First of all: what are in your opinion the iconic species of the zoo? What about future plans? Noteworthy developments? Current breeding successes? Asking alot I know, ... take your time!
Thanks for this link. I haven't time to answer today, and people at least can see these photos and another information, though it is outdated and is a little strange (I mean for instance sable Martes zibellina as for me is not less unique than european polecat Mustela putorius putorius). To all: I will answer you on Monday.
По поводу соболя разгадка простая. Конечно, он намного значимее лесного хорька. Просто слово "unique" в данном случае имеет не русское значение "Уникальный", а английское "единственный в своем роде", а означает это то, что на моём сайте ни в одном зоопарке такого животного больше нет. Соболь же встречается у меня в трёх зоопарках http://www.zooinstitutes.com/animal.asp?name=2787. За этим, кстати, программа следит, не я.
I hope I've understood your questions correctly. There are wolfs on the emblem of our zoo, and there is a statue of wolf in the main gate area. A wolf is a symbol of family life and fidelity, constant care and attention about each other. So wolf is the symbol of our zoo. But I can not say that the wolf exhibition is very popular. It is big, and we have enough animals but they are not as active usually as people want. Besides that wolf is a common animal (I mean books and cartoons and so on). I will not say lie when I say that most popular species of our zoo are our walruses and bears, especially polar bears. There are many people always in the building of primates. If you want me to choose only one species – it is a walrus I can not say nothing exciting about our zoo’s plans. We awaiting for several mandrills from Germany. Small exhibit of rats, gerbils, pond sliders and other pets including invertebrates is almost ready to be opened. The big part of the zoo continues to be under construction, it is intended for hoofed animals. I think that noteworthy developments for zoos are arriving of new animals from other places and appearance of young growth in the zoo. See my next replies.
As I am a mammalogist I am interested first of all in mammals. Here is the list of mammals housed by our zoo in January 2012 (home pets like rats and gerbils are not included). 1/1 = 1.1 = one male and one female. PRIMATES Callitrichidae Common marmoset – Callithrix jacchus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1/1 Red-handed tamarin – Saguinus midas 1/1 Cebidae Brown capuchin – Cebus apella CITES II, IUCN (LC) 4/6 Common squirrel monkey – Saimiri sciureus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1/3. Born in 2011: 2/0. Cercopithecidae Japanese macaque – Macaca fuscata CITES II, IUCN (LC) 12/0 Black mangabey – Cercocebus (Lophocebus) aterrimus CITES II, IUCN (NT) 2/3 Green monkey – Cercopithecus (Сhlorocebus) aethiops CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1/0 De Brazza`s monkey – Cercopithecus neglectus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 2/4 Eastern black and white colobus – Colobus guereza CITES II, IUCN (LC) 2/1 Pongidae Pileated gibbon – Hylobates pileatus CITES I, IUCN (EN) 0/1 Chimpanzee– Pan troglodytes CITES I, IUCN (EN) 1/1 RODENTIA Sciuridae Eurasian red squirrel – Sciurus vulgaris IUCN (LC) 1/1 Hystricidae Indian crested porcupine – Hystrix indica (leucura) IUCN (LC) 1/0 Chinchillidae Long-tailed chinchilla (Domestic form) – Chinchilla laniger var. dom. 1/2 CARNIVORA Canidae Arctic fox – Alopex lagopus (Vulpes lagopus) IUCN (LC) 1/2 Grey wolf – Canis lupus CITES I, II, IUCN (LC) 2/1 Interior Alascan wolf – Canis lupus pambasileus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1/2 Corsac fox – Vulpes corsac IUCN (LC) 5/6. Born in 2011: 2/5 Ursidae Manchurian black bear ussuricus – Selenarctos (Ursus) thibetanus CITES I, IUCN (VU) 2/1 Brown bear – Ursus arctos CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1/2 Polar bear – Ursus (Thalarctos) maritimus CITES II, IUCN (VU) 2/2 Procyonidae Brown-nosed coati – Nasua nasua IUCN (LC) 1/2 Raccoon – Procyon lotor IUCN (LC) 0/3 Mustelidae Wolverine – Gulo gulo gulo IUCN (LC) 0/1 Sable – Martes zibellina IUCN (LC) 1/0 Domestic polecat – Mustela putorius var. dom. 2/0 Otariidae Northern fur seal – Callorhinus ursinus IUCN (VU) 10/10 Odobenidae Pacific walrus – Odobenus rosmarus divergens CITES III, IUCN (DD) 1/1 Atlantic walrus – Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus CITES III, IUCN (DD) 0/1 Felidae Siberian leopard cat – Felis (Prionailurus) bengalensis euptilura CITES II, IUCN (LC) 3/1. Born in 2011: 2/0. Siberian lynx – Felis (Lynx) lynx wardi CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1/1 Lion – Panthera leo CITES II, IUCN (VU) 2/4. Born in 2011: 4/1. Lion (white form) – Panthera leo var. alba CITES II, IUCN (VU) 1/1 Leopard – Panthera