Species You Wish More Zoos Would Keep

Many of the species you mention, such as Ocelot, Leopard, American Bison, Takin, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Elk, Chital, Sika, and Fallow Deer are all some of the most common species in the United States, and far from in need of more holders.

 

Ocelot, Chital, and Sika are far from common, but the others are all pretty common.

 

Blackbuck are common?

I'm going to say less common than others.

 

There are around 80 zoos in the US with Blackbuck. That makes them more common than California Sea Lion.

 

I'm willing to bet Roadside zoos must add up then . . .

 

These are the species I would personally like to see more often in zoos. I tried to keep it realistic and functional, so these species should ideally be good exhibit animals, have reasonably established husbandry methods, and have strong education or conservation value. However, there's certainly an element of personal choice too!

1. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush
What's not to like? Colourful, active, vocal. It will never outshine a major attraction but it is about as good a side-exhibit as it gets for your Asian section. They are also small and do not take up lots of space, time and resources, but they may be very rewarding birds to enrich. The succes several zoos like Chester and Durrell have with the species means that detailed husbandry protocols are available. Furthermore, they are highly endangered and a good backup population might be vital for the future survival of this amazing species. The Emei Shan Liocichla and the Sumatran Laughingthrush are in a similar situation, and the three species are so different that zoos should not have trouble to house more than one.

2. Grey-breasted Parakeet
Okay, they're not the most colourful parrots available, but the unique appearance of a pyrrhura-parakeet combined with the huge conservation value is not to be sniffed at. Again, a relatively small species that is relatively low-maintenance compared to many frequently-kept zoo animals. Parrots always know how to draw attention to themselves so they are perfect to liven-up a quiet corner in the zoo, without the need for a multi-million euro exhibit. For zoos unsure about the husbandry: there are plenty of pyrrhura species commonly kept in Europe so it should be possible to get some experience and practice the basics of parakeet breeding.

3. European Turtle Dove
Already kept frequently (e.g. in Germany) but this species should, in my humble opinion, be present in almost every non-specialist zoo collection. They are easy to keep and breed and can live on a cheap diet of seeds, the husbandry of this species is well-understood and costs very little. Being widespread and migratory, the turtle dove could be presented in a plethora of European or African themed exhibits, as well as farm-themed areas. While they certainly have a subtle beauty they may not be as attractive to the average visitor as the others on the list, but they have immense local (for most European zoos) conservation value and they are a great focal point to tell a story about the impacts of modern agriculture, bird migration or how unsustainable hunting affects wildlife.

4. Electric Blue Gecko
Animals that can sit still for extended periods of the time need to either be a pop culture phenomenon or of stunning beauty. While the first criteria is mostly reserved for blob bears and drop bears, Lygodactylus williamsi is almost unrivaled among smaller reptiles when it comes to the second. The intense blue colour of the males is clearly its major draw but the species has also great conservation and education value. Furthermore, being very small they require very little space and with modest means a very good and attractive enclosure can be created in almost any indoor space.

5. European Ground Squirrel
This highly endangered little mammal would a perfect replacement for prairie dogs in European themed areas. This species too is small and cheap to keep (seeing a pattern here?) and therefore quite easy to add to an established collection. Because the species is native to Europe, European zoos can be vital to keep an insurance population, and there is a potential for the wild and captive populations to mingle to some extend. Furthermore, I personally think this species has a lot of education and exhibit potential, especially when a zoo manages to keep a large colony.

 

Also

• Fossa
• Sichuan Takin
• Pronghorn
• Grey Wolves

 

Grey Wolves are very common in the U.S, and many, many zoos have them. Sichuan Takin & Pronghorn are also fairly common as well.

 

Fossa aren't too rare, either.

 

They maybe common in US zoos but not really in any Florida parks

 

Red-fronted gazelles: They're an AZA phase-out species with maybe two holders remaining, but I swear they're pretty much exactly what small northern zoos are looking for. They do fine alone or in pairs so no need for many acres, they can handle freezing weather, and would make a great addition for exhibits representing North Africa which is underrepresented in American zoos (source: Ungulate Profiles — AZA Ungulates). Other ZooChat threads have talked about certain ungulate species being phased out and concerns about AZA collections being homogenized because of this as well as a few large zoos (e.g. Bronx, San Diego, Disney) monopolizing on the less-represented hoofstock species like bontebok and white-lipped deer. These are concerns I share and would like to learn more about.

Alpine ibex: Are they even in captivity in North America? They're pretty much THE thing a zoo would need to make a solid Europe exhibit. Otherwise, you'd just have bears, fox, puffins, and maybe moose (which I wish were also more prevalent, but I know why they are not) and then you'd be just as well off calling it a North America exhibit.

Hyenas: All species. They don't deserve their bad reputation and would make a great addition to Africa (or if striped, Asia) exhibits. I know spotted hyenas can stand the cold, but I don't know about striped. Few places in the US keep them. I don't know if any place on Earth keeps brown hyenas.

Asian lions: What a story a good Asian lion exhibit could tell, particularly if a zoo also has African lions.

African leopard and cape buffalo. A zoo could bill itself as having all members of the big five.

 

Ooh, I'd love it if more Zoos exhibited red-fronted gazelles! They're such a cool looking species.

 

The problem here is the NA captive population is probably too far gone to save. They are critically endangered in the wild and only Al Wabra keeps them across the pond afaik. Imports are highly unlikely.

Actually not too underrepresented, but I agree they're a handsome species.

I don't think so, our focus is Nubian Ibex. Most of our caprids in general are not doing real great, there's little interest in most programs.

Chapultapec zoo at least has them, last I heard.

The focus is spaces for Amur Leopard, which is much more at risk than African. We can only manage so many spaces for a certain species, and priorities have to be made unfortunately.
Cape Buffalo I think is due to large size and potentially ornery disposition, they're not an easy option for many zoos.

 

There are Brown Hyaenas in Prague, La Havana and probably in African zoos and facilities (South Africa, Namibia...)

 

I know that Hemker Park & Zoo has a small herd of Alpine Ibex, while a couple Canadian zoos have the species as well.

 

The same thing goes on to drongos, but imagine if we had a big aviary mixed with many Asian birds including minivets and drongos and also Asian turtles/tortoises and put live insects deliberately so we can create an ecosystem in the aviary. The live insects could be a good food for those birds.

 

This doesn't exactly work that easy. You would constantly need to be releasing insects into the exhibit to maintain the birds successfully, at that rate just keep birds that will take meal worms from a dish.
Also remember that many birds are kept in mesh or wire cages that various arthropods can enter very easily, and there's not enough reliably entering and eaten for that to work either.

 

• African Otter Species
• Baboons
• Civets
• Hyena
• Tropical Bear Species
• Polar Bear

 

I would agree with most of the above, but as a turtle dove breeder over many years, there are issues with their husbandry…..