Species you saw as a kid that your children will likely never see...

Since a few weeks ago; california bighoorn sheep at Burgers' Zoo since they left.
As well as the swift fox and red hartebeest.

 

Two immediately spring to mind: mountain gorilla and, as others have mentioned, northern white rhinoceros.

I saw London Zoo's mountain gorilla "Reuben" several times when I was a very young child in the early 1960s; I very much doubt future generations will ever see a genuine mountain gorilla exhibited in a zoo.

Similarly I saw London Zoo's northern white rhinos "Ben" and "Bebe" many times as a small child from 1955 onwards. "Bebe" died 1964 but I saw "Ben" on numerous subsequent occasions until he was sent to Dvur Kralove in 1986. (I've also seen northern white rhinos in Antwerp, Dvur Kralove and San Diego but only as an adult; London Zoo is the only place I saw them as a child.)

I have been lucky enough to see all these species too and agree that future generations of zoo visitors will be unlikely to see them.

However I didn't see Sumatran rhino, pygmy hog or zebra duiker until I was an adult so they don't really count for the purposes of this thread.

 

Lincoln Park Zoo:

Malayan Sun Bear
Spotted Hyena (Despite never seeing them :\)
Andean Bear
Jaguar
Pallas' Cat
Puma
Eurasian Lynx
Serval
Amur Tiger (So long, Pavel)
Waterbuck
Thorold's Deer

Brookfield Zoo:

Double-wattled Cassowary
Caracal (Despite never seeing it :\)
Rock Hyrax

 

While maybe not at these specific zoos, I'm sure that spotted hyenas, jaguars, servals, amur tigers, and Rock hyrax will all be around in the US for years to come.

 

Northern White Rhinoceros, obvs. In my early twenties, Grey Fox and African Forest Elephant

 

I have ADHD and OCD as well as anxiety and anger issues, so I can relate. Just stay positive and you’ll do fine

 

Thanks! I do have austim and adhd but I was making a joke as I even stated “your most unlikely children” bc most zoochatters prob won’t have children. Me directing a zoo won’t be a joke.

 

LOL didn’t even catch that one

 

It do be ok tho. Just a funny thing.

 

I've already kids, that have visited several zoos, so the title of this topic seems a bit flawed.
BUT... if the question means "species you saw as a kid that wouldn't be seen in the next 20-30-40 years"), I can say that it's plausible that in this frametime it wouldn't be no longer possible to see Orcas, Dolphins (increasingly banned by the laws of most European countries) and White Tigers (the popularity peak of them seems over).
I could add Polar Bears but as they gain public interest as global warming icons and "ambassadors" of the Arctic ecosystems, it wouldn't be unrealistic that some zoos bring them back in the coming decades, if they can offer a decent room. There are pro- and con- arguments but the future isn't written for them.

 

Agreed. See Post #9.

 

Unless anyone’s legit seen a Thylacine, I think any of us would be hard pushed to beat seeing a pair of Northern white rhinoceros and a Mountain gorilla.

You could arguably add Giant panda to your list - given there’s only one pair in the UK and there’s a strong case for why Edinburgh shouldn’t continue with them.

PS. I greatly envy you for having seen Mappin Terraces in it’s prime.

 

Digressing somewhat from the main topic of this thread:-

I first saw the Mappin Terraces when I was a very young child in the 1950s but suspect they were already past their prime, and beginning to look somewhat old-fashioned, by then. I would suggest the Mappins had their heyday in the 1920s and 1930s.