenodon.

 

Very interesting groups of mammals indeed , hopefully (fingers crossed) I will get to see at least the Solenodon one day.

But for that I'll have to see if my other half can be persuaded of the merit of taking a future holiday to the Dominican Republic.

 

If I'm not mistaken , they are currently being kept at ZOODOM , right ?