ZooChat Challenge Global 2023 - 10th Anniversary Special!

Which is kind of funny, because looking at the list of species that count, Embrace the ABC's is one of the five challenges that I fairly immediately can say I won't be able to finish this year, with the main reason being Asian Small Clawed Otters, a species I almost never see. The other four challenges being Asian Songbird Challenge (I've only seen two of those species in my entire life), Don't You Forget About Me (Manatees are rare outside of Florida and Ohio), Hall of Champions (Umbrellabirds are a rarely kept species), and Sea Shepherds (not a lot of cetaceans in my region of the country).

So I interpreted the two zoos rule as making the challenge much more difficult than seeing each species once would be.

 

Bronx, York's and Living Shores Aquarium in Maine, Wild Animal Park and Animal Adventure Park in NY

 

Conversely, I took it at face value that each species needs to be seen twice.

 

Yeah, I don't really want to visit a questionable, unaccredited place just in order to finish the challenge, but those are certainly options. Bronx is a possibility this year, it's just a matter of where else to see one if need be. Wild Animal Park is relatively easy for me to get to- but since I've found out they regularly associate with some of the worst of the worst, it's really not a facility that I want to support.

 

I didn't see everything Henry Vilas had to offer due to the cold, but it's not like I'm only visiting this zoo once per semester or anything. Anyways, here's what I got!
Henry Vilas Zoo, 2/5/2023
Fly the Coop (0/1 Megapode, 1/2 Cracidae, 0/1 Guineafowl, 0/1 New World Quail, 3/6 Phasianidae)
Northern Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi)

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Trap (4/10)
Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica)

How Many Toes am I Holding Up? (2/3 Wild Equids, 2/3 Rhinos, 0/3 Tapirs)
Somali Wild Ass (Equus africanus somaliensis)

Let that Ruminate (3/3 Piggcaries, 0/2 Hippos, 1/2 Giraffidae, 0/2 Native Deer, 0/2 Exotic Deer, 3 Bovids)
American Bison (Bison bison)

Small But Will Fight (1/2 Mongeese, 1/5 Small Cats, 0/2 Foxes, 1/1 Red Panda)
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Pinni-Party (1/2)
Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

See, Don't Touch (5)
Golfodulcean Poison Frog (Phyllobates vittatus)
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus)
Dyeing Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)

Don't You Forget About Me (1/4 Bats, 0/1 Treeshrews, 0/2 Armadillos, 0/1 Anteaters, 1/1 Sloths, 0/1 Sirenians, 0/2 Elephants, 1/1 Hyraxes)
Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis)
Seba's Short-Tailed Bat (Carollia perspicillata)

Don't Turn on the Lights (1/10)
Seba's Short-Tailed Bat (Carollia perspicillata)

Embrace the ABC's (11/36) 7 Started, 2 completed
Lion (Panthera leo)
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

Island Hoppers (3/5 Mammals, 3/6 Birds, 6/6 Reptiles, 0/3 Amphibians, 0/2 Fish)
Black and White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata)
Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
Lichenose Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae)

I'm Hot-Blooded for Cold Blood (1/4 Monitor Lizards, 2/2 Geckos, 0/1 Agamids, 10/10 Venomous Snakes, 1/3 Pythons, 0/4 Crocogharials, 18 Turtoises)
Lichenose Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae)
Ball Python (Python regius)
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
Red-Footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius)
Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
Toad-Headed Turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba)

Usborne's Scavenger Hunt (12/15)
American Bison (Bison bison)
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)

The Rio Challenge (5/8)
Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)

The Unbearable Challenge (2/8)
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

Completed Challenges (2/29)
Check Your Feeders
One-Zoo Wonder

In-Progress (19/29)
Penguimonium
Fly The Coop
We're Gonna Need a Bigger Trap
How Many Toes Am I Holding Up?
Let That Ruminate
Asian Songbird Challenge
Thylo's Top 20
Small But Will Fight
Pinni-Party
Carnivore Carnival
See, Don't Touch
Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Turn on the Lights
Native Species
Embrace the ABC's
Second Chance Red List
Island Hoppers
I'm Hot-Blooded for Cold Blood
Usborne's Scavenger Hunt
The Rio Challenge
The Unbearable Challenge
Hall of Champions
Bona Fide Rarity Hunter

Haven't Started Yet (4/29)
Sea Shepherds
River Giants
Let's Give This Another Go
Thylo's Bonus Challenge

Once again, I'll be able to see some of the species I missed when the weather warms up (Grizzlies, White Rhino, Capybaras, etc.), but until then, I've got a plan to visit some zoos out of state! March can't come soon enough...

