Chester have deliberately sent away all the species from Australia that were previously in the collection. I would be amazed if they reversed that policy now. However there are two species of quoll native to New Guinea, if they were ever to become available they might fit in.
I think that a Hispaniolan solenodon or two in the nocturnal house at ZSL would be a wonderful addition. I am convinced that it will never happen though. This even though the zoological society with EDGE have pioneered the study of this animal in the wild and one of the stated aims of several action plans with this species being to build "ex-situ captive breeding programes".
London Zoo has only exhibited one Hispaniolan solenodon; it was there for a few months in 1967, the year that the Clore Pavilion opened. Like you, I very much doubt the zoo will ever have another one.
Interesting , thank you for sharing that information. What happened to that individual ? did it die or was it moved elsewhere? I honestly don't understand why they or indeed any of the other British zoos haven't brought in any solenodons for ex-situ captive breeding. I am even more perplexed considering that ZSL have been instrumental in studying their ecology and conservation status as an EDGE species. I can only guess that it might be down to either an institutional indifference (*cough* mediocrity *cough*) in terms of whoever is curating the mammal department of the zoo or more likely some kind of bureaucratic hurdle or lack of organization on the Dominican side. But maybe mini golf courses , meerkats and wallabies are just much more of a priority for the zoo. Bit of a shame too as they would make for a fascinating (and quite an active animal I would imagine) to exhibit indeed and I dont think the fact that they are "uncharismatic" or not "crowd pleasers" would make much of a difference either. Afterall, the nocturnal house already have a couple of "ratty" creatures (not my own terminology but from how I've heard other visitors refer to them) with small mammals like the Australian water rat , Malagasy giant jumping rat and tenrecs being on show.
I think it makes sense for me to make recommendations for zoos that I've visited in the UK- I've taken some collections off my list (farm parks, now closed, aquariums...). 1. Bristol Zoo - Indochinese Leopard (taking place of the lions). 2. London Zoo - One of the smaller bear species. As they're a favourite of mine, Andeans... But also Sun bears or Sloths again. 3.Exmoor Zoo- Bring back the Golden Cats, if not Brown Hyena. 4.Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park - Red Panda. 5. Wild Place Project - Orangutans. 6. Noahs Ark Zoo Farm - African Hunting Dogs. 7. Longleat Safari Park - A larger group of Common Hippos. 8. Shandon Wildlife Trust - Marsh Mongoose (replace the meerkats) 9. Paignton Zoo - Jaguar, or Spotted Hyena. 10. Living Coasts - a Female Bank cormorant... Or as everyone else thinks, Sea Otter. 11. Dudley Zoo - Margay or Iberian Wolves 12. Twycross Zoo - Dholes again, or any bear species. 13. Monkey World - Gorilla or Proboscis Monkeys. 14. Tropiquaria - Maybe Clouded leopard, or some hoofstock (maybe some Zebra?) 15. Amazon World Zoo Park - Pacarana (would go nicely with their Lowland Paca). 16. Marwell Zoo - Chimps. 17. New Forest Wildlife Park - Bear or Wolverine. 18. Yorkshire Wildlife Park - Indian Rhino. 19. Dartmoor Zoo - Some black bears would be nice - In the old brown bear exhibit. 20. Wingham Wildlife Park - I would have said Orangutans... But 21. Crocodiles of the World - Anaconda. 22. Cotswold Wildlife Park - Chimps. 23. Chester Zoo - Snow Leopard. 24. Blackpool Zoo - Dromedary Camel. 25. Lakeland Wildlife Oasis - Bush Dogs. 26. Wild Discovery - Geoffreys Cat. 27. South Lakes Safari Zoo - Cheetah. 28. Hamerton Zoo Park - Tasmanian Devil. 29. Woodside Wildlife Park - Striped Hyena. 30. Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park - A smaller penguin species. 31. Flamingo Land - I think they could possibly do Polar Bears?? 32. Ventura Wildlife Park - Sifaka. 33. Paradise Wildlife Park - Sun bears. 34. Whipsnade Zoo - Nothing actually comes to mind... 35. All things Wild - Puma (not enough of those around) 36. Wolds Wildlife Park - Giraffe. 37. Axe Valley Wildlife Park - Fossa. 38. Wild Zoological Park - Wolves or Beavers. 39. Exotic Zoo - Penguins 40. Tropical World - Hoffman's Sloth. 41. Knowsley Safari Park - Spotted Hyena. 42. Wildwood Escot - Elk/Moose or Beavers. Not an especially detailed list with much thought.. Just what came to mind straight away.
I was surprised to only see one snake on exhibit during my visit, but I'd argue that completing the croc set is more important. Let;s see some American crocodiles or gharials first... I think a great ape species would take away from the charm of CWP but do think another larger monkey species wouldn't go amiss. Not in that bloody exhibit though...
I agree in reference to the Chimps... maybe Woolly Monkey would be "more CWP". Of course not in that exhibit, hence the ""
Linton Zoo - A leopard species back again…Persian or Amur perhaps. The return of a small cat species would be great to see as well. Cotswold Wildlife Park - Maned Wolf Knowsley Safari Park - Greater One Horned Rhino. (No elephants) Dartmoor Zoo - Scottish Wild Cat Shepreth Wildlife Park - Bush Dog
Small cats are a possibility at Linton, but leopards are out of the question until the new snow leopard enclosure has been completed
Wingham Wildlife Park - Spotted Hyena Drusillas Zoo Park - Caracal, Bush Dog, Tapir Flamingo Land - African wild dogs Marwell Zoo - Indian Muntjac
Well, when I'm thinking about zoos in Poland a species which comes to my mind is... Asiatic golden cat - for Wrocław zoo. I associate Wrocław with challenging, rare species and they quite recently opened 3 exhibits for endangered cats in Asia. It would be the only one AGC in that part of Europe... A gazelle species (like Mhorr or Persian but if we could give free rein to the imagination why not e.g. Speke's gazelle?) - for Warsaw zoo. I remember times when Warsaw was the only one European holder of Red-fronted gazelle... even more! I remember when they had a herd! I would love to see any gazelle species there again... Dhole - for Łódź zoo. They have been working on Orientarium, an Asian area which takes up a lot of zoo's grounds. There are supposed to be Asian elephants, orangs, clouded leopards, sun bears... However I think that in many Asian areas there is a lack of charismatic wild dog, like a dhole. I think that this species could add a little originality to this project and would be much more showy than e.g. cloudies (which I love with all my heart)!
Exmoor Zoological Park - Clouded Leopard Bristol Zoo - Maned Wolf Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park - Kinkajou Drusillas Park - Pygmy Hippo Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom - Red River Hog
Bristol Zoo - smaller Cats to replace Asiatic Lions, which should then move to the former Wolf enclosure at Wild Place. Wild Place - (apart from the lions) would love to see Orang Utans here in a cageless, Singapore style, island enclosure.
Knowsley: African Elephants or more realistically Warthog Marwell: Hyena (doesn't matter which species) Yorkshire: African Elephants Welsh Mountain Zoo: Yak
Bristol Zoo - Echidna Exmoor Zoo - Arabian Leopard Wild Place - Red Colobus (for Congo area). Paignton - Shoebill Stork or Okapi Living Coasts - Sea and/or Marine Otter Newquay - Fossa (return) or Tayra Shaldon - Mauritius Kestrel or Pink Pigeon
