Where do the Deer & Antelope Play?: A Look at America's Ungulate Populations

In the spirit of all the other threads looking to catalog animal populations in US zoos, I figured I'd start one for ungulates as they are of particular interest to me. I know there are already some threads existing looking at Antelope and Gazelles in North American Zoos and Duikers & Dwarf Antelopes in North America, but I wanted to look at ungulates as a whole. While perusing the Ungulate TAGs 2019 midyear meeting updates (again, since COVID-19 stopped a 2020 version from coming out) I noticed that I could look back to the distant past of 2014 and see population statistics from there as well.

This spawned another interesting idea for me: creating a comparison of AZA ungulate populations from over the last 5-6 years. Which populations grew? Which plummeted? Which are viable for long-term management? Let's find out!

Below is a list of all ungulate species which were either an SSP or candidate program in either 2014 or 2019 with corresponding population figures for each year where attainable. Enjoy:

Common Eland
2014: 73.134.6 in 25 institutions
2019: 66.116.3 in 23 institutions

Eastern Bongo
2014: 49.85 in 38 institutions
2019: 58.104 in 38 institutions

Eastern Giant Eland
2014: 18.20 in 5 institutions
2019: 29.41 in 3 institutions

Southern Gerenuk
2014: 30.57 in 20 institutions
2019: 23.32 in 11 institutions

Greater Kudu
2014: 88.166.5 in 39 institutions
2019: 80.179.3 in 36 institutions

Lowland Nyala
2014: 58.91 in 20 institutions
2019: 56.128 in 21 institutions

Impala
2014: Not Listed
2019: 0.0.207 in 16 institutions

Roan Antelope
2014: 48.55.6 in 10 institutions
2019: 115.107.1 in 10 institutions

Sable Antelope
2014: 31.82.1 in 11 institutions
2019: 38.90.1 in 14 institutions

Sitatunga
2014: 19.34 in 10 institutions
2019: 34.58 in 10 institutions

Lesser Kudu
2014: 58.54 in 19 institutions
2018: 60.66.2 in 19 institutions
There was an error in the 2019 listing, which gave the same exact number of animals as in 2014

Springbok
2014: 31.31 in 8 institutions
2019: 31.53 in 11 institutions

Black Duiker
2014: 9.7 in 17 institutions
2019: 11.6 in 5 institutions
I have no idea how 16 animals were somehow split between 17 zoos in 2014, I suspect that was supposed to read '7 institutions'.

Blue Duiker
2014: 22.28.1 in 16 institutions
2019: 23.16 in 11 institutions

Smith's (Gunther's) Dik-Dik
2014: 9.4 in 7 institutions
2019: 0.0 in 0 institutions

Cavendish's (Kirk's) Dik-Dik
2014: 23.26.1 in 18 institutions
2019: 18.11 in 17 institutions

Klipspringer
2014: 26.28 in 19 institutions
2019: 21.20.1 in 10+ institutions (10 AZA, unlisted number of non-AZA)

Red-Flanked Duiker
2014: 21.12 in 12 institutions
2019: 12.19 in 12 institutions

Steenbok
2014: 22.16 in 7 institutions
2019: 11.16.2 in 6 institutions

Yellow-Backed Duiker
2014: 48.42.1 in 31 institutions
2019: 46.47 in 35 institutions

Ellipsen Waterbuck
2014: 103.151.9 in 20 institutions
2019: 71.89.10 in 14 institutions

Nile Lechwe
2014: 55.114.46 in 10 institutions
2019: 97.113.22 in 10 institutions

Red Lechwe
2014: ?.? (studbook in progress)
2019: 8.23 in 2 institutions

Ugandan Kob
2014: 24.29.2 in 5 institutions
2019: Not Listed; Phase-Out

Bontebok
2014: 27.41.7 in 16 institutions
2019: 30.38.12 in 19 institutions

Jackson's Hartebeest
2014: 13.7 in 5 institutions
2019: 1.0.?
This one is a little confusing. We all know of the single male still held at Lion County Safari in Florida, however the AZA studbook for this species has always included animals kept in the private trade (such as at Micanopy, also in Florida). The 2019 stats list 13.7 animals between 5 collections just as the 2014 stats do, however the 2018 update notes only 3.4 animals between 2 institutions while the 2017 update notes only 2.3 animals between 3 institutions. The 2017 report also makes a note that it is suspected that none of the females left in the population are fertile.

Common Wildebeest
2014: 53.98.44 in 19 institutions
2019: 71.117.26 in 23 institutions

Addax
2014: 71.125 in 18 institutions
2019: 87.164 in 22 institutions

Addra Gazelle
2014: 55.80 in 20 institutions
2019: 78.99 in 22 institutions

Arabian Oryx
2014: 40.47 in 7 institutions
2019: 19.60 in 7 institutions

Cuvier's Gazelle
2014: 14.20 in 3 institutions
2019: 10.26 in 3+ instituions (2 AZA, unlisted number of non-AZA)
Only 2.2 are left in the AZA, split between San Diego Zoo and Living Desert Zoo, all others are kept in private collections.