 

Henry Vilas Zoo, 2/5/2023

2014: Fly the Coop 1/11

Spoiler

Cracidae: 1/2
Northern Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi)

2015: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Trap 1/10

Spoiler

Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica)

2016 (Part I): How Many Toes Am I Holding Up? 1/9

Spoiler

Wild type equid: 1/3
Somali Wild Ass (Equus africanus somaliensis)

2016 (Part II): Let That Ruminate 1/10

Spoiler

Bovidae: 1/infinite
American bison (Bison bison)

2017 (Part III): Thylo's Top 20 1/8 of 20

Spoiler

Tanager species:
Red-capped cardinal (Paroaria gularis)

2018 (Part I): Small but Will Fight 2/10

Spoiler

Mongoose species: 1/2
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

Red Panda (Allurus fulgens fulgens)

2018 (Part II): Pinni-Party 1/2

Spoiler

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

2019 (Part I): See, Don't Touch 3

Spoiler

Yellow-banded poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)
Golfodulcean poison frog (Phyllobates vittatus)
Dyeing poison dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)

2021: Don't You Forget About Me 3/13

Spoiler

Bats: 1/4
Seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata)

Sloth:
Hoffman’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni)

Hyrax:
Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)

2022: Don't Turn On the Lights 1/10

Spoiler

Seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata)

Embrace the ABCs Challenge 1/36

Spoiler

Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) 1/2
Lion (Panthera leo) 1/2
Tiger (Panthera tigris) 1/2

Second Chance Red List Challenge 11/16

Spoiler

Vulnerable: 4/4
Lion (Panthera leo)
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Endangered: 4/4
1. Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
2. Northern Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi)
3. Red panda (Allurus fulgens fulgens)
4. White-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar)

Critically Endangered: 3/4
Somali Wild Ass (Equus africanus somaliensis)
Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
Black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegate)

Island Hoppers Challenge 5/22

Spoiler

Mammals: 2/5

Black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegate)
Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

Reptiles: 3/6

Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
Lichenose Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae)

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) 3/24

Spoiler

Geckos: 1/2
Lichenose leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sikorae)

Venomous snakes: 1/10
Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Pythons: 1/3
Ball Python (Python regius)

Turtles/tortoises: 7
Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
Red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius)
Toad-headed turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba)
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Usborne's Scavenger Hunt Challenge 7/15 of 30

Spoiler

Orangutan (Bornean)
American bison
Polar bear
American flamingo
Blue-and-yellow macaw
Giant tortoise (Aldabra)
American alligator

The Rio Challenge 1/8

Spoiler

Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)

The Unbearable Challenge 1/8

Spoiler

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Hall of Champions 1/11

Spoiler

Aldabra giant tortoise

Me? Staying up later than I should to do this AND doing it instead of homework? It's more likely than you think! Anyways, I think this is pretty good for a first haul at a small zoo.

Challenges completed:
None (0/29)

Challenges not started/accomplished:
Penguimonium
Sea shepherds
Check your feeders
Asian songbird challenge
River giants
Let's give this another go
Native species challenge (NA)
One-zoo wonder
Bona-fide rarity hunter
Thylo's bonus challenge

 

Diergaarde Blijdorp - (24-01) and (30-01)

Spoiler

Penguimonium (2)
1. Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
2. King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)

Fly the Coop (4/11)
Phasianidae (4/6)
1. Crested partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
2. Edwards's pheasant (Lophura edwardsi)
3. Palawan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
4. Yellow-necked francolin (Pternistis leucoscepus)

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Trap (2/10)
1. Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris)
2. Desmarest's hutia (Capromys pilorides)

How Many Toes Am I Holding Up? (4/9)
Equids (1/3)
1. Plains zebra (Equus quagga)
Rhinoceros (2/3)
1. Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
2. Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
Tapir (1/3)
1. Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)

Let That Ruminate (5/11+7)
Pigs and Peccaries (2/3)
1. Negros warty pig (Sus cebifrons)
2. Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus)
Hippos (1/2)
1. Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
Giraffes (2/2)
1. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)
2. Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata)
Native deers (1/2)
1. Eurasian forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
Exotic deers (2/2)
1. Tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus)
2. Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi)
Bovidae (7)
1. Addra gazelle (Nanger dama)
2. Banteng (Bos javanicus)
3. Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)
4. Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus)
5. Forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus)
6. Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
7. Plains buffalo (Bison bison)

See Shepherds (0/2)

Check Your Feeders (0/4)

Asian Songbird Challenge (3/5)
1. Asian fairy-bluebird (Irena puella)
2. Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
3. White-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

Thylo's Top 20 (2/8)
1. Blue-crowned laughingthrush (Pterorhinus courtoisi)
2. Brazilian tanager (Ramphocelus bresilius)

