Join our zoo community

Rarest animals seen in a zoo or aquarium

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by Arizona Docent, 21 Jun 2011.

Page 5 of 26
  1. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

    Joined:
    20 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    4,549
    Location:
    Sydney
    Yep, saw him at Zealandia last night. Will post some photos when I get home in a day or two.

    :p :p :p

    Hix
     
    Hix, 16 Oct 2011
    #81
  2. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    23,433
    Location:
    New Zealand
    lucky Hix. Did you fly over specifically for that? I'm back in Chch of course when I really should be in Wellington (never where the kakapo are when I need to be!). I do think you're stretching the definition of zoo though just for the bragging rights!!! I take it you saw the takahe as well whilst there?
     
    Chlidonias, 17 Oct 2011
    #82
  3. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

    Joined:
    20 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    4,549
    Location:
    Sydney
    Yep - flew over specifically for Sirocco. All my friends think I'm completely mad - apparently flying to New Zealand to watch two teams chase a ball around a field is an acceptable waste of money, but go there just for a parrot?

    I went back yesterday morning and saw the Takahe, and several other wild birds (plus the Tuataras and wetas and geckos). Also saw Takahe at Mt Bruce (popped up there on Saturday, but missed the white kiwi - he's only on display on Sundays. However, I did see one of the keepers handfeeding a couple of kiwi chicks.

    Photos of Sirocco are in the Zealandia gallery - a little 'noisy' as the lighting was very poor and I had to use an ISO of 12800. Other photos and reviews will go up in the coming week(s).

    And Sirocco is on display until the end of October.

    :p

    Hix
     
    Hix, 18 Oct 2011
    #83
  4. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    23,433
    Location:
    New Zealand
    those are fantastic photos for low-light conditions. I wish I had your camera!! Unfortunately I won't be back in Wellington before Sirocco is gone and I have (almost literally) no money to get up there right now anyway.
     
    Chlidonias, 18 Oct 2011
    #84
  5. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    16 May 2010
    Posts:
    14,824
    Location:
    Wilds of Northumberland
    Looking at those photos makes me green with envy.... the exact same shade of green as a Kakapo!
     
    TeaLovingDave, 18 Oct 2011
    #85
  6. SMR

    SMR Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    22 Oct 2009
    Posts:
    1,288
    Location:
    Chester
    Fully-leucistic Coloeus monedula, possibly much rarer than a run-of-the-mill kakapo. ;)
     
    SMR, 18 Oct 2011
    #86
  7. Pygathrix

    Pygathrix Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    22 Aug 2007
    Posts:
    1,308
    Location:
    UK
    And even more endangered in the wild than the Royal Bengal White Tiger :)
     
    Pygathrix, 18 Oct 2011
    #87
  8. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Dec 2006
    Posts:
    20,774
    Location:
    england
    Mountain Gorilla(Cologne) or Sumatran Rhino(Port Lympne).

    I can't resist adding that I've seen a Kakapo too- though it wasn't in a Zoo- but I got to hold it :cool:(they have a nasty bite too).
     
    Pertinax, 18 Oct 2011
    #88
  9. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    16 May 2010
    Posts:
    14,824
    Location:
    Wilds of Northumberland
    Can do a lot of damage to the skin of your neck if they like you, too ;)
     
    TeaLovingDave, 18 Oct 2011
    #89
  10. Jakub

    Jakub Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    9 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    223
    Location:
    Zlin, Czech Republic
    So I would like to add my list:

    Hirola - Dvur Kralove
    Jimela - Dvur Kralove
    Lelwel Hartebeest - Dvur Kralove
    Kaama Hartebeest - Hannover, Dvur Kralove
    Four-horned antelope - Berlin Zoo
    Bawean Deer - Poznan Zoo
    Saiga - Köln Zoo
    Marco Polo sheep - Tierpark Berlin
    Golden takin - Liberec Zoo, Tierpark Berlin
    Mountain reedbuck - Dvur Kralove, Tierpark Berlin
    Slender-horned gazelle - Dvur Kralove
    Barbary deer - Tierpark Berlin
    Northern white rhino - Dvur Kralove
    Bearded pig - Berlin Zoo, München Zoo
    Mountain anoa - Berlin Zoo, Krefeld Zoo
    Javan leopard - both Berlin's Zoos
    Aardwolf - Tierpark Berlin
    African palm civet - Poznan Zoo
    Masked palm civet - Dortmund Zoo
    Sea otter - Rotterdam Zoo, Antwerpen Zoo
    Giant Panda - Berlin Zoo, Vienna Zoo
    Amazon river dolphin - Duisburg Zoo
    Pacific walrus - Harderwijk
    Douc - Köln Zoo
    Proboscis monkey - Apenheul
    Eastern lowland gorilla - Antwerpen Zoo
    Broad-nosed gentle lemur - Köln Zoo
    Crowned sifaka - Mulhouse Zoo, Apenheul
    Aye-aye - Berlin Zoo, Frankfurt Zoo
    Goodman's mouse lemur - Plzen Zoo
    Uta Hick's bearded saki - Mulhouse Zoo
    Red howler monkey - Köln Zoo
    Red-bellied guenon - Mulhouse Zoo
    Silvery gibbon - München Zoo
    Panay bushy-tailed cloud rat - Plzen Zoo
    Lesser bamboo rat - Plzen Zoo
    Silvery mol-rat - Plzen Zoo
    Checkered elephant shrew - Praha Zoo
    Streaked tenrec - Plzen Zoo
    Four-eyed opossum - Plzen Zoo
    Brown dorcopsis - Praha Zoo
    Dusky pademelon - Plzen Zoo
    Chinese pangolin - Leipzig Zoo
     