Fringe-Eared Oryx
2014: 10.25 in 4 institutions
2019: 11.32 in 4 institutions

Gemsbok
2014: 34.44.5 in 11 institutions
2019: 38.68 in 8 institutions

Grant's Gazelle
2014: 18.39 in 11 institutions
2019: 18.39 in 12 institutions

Peninsular Pronghorn
2014: 12.10 in 5 institutions
2019: 25.26 in 7 institutions

Red-Fronted Gazelle
2014: 12.20 in 1 institution
2019: 17.34 in 2 institutions

Scimitar-Horned Oryx
2014: 71.115. 1 in 20 institutions
2019: 83.159 in 18 institutions

Soemmerring's Gazelle
2014: 20.24 in 8 institutions
2019: 12.26 in 6 institutions

Speke's Gazelle
2014: 28.43 in 10 institutions
2019: 24.37 in 8 institutions

Slender-Horned Gazelle
2014: 21.36 in 6 institutions
2019: 45.54 in 11 institutions

Thomson's Gazlle
2014: 53.111.2 in 16 institutions
2019: 69.133 in 17 institutions

Masai Giraffe
2014: 44.58 in 27 institutions
2019: 52.75.1 in 35 institutions

Generic Giraffa
2014: 147.251.24 in 84 institutions
2019: 189.265 in 86 institutions

Okapi
2014: 54.53 in 28 institutions (worldwide)
2019: 0.0.111 in 36 institutions (worldwide)
International program, the TAG did not list how many animals are specifically in the US population.

Lowland Anoa
2014: 8.7.70 in 11 institutions
2019: 78.99.4 in 11 institutions

Javan Banteng
2014: Not Listed
2019: 13.28 in 7 institutions

Cape Buffalo
2014: Not Listed
2019: 33.47 in 6 institutions

Central Chinese Goral
2014: 17.16 in 10 institutions
2019: 10.14 in 8 institutions

Desert Bighorn Sheep
2014: 21.27.3 in 6 institutions
2019: 24.40 in 7 institutions

Kordofan Sheep
2014: 13.25 in 3 institutions
2019: 24.28 in 7 institutions

Nubian Ibex
2014: 22.40 in 9 institutions
2019: 28.21 in 7 institutions
The update notes that there will be changes due a new Breeding & Transfer Plan, but I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. It should also be noted that the large loss in breeding females will largely be due to the LA Zoo having to euthanize their entire breeding herd after becoming infected with a form of herpesvirus.

Sichuan Takin
2014: 54.50 in 21 institutions
2019: 80.86 in 29 institutions

Markhor
2014: 29.52 in 8 institutions
2019: 50.72 in 13 institutions

Armenian Mouflon
2014: Not Listed
2019: 5.14 in 3 institutions

Transcaspian Urial
2014: Not Listed
2019: 11.26 in 6 institutions

Barasingha
2014: 16.35 in 4 institutions
2019: 26.28 in 5 institutions

Bactrian Deer
2014: 14.30 in 3 institutions
2019: 18.36.9 in 2 institutions

Barbary Deer
2014: 3.43 in 1 institution
2018: 0.34 in 1 institution
This taxa is listed for phase-out in the AZA for obvious reason

Calamian Deer
2014: 6.4 in 3 institutions
2019: Not Listed; Phase-Out

Chilean Pudu
2014: 15.26 in 13 institutions
2019: 18.23 in 14 institutions

Brow-Antlered Deer
2014: 21.45 in 6 institutions
2019: 23.40 in 5 institutions
Sedgwick County Zoo is in the process of phasing out their 1.1 deer, having been rehomed at a yet to be named collection.

Greater Malay Chevrotain
2014: 10.11 in 8 institutions
2019: 14.22.3 in 10 institutions

American Moose
2014: 17.25 in 11 institutions
2019: 15.33 in 11 institutions

Pere David's Deer
2014: 41.70.1 in 12 institutions
2019: 50.80 in 15 institutions

Mexican Red Brocket
2014: 12.8 in 5 institutions
2019: 6.5 in 4 institutions

Siberian Musk-Deer
2014: 17.20 in 3 institutions
2019: 9.6 in 4-5 institutions

Tufted Deer
2014: 38.30 in 19 institutions
2019: 32.22 in 16 institutions

White-Lipped Deer
2014: 15.20 in 5 institutions
2019: 9.16 in 2 institutions

Reeves's Muntjac
2014: Not Listed
2019: 50.54.1 in 40 institutions

Przewalski's Wild Horse
2014: 63.76 in 23 institutions
2019: 55.63 in 21 institutions