Small but Will Fight (7/10)
Mongooses (2/2)
1. Dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula)
2. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
Small cats (3/5)
1. Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
2. Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul)
3. Serval (Leptailurus serval)
Foxes (1/2)
1. Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)
Red panda (1/1)
1. Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Pinni-Party (1/2)
1. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

Carnivore Carnival (0/6)

See, Don't Touch (1)
1. Dyeing dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)

River Giants (0/1)

Let's Give this Another Go (1)
1. Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

Don't You Forget About Me (3/13)
Bats (0/4)
Treeshrew (1/1)
1. Northern treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri)
Armadillos (0/2)
Anteater (0/1)
Sloth (0/1)
Sea-cow (0/1)
Elephants (1/2)
1. Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Hyrax (1/1)
1. Cape hyrax (Procavia capensis)

Don't Turn on the Lights (1/10)
1. Balabac chevrotain (Tragulus nigricans)

Native Species Challenge (1/5)
1. Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra)

Embrace the ABCs Challenge (6/36)
1. Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) (1/2)
2. Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) (1/2)
3. Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) (1/2)
4. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) (1/2)
5. Lion (Panthera leo) (1/2)
6. Tiger (Panthera tigris) (1/2)

Second Chance Red List Challenge (0/14)

Island Hoppers Challenge (20/22)
Mammals (5/5)
1. Balabac chevrotain (Tragulus nigricans)
2. Crested black macaque (Macaca nigra)
3. Desmarest's hutia (Capromys pilorides)
4. Negros warty pig (Sus cebifrons)
5. Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Birds (6/6)
1. Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
2. Grosbeak starling (Scissirostrum dubium)
3. Mindanao bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba crinigera)
4. Palawan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
5. Philippine duck (Anas luzonica)
6. Sumatran laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)
Reptiles (6/6)
1. Cuvier's madagascar swift (Oplurus cuvieri)
2. Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger)
3. Hispaniolan rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
4. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
5. Ploughshare tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora)
6. West indian iguana (Iguana delicatissima)
Amphibians (1/3)
1. Mountain chicken (Leptodactylus fallax)
Fishes (2/2)
1. Black diamond cichlid (Paratilapia polleni)
2. Pinstripe damba (Paretroplus menarambo)


I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (6/24+11)
Monitors (1/4)
1. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
Geckos (0/2)
Agamidae (1/1)
1. North African mastigure (Uromastyx acanthinura)
Venomous snakes (1/10)
1. Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)
Pythons (1/3)
1. Burmese rock python (Python bivittatus)
Crocodiles/Gharials (2/4)
1. Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
2. Slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)
Turtles and Tortoises (11)
1. African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata)
2. Annam leaf turtle (Mauremys annamensis)
3. Arrau river turtle (Podocnemis expansa)
4. Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)
5. Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger)
6. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
7. Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
8. McCord's box turtle (Cuora mccordi)
9. Pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)
10. Ploughshare tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora)
11. Spotted-legged turtle (Rhinoclemmys punctularia)

Usborne's Scavanger Hunt Challenge (7/15)
1. American bison (Bison bison)
2. Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
3. Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger)
4. Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
5. King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
6. Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
7. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Rio Challenge (0/8)

The Unbearable Challenge (1/8)
1. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Hall of Champions (3/11)
1. Banteng (Bos javanicus)
2. European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur)
2. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

One Zoo Wonder (0/1)

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (1/3)
1. Ladyfish (Elops saurus)

Thylo's Bonus Challenge (0/1)

 

A few more additions from a local institution.

Austin Nature and Science Center (1.27.23)​

2015: We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Trap (5/10)
5. North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)

2018 (Part I): Small but Will Fight (7/10)
5 Small-Sized Cat Species (4/5)
4. Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Native Species Challenge (4/5)
4. American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata)

Embrace the ABCs Challenge (18/36)
Madagascar hissing cockroach (Austin Nature Center)

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) - Complete + 28 species
27. Southern painted turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis)
28. Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis)

Not Started Yet:
2016 (Part III): Sea Shepherds, 2018 (Part II): Pinni-Party, 2022: Don't Turn On the Lights, One Zoo Wonder, Bona Fide Rarity Hunter, Thylo’s Bonus Challenge
Completed:
2019 (Part II): River Giants, 2017 (Part III): Thylo's Top 20, I’m Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood)

 

Georgia Aquarium 2/7
This trip has been an adventure over ten years in the making. I was awestruck at the Georgia Aquarium's facilities. Ocean Voyager is incomparable and the cetacean facilities are lovely too.

