BEHIND THE SCENES PART 2: MAMMALS Besides a wonderful bird collection, Plzen also has a nice assortment of mammals in their off-show area, most of which rodents. I've never seen such a large collection of spiny mice and gerbils/jirds. Marsupials: Kowari, Dasyuroides byrnei Brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula Striped possum, Dactylopsila trivirgata Sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps Feather-tailed glider, Acrobates pygmaeus Tenrecs: Lesser hedgehog tenrec, Echinops telfairi Greater hedgehog tenrec, Setifer setosus Bats: Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor* Primates: Collared lemur, Eulemur collaris Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur, Hapalemur alaotrensis Red ruffed lemur, Varecia rubra Goodman's mouse lemur, Microcebus lehilahytsara Rodents: Kellen’s African dormouse, Graphiurus parvus Gundi, Ctenodactylus gundi Rock cavy, Kerodon rupestris Greater guinea pig, Cavia magna Cururo, Spalacopus cyanus Cuban hutia, Capromys pilorides Merriam's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys merriami Afghan mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus mystax Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus Campbell’s hamster, Phodopus campbelli crepidatus Steppe lemming, Lagurus lagurus Guenther’s vole, Microtus guentheri Cactus mouse, Peromyscus eremicus Hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus cahirinus Asian minor spiny mouse, Acomys cilicicus Palestine spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus dimidiatus Crete spiny mouse, Acomys minous Mount Kulal spiny mouse, Acomys percivali Egyptian Sundevall’s jird, Meriones crassus perpallidus Tibesti spiny mouse, Acomys seurati African spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimus Wagner’s gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus Persian jird, Meriones persicus Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi Clawed jird, Meriones unguiculatus Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi Fat sand rat, Psammomys obesus obesus Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus Alpine field mouse, Apodemus alpicola European wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus Ural field mouse, Apodemus uralensis Neumann’s grass rat, Arvicanthus neumanni Nile rat, Arvicanthis niloticus niloticus Australian water rat, Hydromys chrysogaster Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus ardens European harvest mouse, Micromys minutus South African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides Mesic four-striped grass rat, Rhabdomys dilectus Xeric four-striped grass mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio Acacia rat, Thallomys paedulcus (signed as T.loringi) Southern luzon clouded rat, Phloeomys cumingi Grandidier’s tufted-tailed rat, Eliurus grandidieri Carnivores: Palawan leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis heaneyi *Not 100% sure about this one; their cage was impossible to take decent enough pictures in, but their nose seemed different than Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina and Leptonycteris curasoae also kept by the collection. Also, about the birds post, black wheatear are ssp riggenbachi, horned lark are ssp atlas, and chaffinch are ssp africanus instead of what I listed them as
BEHIND THE SCENES PART 3: REPTILES + AMPHIBIANS And last but not least is their wonderful collection of herps, largely focusing on the Malagasy fauna with no less than 22 species of Phelsuma! There were more chameleons present, but as those weren't in glass-fronted terraria and I didn't have unlimited time in that area, I didn't want to prevent the keepers from working too long. Testudines Elongated tortoise, Indotestudo elongata Forsten’s tortoise, Indotestudo forstenii Common spider tortoise, Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides Unidentified (mud) turtle, To be identified Lizards Three-eyed lizard, Chalarodon madagascariensis Cuvier’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus cuvieri Merrem’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus cyclurus Anzamala Madagascar swift, Oplurus fierinensis Grandidier’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus grandidieri Dumeril’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus quadrimaculatus Brown anole, Anolis sagrei Unidentified anole, To be identified Domergue’s leaf chameleon, Brookesia thieli Parson’s chameleon, Calumma parsonii Two-horned Madagascar chameleon, Furcifer bifidus Jewelled chameleon, Furcifer lateralis Oustalet’s chameleon, Furcifer oustaleti Canopy chameleon, Furcifer willsii Antongil velvet gecko, Blaesodactylus antongilensis Grandidier’s velvet gecko, Blaesodactylus sakalava Golden fish-scaled gecko, Geckolepis maculata Gray’s leaf-toed gecko, Hemidactylus mercatorius Flathead leaf-toed gecko, Hemidactylus platycephalus Mourning gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris Madagascar dwarf gecko, Lygodactylus madagascariensis Mocquard’s Madagascar ground gecko, Paroedura bastardi Mount Ibidty Madagascar ground gecko, Paroedura ibityensis