Starting a zoo

For a few months now ive been wondering how zoos actually obtain animals, ive done some research and all i could really find is that zoo's loan out animals to other zoos for a certain amount of time. If i were to start a zoo in the future how could i be a part of this loaning process or even keep them at my "zoo"

 

I don't know exactly, maybe starting some small petting zoo or reptile park where you could buy the livestock, and then if you prove successful with that you could look at buying some exotics from private breeders that need the money and the space. Maybe then you could try and become a member of one of the governing bodies (EAZA, AZA, BIAZA etc) and check surplus lists. Simple answer, start small and let it expand in different ways.

I think you can actually buy most species if you have DWA (Dangerous Wild Animal) license, but not sure.

 

I have searched exotic animals for sale, and found muntjac,red panda,kinkajou,sloth,tamandua,marmoset,and many other small exotics that a good starting animals for parks

 

@ zooloverr: It differs from zoo to zoo. AZA zoos have less of variety of choice. They either get animals from other AZA accredited or certified institutions or they receive animals as rescues/donations. They aren't supposed to work with Exotic Animal Auctions or Exotic Hunting Ranches. ZAA and Non AZA accredited zoos have a wider variety of where their animals can come from. They don't have much limitation. Private breeders, animal dealers, importers, animal auctions, hunting ranches, and even AZA zoos. Some AZA zoos choose not to work with private sector at all while others will work with some of the private sector.

Zoos do have loans on certain animals but that is usually only for endangered or very genetically valuable animals. If you are thinking about creating your own zoo the private sector is who you will be mostly working with. I have educated myself fairly well in this area of zoos so feel free to ask anymore questions about it.

@lizardinsantiy: where have you seen red pandas for sale at?

 

It may have been sold,but for what ever reason, I looked for it and it wasn't there.They were selling it for 5,000.They are not so rare in small private collections.Although I would look at feedback from other costumers before buying any exotics online.

 

hmmm what other private collections have them? The only non-aza zoo with them "that I know of" is Tanganyika. I have heard of another guy in florida with 4 of the them but as far I know he hasn't even put them together to breed. They can be quite fiesty when they want to be. One red panda at Columbus even gave Jack Hanna a few stitches when he started directing there.

 

I read about how the San Diego WAP was formed, for a number of years beforehand they built up their stocks on site, from the main zoo and from collections around the world...

The basically decided on a list of animals that were within AZA guidelines and were suitable to the zoo design and complimented the original zoo, they then appointed curators to obtain animals that fell into different catergories, i.e. reptiles, large mammals, small mammals, birds, carnivores, etc, etc...

The curators then contacted the various institutions around the world that held animals on the master list, decided on a importing schedule (which fit into the other zoos breeding schedule and the completion of exhibit space), the animals also had to fit into international studbooks and the extensive importing of exotic animal requirements...

It is really no small or easy process...

 

I didnt realize the AZA had collection planning guidelines in the early 1970s. The SSP program didnt even appear until the 1980s.

 

My question is than how do aza institutions like the dallas world aquarium obtain species such as resplendant quetzals which are not in any other aza institutions?

 

It was called the AAZPA back then... San Diego held a huge percentage of the studbooks at the time and the evolution of the Animal Park also lead to the creation of CRES and to formal regional studbooks... So essentially the guidelines we think of as AZA ones today they were helping to develop...

 

According to ISIS there aren't any in U.S. Zoos. However I'm guessing ISIS hasn't updated it recently. How many did you see while you were there?

Rare animals like these are from agreements with a country's government that has given them the privilege to allow a few of its rare animals out of their country. My guess is the Dallas Zoo does field work their and somewhere along the line a bird curator or field biologist had a special interest in the bird. The zoo then either purchased it from their nations zoo, rescue it from a bad situation, or maybe even collected wild chicks (but I highly doubt that).

 

I'm wondering what he did to get the stitches? I've been in enclosures with red pandas and had no issues. I also believe i've heard of a walk through?

 

From what I remember in his book he mentioned that it had gotten out and he had to climb a tree to catch it. He grabbed it by the tail and it turned around and did a number on his hand.

On the other hand on his show "Into the Wild" he visited the Calgary zoo and hand-fed a male red panda.

It all depends on the animal. I think they would make a fantastic walk-through animal just as long as nobody is grabbing their tails

 

Hehe, you grab my cats tail and it'd nail you in the face. I don't think red pandas are a threat to humans at all, each other I dunno, but I've been within touching distance of one holding a video camera with no barrier in between and it sat and looked into the lens curiously, I assume it saw its reflection, but equally I got some amazing shots.