Spoiler: Challenge progress

2016 (Part III): Sea Shepherds - 2/2 COMPLETE
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) - Georgia Aquarium 2/7
Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) - Georgia Aquarium 2/7

2018 (Part III): Carnivore Carnival - 2/6

• Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) - Georgia Aquarium 2/7

Embrace the ABCs Challenge – 16/36
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) - Bronx Zoo
Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
Meerkat (Suricata suricata) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Lion (Panthera leo) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Tiger (Panthera tigris) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29 & Bronx Zoo 2/2
Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) - Bronx Zoo 2/2 (free-roaming)
African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) – New York Aquarium 1/12 & Georgia Aquarium 2/7
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Buffalo Zoo 1/28 & Bronx Zoo 2/2
Green iguana (Iguana iguana) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) – New York Aquarium 1/12 & Georgia Aquarium 2/7
Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) - Bronx Zoo 2/2

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) - 28 chelonians
As many turtles/tortoises as you can see!
Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) – New York Aquarium 1/12
Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi) - Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
Mata mata (Chelus fimbriata) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
Fly River turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
Chinese big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
Amazon big-headed turtle (Peltocephalus dumerilianus) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) - Aquarium of Niagara 1/28
Pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Annam leaf turtle (Mauremys annamensis) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Red footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) - Buffalo 1/29
Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Yellow spotted Amazon turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Arrau turtle (Podocnemis expansa) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
Forsten’s tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Red-headed Amazon turtle (Podocnemis erythrocephala) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Painted river terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Giant snake-neck turtle (Chelydera expansa) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Red-bellied short-neck turtle (Emydura subglobosa) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Cochin black turtle (Testudo kleinmanni) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Georgia Aquarium 2/7

“Bona Fide Rarity Hunter - 2/3
1. Blue whistling thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
2. Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) - Georgia Aquarium 2/7

In progress, including open-ended: Penguimonium (8), Fly the Coop (8/11), Bigger Trap (9/10), How Many Toes (3/9), Let That Ruminate (2/11 +5 bovids), Check Your Feeders (1/4), Asian Songbird (2/5), Small but Will Fight (7/10), Carnivore Carnival (2/6), See Don’t Touch (7), Give this Another Go (2), Don’t you Forget About me (6/13), Native Species (2/5), ABCs (16/36), Hot Blooded (23/24 + 28 chelonians), Usborne’s Scavenger Hunt (10/15), Rio Challenge (4/8), Unbearable (2/8), Hall of Champions (4/11), Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (2/3)
Completed: Sea Shepherds, River Giants, Pinni Party, Don’t Turn on the Lights, Second Chance, Island Hoppers, One Zoo Wonder, Bonus Challenge
7 facilities, 7 visits, 6 days

 

Diergaarde Blijdorp - (8-02)
A few more additions from my local zoo.

Spoiler

Penguimonium (2)

Fly the Coop (4/11)
Megapode (0/1)
Cracidae (0/2)
Guineafowl (0/1)
New World quail (0/1)
Phasianidae (4/6)

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Trap (2/10)

How Many Toes Am I Holding Up? (4/9)
Equids (1/3)
Rhinoceros (2/3)
Tapir (1/3)

Let That Ruminate (5/11+7)
Pigs and Peccaries (2/3)
Hippos (1/2)
Giraffes (2/2)
Native deers (1/2)
Exotic deers (2/2)
Bovidae (7)

See Shepherds (0/2)

Check Your Feeders (0/4)

Asian Songbird Challenge (3/5)

Thylo's Top 20 (3/8)
3. Snowy-crowned robin-chat (Cossypha niveicapilla)

Small but Will Fight (7/10)
Mongooses (2/2)
Small cats (3/5)
Foxes (1/2)
Red panda (1/1)

Pinni-Party (1/2)

Carnivore Carnival (0/6)

See, Don't Touch (2)
2. Imitating poison dart frog (Ranitomeya imitator)

River Giants (0/1)

Let's Give this Another Go (1)

Don't You Forget About Me (3/13)
Bats (0/4)
Treeshrew (1/1)
Armadillos (0/2)
Anteater (0/1)
Sloth (0/1)
Sea-cow (0/1)
Elephants (1/2)
Hyrax (1/1)

Don't Turn on the Lights (2/10)
2. Gray slender lori (Loris lydekkerianus)

Native Species Challenge (1/5)

Embrace the ABCs Challenge (6/36)

Second Chance Red List Challenge (0/14)

Island Hoppers Challenge (20/22)
Mammals (5/5)
Birds (6/6)
Reptiles (6/6)
Amphibians (1/3)
Fishes (2/2)

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (6/24+11)
Monitors (1/4)
Geckos (0/2)
Agamidae (1/1)
Venomous snakes (1/10)
Pythons (1/3)
Crocodiles/Gharials (2/4)
Turtles and Tortoises (11)

Usborne's Scavanger Hunt Challenge (7/15)

Rio Challenge (0/8)

The Unbearable Challenge (1/8)

Hall of Champions (3/11)

One Zoo Wonder (0/1)

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (1/3)

Thylo's Bonus Challenge (0/1)

 

Zoo Atlanta 2/8
Please join me in a moment of silence in memorium of my bucket list whom I have eviscerated these past two days. A fantastic brand-spanking new herp house with outdoor spaces for small species, a new modern elephant facility, rare sun and giant panda bears, and probably the best outdoor gorilla and oragutan exhibits I've ever seen prove to me Zoo Atlanta lives up to the hype.

