In early 1984 I travelled to Europe to see some of the more well-known zoos in that part of the world. Almost a year later I intended to give a slide presentation to zookeepers at the Australasian Society of Zoo Keepers annual conference and wrote a commentary on each of the zoos. This is the review of one of those zoos. At many of the zoos I visited I took notes of the exhibits and the different species I saw – due to Australian laws the zoos in Australia are somewhat limited in the species available for display. The text for each zoo’s review was written several months afterwards and was based upon my notes and from what I could remember. As I said, it was to be delivered to zoo keepers in Australia so there are occasional references or comparisons to Taronga Zoo and its exhibits. In the early 1980’s many zoos around the world were ‘modernising’ their exhibits to look more natural and be more beneficial to the occupants, as opposed to keeping the public happy at the animals expense. Behavioural enrichment was a new concept, too, so there are sometimes frequent references to enclosure design/construction and furnishings. I have copied the text verbatim, and resisted the temptation to correct my grammar, to re-word or rephrase sentences and paragraphs. I was 21 at the time and my writing skills were underdeveloped (by my current standards). However, if for the sake of clarity I feel the need to add words or additional information, I have done so in [brackets]. The scientific names are recorded from labels on exhibits at the time, and I have not updated them to current usage for posterity’s sake. Measurements are all estimates. I have created a thread covering all the zoos on my trip, found here A Look at Some Well-known European Zoos - in 1984 and I’ll be posting the individual reviews in the appropriate forums. Finally, the opinions expressed here are mine and often reflect the views of the day. Some reviews are not complimentary, but I’m hoping that in the intervening 35 years these zoos have improved. ____________________________________ Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart was bathed in a couple of rays of sunshine when I arrived. They soon vanished, but the day didn’t get any worse. I got some real surprises in Wilhelma. I had never heard of the zoo before, but apart from having some good enclosures and some rare specimens, it’s pretty well laid out. The first surprise I got was when I walked into the Giraffe House and found Okapis and Shoebills. I had never seen a Shoebill before and had asked at other zoos if they knew where I might see one. No-one had knew. Just around the corner was a small herd of Bongos, and a baby born on 2/7/83. There was a pair of Malayan Tapirs in the Rhino and Hippo House. All the cages were terrible, too small. The Gibbon House had Proboscis Monkeys and the nursery had Bonobos. But the biggest thrill of all for me was, while wandering around the top end of the zoo, I saw a sign that said “Bergtapire”. At the time I thought that it was just another Brazilian Tapir, but then I saw the scientific name: Tapirus pinchaque. I knew immediately that it was a Mountain Tapir, an extremely rare beast found only in a small area of mountains in South America. To my chagrin, the animals were locked up, but I tracked down a keeper and, although she didn’t speak English, managed to get her to let me in and see these fabulous creatures. They had one pair and both animals were very tame and I was allowed to pat them. The black hair readily fell out and my hand rapidly became covered in it. It was too dark for taking photos so I had to make do with just touching them. As far as I had known, none were in captivity so it was a considerable shock to come across a pair in a little known zoo. The Gibbons had a gigantic cage, two stories high. Inside it were wires and shelves and ropes. An excellent cage. There was a row of aviaries in the centre of the zoo with grass bases housing several different species of parrot. But one of the cages, without being altered, had Squirrel Monkeys in it and was quite suitable. Overall, Wilhelma is a fairly good zoo, but the Small Mammal House and the cat cages and Rhino/Hippo House could all do with a bit of renovating. ____________________________________ Vogelhaus All the cages have soil bottoms, although the parrots have mainly rock but they do have a bit of soil. All the cages also have vegetation, no bits, but quite a lot without making flying impossible. The cages have wire roofs and either a glass or wire front. These cages are some of the most natural I’ve seen. Brazilian Tanager (Ramphocelus breziliensis) Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) ____________________________________ Violaceus Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) Golden-sided Euphonia (Euphonia cayennensis) ____________________________________ Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) ____________________________________ Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) ____________________________________ Military Macaw (Ara militaris) ____________________________________ Pileated Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops) Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) ____________________________________ Chinese Crested Mynah (Acridotheres cristellatus) Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) ____________________________________ Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) Blackbird (turdus merula) Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) Ringed