Stumpf’s Madagascar ground gecko, Paroedura stumpffi Reunion Island day gecko, Phelsuma borbonica borbonica Blue-tailed day gecko, Phelsuma cepediana Yellow-throated day gecko, Phelsuma flavigularis Greater day gecko, Phelsuma grandis Speckled day gecko, Phelsuma guttata Hielscher’s day gecko, Phelsuma hielscheri Reunion Island ornate day gecko, Phelsuma inexpectata Yellow-headed day gecko, Phelsuma klemmeri Koch’s giant day gecko, Phelsuma kochi Broad-tailed day gecko, Phelsuma laticauda Lined day gecko, Phelsuma lineata Boehme’s giant day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei Madagascar day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis Modest day gecko, Phelsuma modesta isakae Modest day gecko, Phelsuma modesta leiogaster Island day gecko, Phelsuma nigristriata Peacock day gecko, Phelsuma quadriocellata Robert Mertens’ day gecko, Phelsuma robertmertensi Olafian day gecko, Phelsuma seippi Standing’s day gecko, Phelsuma standingi Van Heygen’s day gecko, Phelsuma vanheygeni Boettger’s day gecko, Phelsuma v-nigra comoraegrandensis Common wall gecko, Tarentola mauritanica Crested gecko, Correlophus ciliatus Bauer’s chameleon-gecko, Eurydactylodes agricolae Vieillard’s chameleon-gecko, Eurydactylodes vieillardi Madagascar keeled cordylid, Tracheloptychus madagascariensis Peters’ keeled cordylid, Tracheloptychus petersi Green girdled lizard, Zonosaurus haraldmeieri Karsten’s girdled lizard, Zonosaurus karsteni Western girdled lizard, Zonosaurus laticaudatus Madagascar girdled lizard, Zonosaurus madagascariensis Ornate girdled lizard, Zonosaurus ornatus Three-lined girdled lizard, Zonosaurus trilineatus Black-striped skink, Amphiglossus macrocercus Common Madagascar skink, Madascincus melanopleura Tyrrhenian wall lizard, Podarcis tiliguerta Snakes Madagascar ground boa, Acrantophis madagascariensis Malagasy speckled hognose snake, Leioheterodon geayi Malagasy cat-eyed snake, Madagascarophis colubrinus pastoriensis Unidentified snake, To be identified Frogs Natterjack toad, Epidalea calamita Modest forest treefrog, Leptopelis modestus Marbled Madagascar rain frog, Scaphiophryne marmorata White-spotted reed frog, Heterixalus alboguttatus Madagascar reed frog, Heterixalus madagascariensis Elena’s bright-eyed frog, Boophis elenae Ankafana bright-eyed frog, Boophis luteus Central bright-eyed frog, Boophis rappioides Free Madagascar frog, Guibemantis liber Tsarafidy Madagascar frog, Guibemantis pulcher Bronze mantella, Mantella betsileo Splendid mantella, Mantella pulchra Green mantella, Mantella viridis Brown frog, Rana temporaria - I believe that concludes all of the off-show species I saw, and as I've already listed all the on-show species and everything present at AkvaTera, I suppose that concludes the list in general! I hope this was relevant for people visiting the absolutely wonderful collection
A few brief notes from my visit today before I pass out: Entire hallway has been gutted for redevelopment; all the birds are present in outdoor exhibits but the mammals are - I assume - off show. Barring the spotted eagle exhibit I couldn't find a single one of these exhibits! Care to give more precise directions? Entirely offshow at the time of our visit, sadly. This area also contained white wagtail
Very hectic other than the areas which were offshow as noted I managed to see much of what I aimed to; have another visit in a few days so should mop up a few more bits.
That's horrible! As noted there was a palawan leopard cat in the off-show area, but missing the porcupine, mouse deer, squirrel and cloud rat is annoying :/ Was the hallway with the venomous snakes behind it shut off as well? As you come from the camels/red pandas you should see the spotted eagle aviary ahead of you. Right in front of them is the exhibit for porcupines, and to the left is a building with a door, with a very small mesh-fronted owl exhibit to both sides. I believe it's indicated on the map, no? That's annoying! Do you mean off-show as in the animals weren't present, or off-show as in you couldn't go to the exhibits? I'm having issues imagining how they shut that off in that case, as I remember it being only a very small half-open hut, very close to one of the main visitor paths... In with the reptiles? That's a very nice addition!
The venomous hallway was still occupied; should be noted the mammal/bird hall wasn't shut off, it was merely a case of all the exhibits being entirely empty of all vegetation and obviously halfway through renovation. Signage was still up however so I assume it is a temporary rejig. Several cordons were up blocking access from the main footpath. Exhibit repairs or a birth needing privacy, perhaps.
Just tell them who you are and where you post, then the doors to the full collection will be swung open......
But seriously, if you had a target species in that corridor (from Vision's list), I bet they'll let you see it even if it isn't in the regular off show area.
Moreover, you were there pity our visits were so close yet so far in time, it would have been interesting to meet you! Hopefully our paths will cross at some point in the future!