Spoiler: Challenge progress

2016 (Part II): Let That Ruminate – 4/11 +5 bovids

• Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardus) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
• Pere David’s deer (Elaphurus davidianus) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
• As many members of the family Bovidae as you can see!
  • Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  • American bison (Bison bison) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  • Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  • Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  • Thompsons gazelle (Eudorcas thompsonii) Bronx Zoo 2/2

2017 (Part III): Thylo's Top 20 – 9/8 COMPLETE

• Red-Billed Blue-Magpie (Urocissa erythroryncha) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
• Blue-grey tanager (Thraupis episcopus) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
• White-crested laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
• Plush-Crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Taveta Golden Weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Golden-Breasted Starling (Lamprotornis regius) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Snowy-Crowned Robin-Chat (Cossypha niveicapilla) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• White-Headed Buffalo-Weaver (Dinemellia dinemelli) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

Carnivore Carnival - 4/6

• Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) – Georgia Aquarium 2/7
• Binturong (Arctictis binturong) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

See, Don't Touch
1. Bumblebee poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomas) - Aquarium of Niagara 1/28
2. Green and black (Dendrobates auratus) - Aquarium of Niagara 1/28
3. Dyeing poison dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
4. Anthony’s poison arrow frog (Epipedobates anthonyi) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
5. Brazilian poison frog (Ranitomeya vanzolinii) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
6. Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
7. Variabel poison frog (Ranitomeya variabilis) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
8. Strawberry poison dart frog (Oophaga pumilio) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

Don't You Forget About Me – 5/13

• Any 4 bat species

1. Short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
2. Straw-colored fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
3. Vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29

​

• Northern tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) - Bronx Zoo 2/22
• Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• Hoffman’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• African elephant (Loxodonto Africana) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

Embrace the ABCs Challenge – 24/36

• Tiger (Panthera tigris) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29 & Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29 & Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) – Bronx Zoo 2/2 (free-roaming) & Zoo Atlanta 2/8 (exhibit animal)
• African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) – New York Aquarium 1/12 & Georgia Aquarium 2/7
• Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) – Bronx Zoo 2/2 & Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29 & Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) – Bronx Zoo 2/2 & Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) – New York Aquarium 1/12 & Georgia Aquarium 2/7
• Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) – Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Meerkat (Suricata suricata) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29 & Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Lion (Panthera leo) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29 & Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Green iguana (Iguana iguana) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
• Pond slider (Trachemys sripta) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• African elephant (Loxodonta africana) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) - 24/24 + 27 chelonians COMPLETE

• Any 4 monitor species
  1. Dumeril's monitor (Varanus dumerilii) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  2. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  3. Mertens’ water monitor (Varanus mertensi) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  4. Butaan (Varanus olivaceus) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Any 2 gecko species
  1. Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
  2. William’s dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi) - Bronx Zoo 2/2

• Shield tailed dwarf agama (Xenagama taylori) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Any 10 venomous snakes (please stick with Viperidae/Elapidae: vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, mambas, adders, coral snakes, taipan, tiger snake)
  1. Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  2. King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  3. Bushmaster (Lachesis muta) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  4. Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  5. Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  6. Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  7. Mexican lanceheaded rattlesnake (Crotalus polystictus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  8. Ethiopian viper (Bitis parviocula) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  9. Indian cobra (Naja naja) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  10. Snouted cobra (Naja annulifera) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Any 3 pythons
  1. Angolan python (Python anchietae) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
  2. Green tree python (Morelia viridis) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
  3. Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• Any 4 crocodiles/gharials (no alligators)
  1. Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  2. Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  3. Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  4. West African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• As many turtles/tortoises as you can see!
  1. Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) – New York Aquarium 1/12
  2. Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi) - Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
  3. Mata mata (Chelus fimbriata) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
  4. Fly River turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
  5. Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
  6. Chinese big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
  7. Amazon big-headed turtle (Peltocephalus dumerilianus) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
  8. Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) - Aquarium of Niagara 1/28
  9. Pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  10. Annam leaf turtle (Mauremys annamensis) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  11. Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  12. Red footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) - Buffalo 1/29
  13. Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  14. Yellow spotted Amazon turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  15. Arrau turtle (Podocnemis expansa) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
  16. Forsten’s tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  17. Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  18. Spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  19. Red-headed Amazon turtle (Podocnemis erythrocephala) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  20. Painted river terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  21. Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  22. Giant snake-neck turtle (Chelydera expansa) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  23. Red-bellied short-neck turtle (Emydura subglobosa) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  24. Spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  25. Four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  26. Cochin black turtle (Testudo kleinmanni) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  27. Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
  28. Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Georgia Aquarium 2/7
  29. Pond Slider (Trachemys scripsta) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  30. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  31. Eastern river cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  32. Alligator snapping turtle (Pseudemys concinna) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  33. Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  34. Mexican box turtle (Terrapene mexicana) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  35. Yellow-blotched map turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  36. Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8
  37. Diamondback terrapin (Malclemmys terrapin) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8