Teal (Anas leucophrys) Rothschilds Mynah (Leucopsar rothschildi) ____________________________________ Bartlett’s Bleedingheart Pigeon (Gallicolumba criniger) Fairy Bluebird (Irene puella) Pale-Mandibled Toucan (Pteroglossus erythropygius) ____________________________________ Grosbeak Starling (Scissiorostrum dubriium) White-bellied Amethyst Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) Golden-crested Mynah (Ampeliceps coronatus) King Quail (Excalfactoria chinensis) ____________________________________ Finch’s Amazon (Amazona finschi) Yellow-crowned Amazon (Amazona ochracephala panamensis) ____________________________________ Toucan Barbet (Semniornis ramphastinus) ____________________________________ Green Broadbill (Calyptomena viridis) Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) ____________________________________ Long-tailed Grass Finch (Poephila acuticauda) Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae) ____________________________________ Five-coloured Mannikin (Munia quinticolor quinticolor) Mollucan Mannikiin (Lonchura molucca molucca) Small Mammal House All the cages have glass fronts and wire roofs. Many have masonite walls and/or floors; is masonite a rodent-proof material? Some enclosures had soil on the floor, others had straw or wood shavings covering the masonite. Trees and branches are provided, however most enclosures are on the small side, except those for the smaller animals. Tree Kangaroo exhibit is awful, far too small. Coendou (Coendou prehensilis) x 2 Coendou (Coendou prehensilis) x 1 Six-banded Armadillo (Euphractes sexcinctus) x 1 Hamster (Cricetus cricetus) Weasel Cavy (Galea musteloides) Kinkajou (Potos flavus) Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei) Common Tree Shrew (Tupaia glis) Desert Jerboa (Jaculus sp.) Jird (??? sp.) Pygmy Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairii) Dorias Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus dorianus) Chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger) Dark Mongoose (Crossarchus obscurus) x 2 Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) x 2 Zorilla (Ictonyx striatus) Apenhaus Cages are all large enough in size. The fronts are all glass and there is light through glass in the roof. They are furnished with shelves and metal pipes. Animals don’t look bored. All are moving, playing, chasing, looking at the public. Most were quite active. The three gorilla babies [in the first exhibit] were born on 13/4/82, 17/4/82, 3/6/82. One of the Bonobos was a baby born in 11/9/81. Gorilla (Gorilla g. gorilla) x 3 Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) x 5 Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) x 4 Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) x 3 Gorilla (Gorilla g. gorilla) x 6 Bonobo (Pan paniscus) x 4 Gibbonhaus Tile walls and glass fronts. Furnishings predominantly wood or metal. One or two ropes. One baby Douc and a baby Silver Leaf Monkey. White-handed Gibbons were outside in a gigantic enclosure. White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) x 3 Douc Langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus) x 3 Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) x 2 Silver Leaf Monkey (Presbytis cristatus phryhus) x 4 Nursery Light is from glass in the roof, the rest of the roof is wire. The fronts are all glass and the floors are concrete. The walls are either glass or concrete. The shelves and ‘trees’ are wood (Mahogany, I think – they look awful!). Some ropes aswell. Size quite ample for all animals. Pale-headed Saki (Pithecia p. pithecia) x 1.1 Pale-headed Saki (Pithecia p. pithecia) x 0.1 Goeldi’s Monkey (Callimico goeldi) x 6 Ostrich chicks (Struthio camelus) x 8 Feral Rock Dove (Columba livia) x many Domestic Chicken (Gallus gallus) x many Mouse (Mus musculus) x many Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) x 2 Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) x 2 Fork-tailed Wood Nymph (Thalurania furcata) x many Glittering-throated Emerald (Amazilia fimbiata) x many Gorilla (Gorilla g. gorilla) x 2 Bonobo (Pan paniscus) x 1 Gorilla (Gorilla g. gorilla) x 3 Bonobo (Pan paniscus) x 2 Dorias Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus dorianus) x 2 The Goeldi’s Monkey’s weren’t black; they were dark brown with light brown streaks. Ostrich chicks were born 5/1/84 to 7/1/84. Both hummingbirds were in together. Natural vegetation. First two gorillas born 4/3/81 and 23/3/81.The others born 9/4/83, 24/5/83, and 15/10/83. The single baby Bonobo was born 28/2/83, and the youngsters were born 24/4/80 and 27/7/80. The baby Bonobo and the youngest gorilla were in together. Gorilla was larger and stronger but chimp has more co-ordination, climbing ropes while the gorilla remained on the floor. The Tree Kangaroos were in a large cage with a multi-branched tree. Tropicarium All the cages were large enough for the birds contained in them. They ranged fronm wooden box-shaped cages with glass fronts to largish aviaries with wire fronts and live plants growing in them. White-eared Catbird (Ailuroedus biuccoides) x 1 Eclectus Parrot (Lorius roratus) x 1.1 Fire-tufted Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus) x 1 Troupial (Icterus icterus) x 3 Golden-hearted Pigeon (Gallicolumba rufigula) x 1 Barred Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia unchall) x 3 Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) x 1 Yellow Meadow-starling (Xanthopsar flavus) x 3 Swainson’s Toucan (Ramphastus swainsonii) x 2 Crested Jay (Cyanocorax cristatellus) x 3 Azure Jay (Cyanocorax coeruleus) x 3 Trumpeter (Psophia sp.) x 3 Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis) x 2 Yellow-streaked Lory (Chalcopsitta sintillata) x 1 Iris Lorikeet (Psitteuteles iris) x 1 Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus) x 2 Papuan Loy (Charmosyna papou stellae) x 2 Pesquet’s Parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus) x 1 The Eclectus Parrots were placed in the genus Lorius. The Trumpeters were youngsters and were unlabelled. Aquarium Highlights Pipa toad (Pipa pipa) Lantern Fish (Palpeblepharon palpebratus) Giant Salamander (Megalobatrachus japonicus) Sea Wolf (Anarchichas lupus) Four-eyed Fish (Anableps anableps) Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) x 1 Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) x 1 Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) x 1 Pearly Nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) Anemonefish Unlabeled Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang) Lesser Malay Chevrotain (Tragulus javanicus) Two-toed Sloth (Chloepus didactylus) Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) Egyptian Rousette (Roesettus aegyptianicus) Moholi Bushbaby (Galago senegalensis) Cacomistle (Bassariscus astutus) Kinkajou (Potus flavus) Brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Large tanks used for the fish. Turtle tanks were bigger than most but are still far too small. Mammal cages are OK but could be bigger, particularly the Loris’, Bushbaby’s, Kinkajou’s Cacomistle’s and Possum’s. Sloth on the ground but had plenty of trees. Reptile House All tanks are an adequate size, except the Dumeril’s Monitor which was too small and the Prehensile-tailed Skink’s which was a little small. They have plenty of soil, vegetation and trees to climb on, plus rocks etc. Chinese Water Dragon (Physignathus concinnus) x 1.2 Emerald Monitor (Varanus prasinus) x 1 Bearded Dragon (Amphibolurus barbatus) x 5 Hosmer’s Skink (Egernia hosmeri) x 1 Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) x 2.0 Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) x 3 Helmeted Basilisk (Basiliscus galerita) x 4 Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina orientalis) x 3 Spiny-tailed Pygmy Monitor (Varanus a. acanthurus) x 5 Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum) x 1 Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta) x 2 Dumeril’s Monitor (Varanus dumerilii) x 1 Giant Prehensile-tailed Skink (Corucia zebrata) x 5 South East Asian Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) Green Tree Frog (Hyla caerulea) Poison Arrow Frog (Dendrobates lehmanni) x 8 Poison Arrow Frog (Dendrobates pumilio) x 2 Poison Arrow Frog (Dendrobates auratus) x 2 Blue Poison Arrow Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) x 3 Egg-eating Snake (Dasypeltis scabra) Flying Gecko (Ptychozoan kuhli) Puff Adder (Bitis lachesis) Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila) Asiatic Cobra (Naja naja) Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata) Children’s Python (Liasis childreni) Boa Constrictor (Constrictor constrictor) Jamaican Boa (Epicrates subflavus) African Bullfrog (Rana adspersa) The Helmeted Basilisks were all babies, and four of the Pygmy Monitors were babies. The Frogs D. auratus and pumilio both appeared in the same tank because auratus is terrestrial and pumilio is arboreal. [The Puff Adder name (Bitis lachesis) is an old name, last used in the 1950’s.] The Boa Constrictors were babies. Crocodylian Exhibits Johnstone’s Crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodylus) West African Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) Schneider’s Smooth-fronted Caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus) All exhibits were large enough. The following groups were all in the same exhibits: Southern Painted Tortoise (Chrysemys picta dorsalis) Western Painted Tortoise (Chrysemys picta belli) Red-eared Tortoise (Pseudemys scripta dorsalis) Spotted Tortoise (Clemmys guttata) (Platemys platycephala) Barbour’s Map Tortoise (Graptemys barbouri) Ringed Sawback (Graptemys oculifera) Helmeted Basilisk (Basiliscus galerita) ____________________________________ Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger) Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niliticus) African Slender-snouted Crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus) American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) False Gavial (Tomistoma schlegelii) ____________________________________ Sungazer (Cordylus giganteus) Giant Plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus validus) Skink (Eumeces schneiderii algeriensis) ____________________________________ Galapagos Tortoise (Testudo elephantopus) ____________________________________ Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) Red Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) ____________________________________ Marbled Gecko (Oedura marmorata) Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauretanica) ____________________________________ Gold-dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) Frog (Hyperolius marmoratum) ____________________________________ Tree Frog (Litoria rothi) Tree Frog (Litoria gracilenta) ____________________________________ Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) Cuban Boa (Epicrates angulifer) Boa Constrictor (Constrictor constrictor) ____________________________________ Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus)