I doubt there are many people who would go to Plzen to see me complaining about small enclosures and the fact that the echidna are off-show If your next trip off your island would be to the Netherlands or Switzerland, we might meet Northumberland is just not on my wishlist to visit
They've had them (ssp lawesii) since 2012 if we are to believe zootierliste, and have even bred them last year. However, on all my visits to the on- and off-show areas in the zoo, I've never seen them.
@Vision the cub actually died after few months. No wonder you never saw them, they aren´t really kept in a cage but rather in big plastic box and that is not something zoochatter will look for
After two recent visits (on the 13th and 17th respectively) to this collection, I can say that a lot has changed in 6 months! While I was originally planning to write down every single change in species list of every exhibit, I didn't really feel like wasting time on doing so, but the least I can do is mention which species in the off-show collection have been moved on-show! I already hinted at a lot of species moving from the off-show rooms to on-show areas in the 2017 Zoochat Challenge thread, but figured a "full" list would be appreciated. Pigeons: Domestic pigeon, Columba livia f. domestica - Farm area Namaqua dove, Oena capensis - Aviaries near the pygmy hippos Pink pigeon, Nesoenas mayeri Madagascar turtle dove, Nesoenas picturata picturata - Aviaries near the pygmy hippos Eastern oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis orientalis - Philippine house Socorro dove, Zenaida graysoni White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Ruddy ground-dove, Columbina talpacoti talpacoti Indian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica indica - Asian Garden Stephan’s dove, Chalcophaps stephani - Asian Garden Mindanao bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera - Philippine house Luzon bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica - Philippine house Cinnamon ground-dove, Gallicolumba rufigula Red-necked Sulawesi ground-dove, Gallicolumba tristigmata bimaculata - Asian Garden Diamond dove, Geopelia cuneata - DinoPark Bar-shouldered dove, Geopelia humeralis Barred dove, Geopelia maugeus Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida - DinoPark Zebra dove, Geopelia striata - Australian Area Wonga pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca - Australian Area Common bronzewing, Phaps chalcoptera - DinoPark Bush bronzewing, Phaps elegans Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica White-eared brown dove, Phapitreron leucotis - Philippine house Pink-necked green pigeon, Treron vernans - Asian Garden Orange-fronted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus aurantiifrons Black-naped fruit-dove, Ptilinopus melanospila - Philippine house & Asian Garden Pink-headed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus porphyreus Beautiful fruit-dove, Ptilinopus pulchellus - Asian Garden Superb fruit-dove, Ptilinopus superbus - Asian Garden Sunda green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea aenea Spotted imperial pigeon, Ducula carola Island imperial pigeon, Ducula pistrinaria Pink-headed imperial pigeon, Ducula rosacea - Asian Garden Passerines: Steppe horned lark, Eremophila alpestris brandti - DinoPark Black lark, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis - DinoPark (signed, unseen) Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica rustica - DinoPark Chestnut bulbul, Hemixos castanonotus - DinoPark & Asian Garden Black-headed bulbul, Pycnonotus atriceps Cream-striped bulbul, Pycnonotus leucogrammicus - Asian Garden Chinese bulbul, Pycnonotus sinensis sinensis Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulous - Siberian Forest Grey hypoculius, Hypocolius ampelinus - DinoPark Oriental magpie-robin, Copsychus saularis - Asian Savanna area Rufous scrub-robin, Erythropygia galactotes - DinoPark Black wheatear, Oenanthe leucura - DinoPark Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus - DinoPark Grey-backed thrush, Turdus hortulorum - Asian Garden Eurasian song thrush, Turdus philomelos philomelos - Siberian Forest Chestnut-backed ground thrush, Zoothera dohertyi - Asian Garden Oriole warbler, Hypergerus atriceps - Aviary in hippo house Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla Red-fronted laughingthrush, Garrulax rufifrons - Philippine house Great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus Chestnut-flanked white-eye, Zosterops erythropleurus - Asian Garden Blue-faced honeyeater, Entomyzon cyanotis - Australian Area Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus - DinoPark Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio - DinoPark Sumatran treepie, Dendrocitta occipitalis - Asian Garden Golden-crested myna, Ampeliceps coronatus Sulawesi myna, Basilornis celebensis - Asian Garden Bali myna, Leucopsar rothschildi - DinoPark Emerald starling, Lamprotornis iris - Aviary in hippo house Yellow-faced myna, Mino dumontii Scissor-billed grosbeak, Scissirostrum dubium - Asian Garden White-shouldered starling, Sturnia sinensis Napoleon bishop, Euplectes afer afer - Aviary in hippo house Fire-crowned bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus Madagascar fody, Foudia madagascariensis Western village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus Grey-headed social weaver, Pseudonigrita arnaudi arnaudi Painted firetail, Emblema pictum - Asian Garden Gouldian finch, Erythrura gouldiae - DinoPark Fiji parrotfinch, Erythrura pealii