Usborne's Scavenger Hunt Challenge – 15/15 COMPLETE

• King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
• Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
• Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
• Dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) – Prospect Park Zoo 1/12
• Polar Bear (Ursus maritimis) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• American Bison (Bison bison) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• Common squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
• Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Common boa (Boa constrictor) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• Aldabra giant tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

The Rio Challenge – 5/8
1) Blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
2) Red and green macaw (Ara chloropterus) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
3) Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) - Buffalo Zoo 1/29
4) Sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
5) Blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis) - Zoo Atlanta 2/8

The Unbearable Challenge – 4/8
1. Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) – Central Park Zoo 1/7
2. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
3. Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
4. Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

Hall of Champions – 5/11

• 2013: @ThylacineAlive Aldabra giant tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8
• 2014: @TeaLovingDave Sand cat (Felis margarita) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29
• 2015: @LaughingDove Blue headed wood dove (Turtur brehmeri) - Bronx Zoo 2/2

• 2016: @devilfish Lesser bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea minor) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
• 2018: @Giant Eland Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) – Buffalo Zoo 1/29

“Bona Fide Rarity Hunter – 3/3 COMPLETE
1. Blue whistling thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) - Bronx Zoo 2/2
2. Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) – Georgia Aquarium 2/7
3. Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) – Zoo Atlanta 2/8

In progress, including open-ended: Penguimonium (8), Fly the Coop (8/11), Bigger Trap (9/10), How Many Toes (4/9), Let That Ruminate (4/11 +5 bovids), Check Your Feeders (1/4), Asian Songbird (2/5), Small but Will Fight (7/10), Carnivore Carnival (3/6), See Don’t Touch (8), Give this Another Go (2), Don’t you Forget About me (7/13), Native Species (2/5), ABCs (24/36), Hot Blooded (27 chelonians), Rio Challenge (5/8), Unbearable (4/8), Hall of Champions (5/11)

Completed: Sea Shepherds, Thylo’s Top 20, River Giants, Pinni Party, Don’t Turn on the Lights, Second Chance, Island Hoppers, Hot-Blooded, Usborne’s Scavenger Hunt, One Zoo Wonder, Bona Fide Rarity Hunter, Bonus Challenge

8 facilities, 8 visits, 7 days

 

I have a question about some of the challenges. Embrace the ABC's, Asian Songbird Challenge, Thylo's Bonus Challenge, and Bona Fide Rarity Hunter both say "at least" in their directions (e.g. "see at least one predator-prey exhibit set-up", "see all 18 of the common zoo animals in at least two different zoos"). Does this mean those challenes are technically open-ended in a way? I am permitted to post, say, gorilla sightings at three zoos or more two Hagenbeck-style predator-prey exhibits?

 

I’m guessing the stance is that if you want you can but it’ll only make matters more confusing on a thread that is already quite convoluted to keep track of. It’s probably best to stick to the number indicated and thus avoid any sort of confusion.

 

It's Sunday, you know what that means!

Buffalo Zoo:
Hot Blooded for Cold Blood (16/24 plus 17 chelonians):
17. Gopher Tortoise- Gopherus polyphemus

Challenges completed remains 4/29. Looking forward, there's very little left I'm waiting on at Buffalo. A few Asian box turtle species continue to elude me (if they're even still on exhibit), but other than that I just need to wait for the weather to warm up enough for giraffes, one-horned rhinos, and lemurs!

 

A very busy three days of zoo-visiting!