    Jakub, 18 Oct 2011
    #90
  11. Cat-Man

    Cat-Man Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    6 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    2,999
    Location:
    GBR
    i'm literally crying with envy right now ;)
     
    Cat-Man, 18 Oct 2011
    #91
  12. Dassie rat

    Dassie rat Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    18 Jun 2011
    Posts:
    5,559
    Location:
    London, UK
    Until 1997, London Zoo had the only captive Nduk or Usambara eagle owl (Bubo vosseleri) in the world. I only found this out from the list of rare animals in the International Zoo Yearbook. The owl was on the North Bank near the Snowdon Aviary and attracted little or no interest, although I did take a few people to see it. Its label didn't indicate its uniqueness and I don't remember any concern shown about its demise. A great shame.

    Zootierliste lists three zoos having kept the species, but none currently. Nor are any listed in Isis.
     
    Last edited: 19 Oct 2011
    Dassie rat, 18 Oct 2011
    #92
  13. DeydraOZ

    DeydraOZ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    7 Dec 2008
    Posts:
    143
    Location:
    Bozeman, MT
    Let's see..
    Tasmanian Wombat (Rio Grande Zoo) I've heard they have 3 wombats.
    White-necked raven (Rio Grande Zoo)
    Borneo Pygmy elephant (Oregon Zoo) As far as I know the only pygmy in North America
    Waldrapp Ibis (San Fransisco Zoo)
    Pacific Walrus (Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium)
    Steller's Sea Lion (Oregon Zoo)
    Blue-faced honeyeater (Pueblo Zoo)
    Eurasian Black Vulture (Pueblo Zoo)
    Lesser Yellow-faced vulture (Hogle Zoo) Bird show is the only place I've seen the vulture
    African Sriped Weasel (Hogle Zoo)
    Azure-winged magpie (Tautphaus Park Zoo)
    Green Wood Hoopoe (Tautphaus Park Zoo) This zoo has a number of birds that are pretty unique

    This is just based on the zoos I've been to. Haven't been to many compared to others here.
     
    DeydraOZ, 19 Oct 2011
    #93
  14. Ituri

    Ituri Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Dec 2007
    Posts:
    2,934
    Location:
    USA
    How recent was the lesser yellow-headed vulture in a show at Hogle?

    Other rare birds at Tautphaus Park (as of last summer): Chaco chachalaca and crested francolin
     
    Ituri, 19 Oct 2011
    #94
  15. DeydraOZ

    DeydraOZ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    7 Dec 2008
    Posts:
    143
    Location:
    Bozeman, MT
    Tracy aviary also has a pair of Chaco chachalaca.
    Tautphaus Park has a lot of birds I've never seen before.
    I saw the vulture this summer during the bird show so it was pretty recent. Oh they also have a white-necked raven too. And a Steller's sea eagle who will be going up to Seattle soon for breeding. I don't do a lot of zoo traveling during the summer so it's rare for me to catch bird-shows.
     
    DeydraOZ, 19 Oct 2011
    #95
  16. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Dec 2006
    Posts:
    20,774
    Location:
    england
    Your time will come... I'm sure opportunities will arrive in your lifetime to see these or other marvellous species too.;)
     
    Pertinax, 19 Oct 2011
    #96
  17. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    16 May 2010
    Posts:
    14,824
    Location:
    Wilds of Northumberland
    In the wild, it certainly is easiest for the average person to see a Mountain Gorilla.

    In captivity, despite their population numbers being the lowest of the three, I somehow suspect the chances of seeing a Kakapo are better than seeing a Sumatran Rhino or a Mountain Gorilla - the captive breeding programme for the Rhino is dead in the water, so once the Cincinnati individuals die that probably will be your lot, and there is no chance at all of Mountain Gorillas becoming an established zoo animal. Conversely, although there is still a long way to go, the rate of improvement in Kakapo populations has been such that it wouldn't surprise me if in a decade or so individuals who aren't viable for breeding from might enter a similar role to Sirocco.
     
    TeaLovingDave, 19 Oct 2011
    #97
  18. Javan Rhino

    Javan Rhino Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    15 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    2,136
    Location:
    Cheshire
    What are captive Sumatran rhino populations like in Indonesia - I've seen pictures on here of the species living in rescue centres over there, is there a chance that an animal can be shipped over from one of these places to Cincinnati to reboot the breeding programme?
     
    Javan Rhino, 19 Oct 2011
    #98
  19. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    16 May 2010
    Posts:
    14,824
    Location:
    Wilds of Northumberland
    I doubt it, considering that one of the Cincinnati rhinos was moved to Indonesia to bolster their breeding programme. I suspect there are only about 9 or 10 captive rhino in Indonesia, so they wouldn't have any to spare, and even though understanding has improved, the failure of the last western breeding programme and the resulting loss of wild diversity has doubtless made zoos extremely wary of another attempt.
     
    TeaLovingDave, 19 Oct 2011
    #99
  20. Javan Rhino

    Javan Rhino Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    15 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    2,136
    Location:
    Cheshire
    That's true - the breeding programme isn't in a good place at the moment. We can only cling to the hope that something will come along at some point, but it doesn't look likely :(
     
    Javan Rhino, 19 Oct 2011
    #100
Page 5 of 26