pardus CITES I, IUCN (NT) 1/1 Leopard (black form) – Panthera pardus var. nigra CITES I, IUCN (NT) 0/1 Amur tiger – Panthera tigris altaica CITES I, IUCN (EN) 2/3. Born in 2011: 1/2. Bengal tiger (white form) – Panthera tigris tigris var. alba CITES I, IUCN (EN) 2/2. Born in 2011: 2/0. PERISSODACTYLA Equidae Domestic donkey – Equus asinus dom. 1/0 Chapman`s zebra – Equus burchelli chapmani IUCN (LC) 1/0 Shetland pony – Equus caballus dom. 3/0 ARTIODACTYLA Camelidae Domestic bactrian camel – Camelus bactrianus (ferus) dom. 1/1 Llama – Lama glama 1/0 Cervidae Sika deer – Cervus nippon hortulorum IUCN (LC) 2/1. Born in 2011: 1/0 Reindeer – Rangifer tarandus IUCN (LC) 1/0 Bovidae West African pygmy goat – Capra hircus hircus 2/2. Born in 2011: 1/1. Сhanges since January: 1. Two white tiger cubs were transferred to circus in March. 2. A pair of alpacas arrived in April. 3. One brown capuchin was born in April. 4. Female of leopard was born in April. 5. Seven wolf cubs were born in April. 6. Ten arctic fox cubs were born, but five of them died. 7. Atlantic walrus was transferred to Tierpark Hagenbeck (Hamburg, Germany) in June. 8. Now we have four males and eleven females of nothern fur seal. 9. Now we have three males and one female of eurasian red squirrel. List of birds will be posted soon.
Here is the list of birds housed by our zoo in January 2012 (domestic chickens, guinea fowls, and turkeys are not included). 1/1 = 1.1 = one male and one female, 1 = sex is unknown. STRUTHIONIFORMES Struthionidae Ostrich – Struthio camelus CITES I, IUCN (LC) 1/0 CASUARIIFORMES Dromaiidae Emu – Dromaius novaehollandiae IUCN (LC) 1/1 ANSERIFORMES Anatidae Mute swan – Cygnus olor IUCN (LC) 1 Black swan – Cygnus atratus IUCN (LC)1/0 Egyptian goose – Alopochen aegyptiacus IUCN (LC) 2 Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos IUCN (LC) 2/5/8 FALCONIFORMES Accipitridae White-tailed eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla CITES I, IUCN (LC) 2/2/1 Steller's sea-eagle – Haliaeetus pelagicus CITES II, IUCN (VU) 0/1 Cinereous vulture – Aegypius monachus CITES II, IUCN (NT) 1 Griffon vulture – Gyps fulvus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 2 Himalayan vulture – Gyps himalayensis CITES II, IUCN (LC) 2 Eastern imperial eagle – Aquila heliaca CITES I, IUCN (VU) 1 Golden eagle – Aquila chrysaetos CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1 Falconidae Saker falcon – Falco cherrug CITES II, IUCN (EN) 2/2 GALLIFORMES Phasianidae Kalij pheasant – Lophura leucomelanos IUCN (LC) 2/3 Silver pheasant – Lophura nycthemera IUCN (LC) 1/1 Swinhoe's pheasant – Lophura swinhoii CITES I, IUCN (NT) 1/2 White eared-pheasant – Crossoptilon crossoptilon CITES I, IUCN (NT) 2 Blue eared-pheasant – Crossoptilon auritum IUCN (LC) 1/1 Elliot's pheasant – Syrmaticus ellioti CITES I, IUCN (VU) 2 Reeves's pheasant – Syrmaticus reevesi IUCN (VU) 2/2. Young birds hatched in 2011: 2. Golden pheasant – Chrysolophus pictus var. yellow 1/2. Young birds hatched in 2011: 1. Lady amherst's pheasant – Chrysolophus amherstiae IUCN (LC) 2/3 Indian peafowl – Pavo cristatus IUCN (LC) 7/7. Young birds hatched in 2011: 8. Green peafowl – Pavo muticus CITES II, IUCN (VU) 2. Young birds hatched in 2011: 1. GRUIFORMES Gruidae Red-crowned crane – Grus japonensis CITES I, IUCN (EN) 1/1. Young birds hatched in 2011: 1 (died). White-naped crane – Grus vipio CITES I, IUCN (VU) 0/1 COLUMBIFORMES Columbidae Eurasian collared-dove – Streptopelia decaocto IUCN (LC) 2 PSITTACIFORMES Psittacidae Yellow-crested cockatoo – Cacatua sulphurea CITES I, IUCN (CR) 1/0 White cockatoo – Cacatua alba CITES II, IUCN (VU) 1/0 Cockatiel – Nymphicus hollandicus IUCN (LC) 4 African grey parrot – Psittacus erithacus CITES II, IUCN (NT) 2 Blue-and-yellow macaw – Ara ararauna CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1 Red-and-green macaw – Ara chloroptera CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1 STRIGIFORMES Strigidae Eurasian eagle-owl – Bubo bubo CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1/1/2. Young birds hatched in 2011: 1. Snowy owl – Nyctea (Bubo) scandiaca CITES II, IUCN (LC) 2/0 Ural owl – Strix uralensis CITES II, IUCN (LC) 5 Boreal owl – Aegolius funereus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 2 Long-eared owl – Asio otus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1 Short-eared owl – Asio flammeus CITES II, IUCN (LC) 1 PASSERIFORMES Corvidae Common raven – Corvus corax IUCN (LC) 0/1 Сhanges since January: 1. Eastern rosella – Platycercus eximius IUCN (LC) 3. These birds live here since May. 2. Superb parrot – Polytelis swainsoni CITES II, IUCN (VU) 1. This bird lives here since May. 3... Information about mortality (if any) and new young birds hatched in this year (if any) I'll post later. Ornithology department plans to find mate for animals who haven't one.