San Antonio Zoo (San Antonio, TX) -- 09 February 2023:
Let That Ruminate (11/11): COMPLETE

Spoiler

1. Pigs/Peccaries (3/3):
   1. North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis)
2. Bovidae (28/∞):
   1. Blue duiker (Philantomba monticola)
   2. Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii)

Asian Songbird Challenge (3/5):

Spoiler

1. Asian fairy bluebird (Irena puella)
2. Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
3. Golden white-eye (Cleptornis marchei)

Thylo’s Top 20 (8/8): COMPLETE

Spoiler

1. Venezuelan troupial (Icterus icterus)
2. Western hooded pitta (Pitta sordida)

Small but Will Fight (7/10):

Spoiler

1. Mongooses (2/2):
   1. Common dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula)
2. Small Cats (3/5):
   1. Caracal (Caracal caracal)
   2. Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
3. Foxes (2/2):
   1. Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis)

Carnivore Carnival (3/6):

Spoiler

1. Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)

See, Don’t Touch (7/∞):

Spoiler

1. Anthony’s poison frog (Epipedobates anthonyi)
2. Terrible poison dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis)

Don’t You Forget About Me (9/13):

Spoiler

1. Bats (2/4):
   1. Seba’s short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata)
2. Hyrax (1/1):
   1. Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)

Embrace the ABCs (14/18):

Spoiler

1. Asian small-clawed otter (2/2)

Island Hoppers Challenge (22/22): COMPLETE

Spoiler

1. Birds (6/6):
   1. Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri)
   2. Red bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rubra)

I’m Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (24/24):

1. Turtles/Tortoises (38/∞):
   Spoiler

   1. Aldabra giant tortoise (Geochelone gigantea)
   2. Arrau river turtle (Podocnemis expansa)
   3. Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata)
   4. Mexican mud turtle (Kinosternon integrum)

The Unbearable Challenge (2/8):

Spoiler

1. Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

Hall of Champions (8/11):

Spoiler

1. Aldabra giant tortoise (Geochelone gigantea)
2. Namaqua dove (Oena capensis)

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (3/4):

Spoiler

1. Halys viper (Gloydius halys)

TOTAL:
Completed: 14/29
In-Progress: 10/12

Reptilandia Reptile Lagoon (Johnson City, TX) -- 10 February 2023:
I’m Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (24/24):

1. Turtles/Tortoises (43/∞):
   Spoiler

   1. Chaco tortoise (Chelonoidis chilensis)
   2. Common map turtle (Graptemys geographica)
   3. European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)
   4. Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata)
   5. Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Dallas World Aquarium (Dallas, TX) -- 11 February 2023:
Penguimonium (3/∞):

Spoiler

1. Little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor)

See, Don’t Touch (17/∞):

Spoiler

1. Amazonian poison frog (Ranitomeya amazonica)
2. Brazilian poison frog (Ranitomeya vanzolinii)
3. Harlequin poison frog (Oophaga histrionica)
4. Lehmann’s poison frog (Oophaga lehmanni)
5. Mimic poison frog (Ranitomeya imitator)
6. Oophaga anchicayensis
7. Oophaga solanensis
8. Red-headed poison frog (Ranitomeya fantastica)
9. Sira poison frog (Ranitomeya sirensis)
10. Summer’s poison frog (Ranitomeya summersi)

Don’t You Forget About Me (11/13):

Spoiler

1. Bats (3/4):
   1. Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus)
2. Sirenian (1/1):
   1. West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)

I’m Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (24/24):

1. Turtles/Tortoises (45/∞):
   Spoiler

   1. Painted wood turtle (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima)
   2. Red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius)

Hall of Champions (9/11):

Spoiler

1. Long-wattled umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger)

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (4/4): COMPLETE

Spoiler

1. Many-banded aracari (Pteroglossus pluricinctus)

TOTAL:
Completed: 15/29
In-Progress: 9/11

 

Alright, first zoo of the year:

Spoiler: Hamerton Zoo: 14th February

Fly the Coop: 4/11
1 Megapode:
Australian Brushturkey
2 Cracids:
1. Great Curassow
1 Guineafowl:
Vulturine Guineafowl
6 Phasianids:
1. Himalayan Monal

How many toes am I holding up? 1/9
3 Equids:
1. Plains Zebra

Let That Ruminate: 1/11
2 Non-Native Deer:
1. Southern Pudu

Check Your Feeders: 1/4
Eurasian Jay

Thylo's Top 20: 1/8
Red-Billed Blue Magpie

Small But Will Fight: 6/10
2 Mongooses:
1. Meerkat
5 Small Cats:
1. Rusty-Spotted Cat
2. Oncilla
3. Serval
4. Canada Lynx
2 Foxes:
1. Corsac Fox

Carnivore Carnival: 2/6
Cheetah
Ringtail

Let's Give This Another Go:
1. Common Wombat
2. Squirrel Glider
3. Eastern Ring-Tailed Possum
4. Common Brushtail Possum
5. Ground Cuscus
6. Long-Nosed Potoroo
7. Parma Wallaby
8. Swamp Wallaby
9. Bennett's Wallaby

Don't You Forget About Me: 3/13
2 Armadillos:
Southern Three-Banded Armadillo
1 Anteater:
Giant Anteater
1 Sloth:
Linne's Two-Toed Sloth