Grevy's Zebra
2014: 68.115 in 41 institutions
2019: 55.100 in 35 institutions

Hartmann's Mountain Zebra
2014: 16.38 in 9 institutions
2019: 24.49 in 18 institutions

Persian Onager
2014: 13.22 in 4 institutions
2019: 9.21 in 3 institutions

Plains Zebra
2014: 141.260.4 in 96 institutions
2019: 78.191. 1 in 67 institutions

Somali Wild Ass
2014: 18.36 in 7 institutions
2019: 28.40 in 10 institutions

North Sulawesi Babirusa
2014: 0.0.61 in 15 institutions
2019: 30.31 in 20 institutions
While the 2019 population within the AZA program is the same as in 2014, it should be noted that American zoos have sent a handful of animals to Europe to participate in the EAZA EEP, so the population has been growing ever so slightly.

Chacoan Peccary
2014: 22.34.1 in 12 institutions
2019: 38.37.15. in 19 institutions

Collared Peccary
2014: 27.30 in 17 institutions
2019: Not Listed; Phase-Out

Common Warthog
2014: 42.60 in 42 institutions
2019: 53.68 in 34 institutions

Red River Hog
2014: 91.92 in 56 institutions
2019: 76.79.138 in 55 institutions

Common Hippopotamus
2014: 26.51 in 31 institutions
2019: 27.50 in 31 institutions

Pygmy Hippopotamus
2014: 21.38.10 in 16 institutions
2019: 37.62.9 in 17 institutions

Visayan Warty Pig
2014: 37.37 in 14 institutions
2019: 33.38 in 19 institutions

Malayan Tapir
2014: Not Listed
2019: 14.20 in 17 institutions

Baird's Tapir
2014: Not Listed
2019: 24.21 in 18 institutions

Eastern Black Rhinoceros
2014: Not Listed
2019: 29.34 in 26 institutions

Indian Rhinoceros
2014: Not Listed
2019: 39.42 in 30 institutions (includes a few international holdings for some reason)

Southern White Rhinoceros
2014: Not Listed
2019: 0.0.278 in 62 institutions

Now obviously the above only lists stats for current AZA program species so there will be several more species not managed by the AZA still present in zoos around the country. Additionally, there will be species noted above that have further animals kept outside of the AZA population whose figures are not represented here. The additional species I can provide further numbers for follows:

West African Bushbuck
2019: 6.3 at 1 institution

Western Bay Duiker
2020: 5.11.1 in 3 institutions

Persian Goitered Gazelle
2019: 0.3 in 1 institution

Gaur
2020: 26.23 in 6 institutions

American Elk
2018: 74.158.36 in 11 institutions

Rocky Mountain Elk
2018: 4.8 in 3 institutions

Roosevelt Elk
2018: 28.18.21 in 5 institutions

Mandarin Sika
2018: 2.4 in 2 institutions

Manchurian Sika
2018: 5.5.6 in 2 institutions

Vietnamese Sika
2018: 10.13 in 3 institutions

Formosan Sika
2018: 0.3 in 1 institution

Generic Cervus nippon (sensu lato)
2018: 102.141.61 in 14 institutions

There are many species left unlisted still; Beisa Oryx, Black Wildebeest, Ugandan Kob, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Indian Sambar, Malayan Sambar, Chital, Indian Muntjac, Indian Hog Deer, Calamian Deer, Caribou, American Bison*, Rocky Mountain Goat, Stone Sheep, Japanese Serow, Bornean Bearded Pig, Brazilian Tapir, etc.

It's my hope that, over time, we can add more population figures to this thread and maybe even get lists of institutions for each taxa as with the other population threads.

*The TAG is currently working on a studbook for genetically pure Plains Bison. I'm not sure if the 2020 update was going to include these figures or if it is still in progress.

~Thylo

 

Interesting to see that the number of holders of Plains zebras has significantly decreased between 2014 and 2019 considering how every new African Savanna seems to be choosing them over Grevy's or mountain zebras. Perhaps zoos are just choosing to no longer hold zebras at all?

 

The TAG has been recommending zoos phase out plains zebra when possible, especially in mixed-species exhibits. Instead they want zoos to use the space for mountain zebra. Grevys zebra don’t mix well often, and have a green studbook, so have been less of a focus, although institutions with single species plains zebra exhibits have are encouraged to bring in Grevy’s instead.

 

I believe that some of the private collections within the US are quite large numbers!

 

That’s good to hear. I have always thought it was somewhat problematic that zoos prioritized the more common species just to have better geographic theming or because they didn’t have space for single species zebra exhibitions.