Thanks for the list. I discerned from looking at the zoo plan that sufficient space was available for expansion. I would certainly look forward to the ungulate species they may be bringing in (which I seriously do hope is not just another import of Africans only). Species I could / would like to see (from the region): maral, blue sheep, argali, Caucasian tur, kiang, Mongolian wild ass, Przewalski horse, European bison, European elk, Siberian roe deer, muntjac, Dybowski deer and N.China hortulorum sika, musk deer, forest reindeer. Probably missing a few here and there.
We have almost seven hectares under construction, a lot of time is required for it. African animals are traditionally very attractive but i don't think we will choose them only. Don't forget: our zoo is very young, we have no much experience, and I doubt that other zoos will entrust us care of critically endangered animals. Large animals need much space and food, and it's a big problem too. At the same time rather small deers may be quite the thing. Сoncerning the European elk: do you mean species A. alces or just subspecies A. a. alces? As far as I understand animals of subcpecies A. a. alces live in in the territory of Udmurtia. Elk is so common animal here that people could see them in forests and fields. Elks are so numerous here that they strongly harm to plantations of coniferous trees and even sometimes come to the cities. So I don't think that we will keep elks in our zoo
Do you have any information about how the zoo was set up, how they decided on what species to hold, where they got the animals etc?
Izhevsk is a small city (I mean size) with population more than 650 000. It is generally known for different technics from AK assault rifles till space electronics. But we had small amount of places for family rest and entertainment: two city parks and a circus. The decision was made to build modern zoo. It's conception and project were created by many specialists form other zoos (mainly from Moscow zoo) including foreign specialists like Dr. Bohumil Král (Praha/Prague zoo). The land from the territory of old park near the bank of a city pond was allocated, it's entire size is almost 18 hectares. Construction was begun in 2006. Zoo was opened in September 2008. Territory of 7 hectares is still under construction. By the way Udmurtia zoo is one of a small amount of new state russian zoos (not federal). When project of our zoo was created it was planned number of species to be kept here. Zoo takes part in international conservation and breeding programs for several species: amur tiger, cranes, and Steller's sea-eagle. I think some of species were planned to be kept here because of lack of place in older zoos and on the contrary because of presence of place in our zoo, it's easier to start than to change the developed structure. (EARAZA report said that our zoo specializes on breeding of carnivorous mammals but I don't know if it is a real planned specialization or just fact ascertaining that animals like wolves and tigers usually have no serious problems with reproduction. We have two pairs of polar bears, we hoped older pair will breed, but there is no result yet though they had a normal sexual behavior. It upsets us very much.) Some animals were gifted or something like that, for example from circus; these animals are usually rather old and haven't mate. Some species are traditionally kept in zoos like brown bear and wolf, and it is easy to find and get these animals. Some animals like nothern fur seals were wild-captured and brought to our zoo. But most of animals were transferred from other zoos and other institutes.
Do not be so unbold ... in admitting. In fact breeding cranes is quite a delicate husbandry operation! So, having bred the red-crowneds is congrats to Izhevsk/Udmurtia Zoo. The Moskva Zoo crew and Dr. Kral are some well respected zoo people who know their A's till Z's. Glad they are involved, U.Z. has some great advisers there!
I know about problems with crane breeding, and I meant that this little new live is our zoo's success "in a flesh". Our ornithologists are glad and proud The only young crane previously hatched (2011) died, and this year is unsuccessful for the bird breeding here, so this young crane is more valuable for us.