Blue-faced parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa sigillifera - DinoPark (signed, unseen) Tricolor parrotfinch, Erythrura tricolor Madagascar bibfinch, Lepidopygia nana Malaysian chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla sinensis Chestnut-breasted munia, Lonchura castaneothorax castaneothorax - Asian Garden Chestnut-breasted munia, Lonchura castaneothorax sharpii - Asian Garden Dusky munia, Lonchura fuscans - Asian Garden Javan munia, Lonchura leucogastroides White-faced munia, Lonchura maja - Asian Garden Black-faced munia, Lonchura molucca Pale-headed munia, Lonchura pallida Indian scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata punctulata - Asian Garden Black munia, Lonchura stygia Plum-headed finch, Neochmia modesta - DinoPark Timor sparrow, Padda fuscata - Asian Garden Yellow-billed long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda acuticauda Black-throated finch, Poephila cincta - DinoPark Masked finch, Poephila personata - DinoPark Timor zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata guttata - Asian Garden Chestnut-eared finch, Taeniopygia guttata castanotis - Asian Garden Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githagineus zedlitzi Eurasian goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis - DinoPark Oriental greenfinch, Carduelis sinica - DinoPark Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes - DinoPark African chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs africana - DinoPark Island canary, Serinus canaria Cuban grassquit, Tiaris canorus - DinoPark Montserrat oriole, Icterus oberi - DinoPark Parrots: Ducorp’s corella, Cacatua ducorpsii Red-vented cockatoo, Cacatua haematuropygia Stella’s lorikeet, Charmosyna stellae Purple-naped lorikeet, Lorius domicella Marigold lorikeet, Trichoglossus capistratus capistratus Scaly-breasted lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Sumba lorikeet, Trichoglossus forsteni forsteni Mitchell’s lorikeet, Trichoglossus forsteni mitchellii Mindanao lorikeet, Trichoglossus johnstoniae Vernal hanging-parrot, Loriculus vernalis Lesser vasa, Coracopsis nigra Greater vasa, Coracopsis vasa - Aviaries near the pygmy hippos Madagascar lovebird, Agapornis canus - Aviaries near the pygmy hippos Dammerman's moustached parakeet, Psittacula alexandri dammermani Yellow-fronted parakeet, Cyanoramphus auriceps Red-fronted parakeet, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae Swift parrot, Lathamus discolour - DinoPark Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus - DinoPark Blue-winged parrot, Neophema chrysostoma - DinoPark Elegant parrot, Neophema elegans - DinoPark Turquoise parrot, Neophema pulchella Scarlet-chested parrot, Neophema splendida Bourke’s parrot, Neopsephotus bourkii - DinoPark Green rosella, Platycercus caledonicus - Australian Area Golden-shouldered parrot, Psephotellus chrysopterygius Hooded parrot, Psephotellus dissimilis Bucerotiformes: Luzon hornbill, Penelopides manillae manillae - Philippine house Visayan tarictic hornbill, Penelopides panini panini - Philippine house Southern Sulawesi tarictic hornbill, Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus sanfordi Coraciiformes: Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki - Aviary in hippo house Collared kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris Tinamous: Elegant crested tinamou, Eudromia elegans - Aviary near penguins Caprimulgiformes: Tawny frogmouth, Podargus strigoides - DinoPark Shorebirds: Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola - Aviary in hippo house Blacksmith lapwing, Vanellus armatus - Aviary in hippo house Gruiformes: Corn crake, Crex crex - Asian Garden Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Water rail, Rallus aquaticus - Asian Garden & Aviary in hippo house Cuckoos: Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus - DinoPark Galliformes: European quail, Coturnix coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Madagascar partridge, Margaroperdix madagarensis - Aviaries near the pygmy hippos Jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica Owls: Philippine scops owl, Otus megalotis - Asian Garden Undefined scops owl, Otus sp.
are these all species which were off-show, or did I read that wrong? That's crazy. It's more birds than most zoos seem to have in their entire collection!
The entire list in my previous post is birds that were held off-show in february, and the ones which I added a location to are ones that have since been moved on-show (without any additional exhibits being made for them on-show, unfortunately!). It is, indeed, absurd! I wouldn't be surprised if Plzen is up there in the top 5 largest bird collections, and that for a zoo that doesn't even focus exclusively on birds!
Yep; I was fortunate enough to go offshow at Plzen back in late June, when most of the above bird species were yet to be put on display - the offshow collection alone put it straight into third place in terms of bird taxa I had never seen before. Only Walsrode and Blackbrook beat it, and only Prague and the two Berlin collections approach it. Given the fact that Blackbrook is no more, and Walsrode is a specialist collection, once one takes the on-display collection into consideration I reckon Plzen may well be *the* most speciose bird collection in a non-specialist European zoo.
oh okay, so not the entire list has moved on-show (which is how I had read your initial post)? That's still 86 of those species now on-show, though, which is a massive addition in zoo bird collection terms.