 

I know from second hand experience Bongo, Scimitar, and the various Goat species are breeding like rabbits in private collections. I've seen recently that generic Wildebeest numbers (I assume Blue based on phenotype) are increasing in the South as well. But that was from almost none five years ago.

 

Would you know which collections are breeding lots of Bongos atm?

 

Excelent thread !
I am curious about the institutions, hold Mexican Red Brocket. Gladys Porter , Huston and ?

 

Great work Thylo, really interesting. Two things leapt out at me from the list though -

That's a lot of Anoas across not many zoos. Are some of those also held privately?

That's one hell of a drop in numbers.

Also, no Southern Black Rhino figures? Thought they were a tad more common over there than in Europe?

 

Why is the endangered Calamian deer being phased out?

 

@Dassie rat Sadly this seems to be, at least partly, due to a lack of interest. See below:

Are Zoos Shirking a Critical Conservation Mission?

And more on page six here: https://www.waza.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WAZA_News_4-13.pdf

 

@ThylacineAlive I want to thank you for posting this thread, I’ve been getting more and more into ungulates in the past year due to being able to visit zoos here in California. It’s awesome to seem massive mixed species exhibit in the likes of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park mingling like it’s just a group of people out at brunch I hope to see the Calamian Deer at the LA Zoo next week, they almost always are ignored by average zoo goers but find it sad as well as @Gavialis mentioned. I’ll want to ask the hoofstock keepers if I manage to see one about their situation.

 

Thanks, Gavialis. I thought this may be the case. It's a shame that zoos are phasing out some endangered species, rather than reducing the number of zoos keeping over-represented species.

 

This is an extremely interesting thread; thanks for starting it.

I note that royal antelope doesn't feature on your list. I saw one at Lowry Park in 2009; when was this species last kept in the USA?

(The royal antelope I saw at Lowry Park was the first I'd seen since the species was kept at London Zoo when I was a child.)

 

Given that the number of zoos holding mountain zebra doubled in 5 years and the population increased by over a third, it seems like that has indeed been happening. The drop in plains zebra has been more precipitous than can probably be explained by that, though.

This does happen and it's indeed a shame, but it's worth noting that the situation is more nuanced than that for ungulates, and for deer in particular. Biosecurity protocols related to ungulates and livestock in the US have led to very restrictive import laws. For deer, the presence of chronic wasting disease in our wild populations has led to a complete ban on import of deer from virtually every other country as well as severe restrictions on moving them across state borders. Frankly, the fact that a few exotic deer programs are still hanging on is already remarkable.

 

How much has the homogenization of zoos via the adoption of zoogeographic theming affected the presence of ungulates in US zoos? It seems as though they've been more adversely affected by that than other taxa.

 

Not sure of how much that phenomenon has contributed to declines in ungulate taxa, although my suspicion is that it has had a sizable impact. Popular flagship species (like giraffes, zebras, and rhinos) and African ungulates who do well in mixed-species savanna habitats seem to have fared pretty well in recent years, while most Asian hoofstock, deer, caprids, and some wild pigs have suffered. However, there are also zoos with designated ungulate areas that have not reduced or replaced those exhibit areas, but have noticeably reduced their number of ungulate taxa - so I suspect other factors like development of formal population management and increase in the use of flex space have contributed to these declines as well.

 

I suppose that declines of certain species in favor of others isn’t inherently a bad thing, as long as the species that continue to be held can be aided by large-scale captive breeding efforts, which I think has mostly been the case. Omaha stands out to me as an exception to that idea due to their phasing out of more endangered species like addax and Grevy’s zebra in favor of plains zebra and impala when they opened their African Grasslands exhibit, although they did appear to do a better job than most at exhibiting ungulates in their Asian themed exhibit

 

The geographic theming really appears to hurt species from North Africa and Central/Western Asia and islands lacking charismatic megafauna

 

Thanks for all this effort! It's encouraging to see some of the increases here, like addax and pygmy hippopotamus.

Ungulates really do get passed over by the average zoo visitor, with the exception of flagship species, and it's a shame. To be honest, you can find similar sentiments when working with wild animals too, a lot of critters just sort of.. blur together in the public's eye as part of the background, they're assumed food for charismatic predators and that's about it. Species like Calamian deer have it particularly rough, as they're fairly typical looking deer to the non-zoo nerd and I feel like you'd need a lot of extra effort in presenting them to generate public interest, which may not be feasible.

An interesting thing to note: many of the species recently being pushed as "priority" by the AZA's Ungulate TAG are from these geographic areas.

Ungulate Profiles — AZA Ungulates

I don't know how much sway the TAG's recommendation to hold species has, but it's nice to see these little profiles espousing the merits of some of these animals + in-situ conversation opportunities