Don't Turn on the Lights: 1/10
1. Ground Cuscus
2. Southern Three-Banded Armadillo
3. Linne's Two-Toed Sloth

Embrace the ABCs: 0/18
Bennett's Wallaby 1/2
Ring-Tailed Lemur 1/2
Meerkat 1/2
Tiger 1/2
Asian Short-Clawed Otter 1/2

Second Chance Red List Challenge: 12/14
VU:
Giant Anteater
Red-Breasted Goose
Snowy Owl
Cuban Conure
EN:
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Collared Brown Lemur
Lar Gibbon
Grey Crowned Crane
CR:
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
Cotton-Top Tamarin
Hooded Vulture
Rüppell's Griffon Vulture

Island Hoppers Challenge: 5/22
5 Mammals:
Ground Cuscus
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Collared Brown Lemur
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
6 Birds:
1. Paradise Shelduck

I'm Hot Blooded for Cold Blood: 2/24
4 Monitors:
Gillen's Pygmy Monitor
3 Pythons:
Anthill Python
Turtles/Tortoises:
Egyptian Tortoise

Usborne's Scavenger Hunt Challenge: 5/15
1. Dingo
2. Southern Cassowary
3. Grey Crowned Crane
4. Laughing Kookaburra
5. Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

Rio Challenge: 4/8
1. Orange-Winged Amazon
2. Mealy Amazon
3. Sun Conure
4. Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

Unbearable Challenge: 1/8
1. Brown Bear

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter: 1/3
1. Eastern Ring-Tailed Possum

Bonus: Hamerton have an undescribed Australian Ambassis species which is noted on ZTL as Ambassis spec. nov. and 'Northwest Glassfish' which is seemingly absent from any Australian collection, and I assume any other collection in the world.

Completed: 0/29
In Progress: 18/26

 

Nice to see that you spot the Ring-Tailed Possum . Btw, for the Bone Fide Rarity Hunter challenge you can count only one species per zoo.

 

Ah, my mistake. It was nice to see the possum for 5 seconds before he spotted me

 

Two zoos have been visited since I last updated. The first is the Crystal Palace Park Zoo (visited on the 4th of February) which does have a zoo license and an exotics room (even though it was closed on my visit), so I assume it counts? The second was the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (visited on the 16th of February).

Spoiler: Penguinmonium (Open-ended):

1. Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Fly the Coop (4/11)

1. Collared Hill Partridge (Arborophila gingica)
2. Crested Wood Partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
3. Edward's Pheasant (Lophura edwardsi)
4. Mountain Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron inopinatum)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: We're Gonna Need A Bigger Trap!

1. Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
2. Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena)
3. Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: How Many Toes Am I Holding Up (1/9)?

Equids (/3):
1. Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Let That Ruminate (5/11 + Open-ended)

Pigs and Peccaries (2/3):
1. Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus)
2. Sulawesi Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa)

Hippos (1/2):
1. Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)

Giraffes (2/2):
1. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)
2. Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Asian Songbird Challenge (5/5)

1. Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi)
2. Chestnut-backed Thrush (Geokichla dohertyi)
3. Forbes Parrot-finch (Erythrura tricolor)
4. Javan Green Magpie (Cissa thalassina)
5. White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

(Already completed)

Spoiler: Thylo's Top 20 (2/8)

1. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus courtoisi)
2. Brazilian Tanager (Ramphocelus bresilia)

(One new addition)

Spoiler: Small But Will Fight (4/10)

Mongooses (2/2)
1. Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula)
2. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

Small-sized Cats (2/5)
1. Serval (Leptailurus serval)
2. Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

(Two new additions)

Spoiler: See, Don't Touch (Open-ended)

1. Dyeing Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: River Giants (1/1)

1. Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidanus)

(Already Completed)

Spoiler: Let's Give This Another Go (Open-ended)

1. Bennett's Wallaby (Notamacropus ruforgriseus)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Don't You Forget About Me (3/13)

Bats (1/4):
1. Rodrigues Flying Fox (Pteropus rodricensis)

Anteaters (1/1):
1. Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)

Sloth (1/1):
1. Linnaeus' Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Don't Turn On The Lights (7/10)

Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
Grey Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus)
Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena)
Moholi Galago (Galago moholi)
Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
Potto (Perodicticus potto)
Pygmy Slow Loris (Xanthonycticebus pygmaeus)

Spoiler: Embrace the ABCs Challenge (14/36)

1. Bennett's Wallaby (Notamacropus ruforgriseus) (2/2)
2. Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) (2/2)
3. Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) (1/2)
4. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) (2/2)
5. Lion (Panthera leo) (2/2)
6. Tiger (Panthera tigris) (2/2)
7. African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) (1/2)
8. Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina oblongonota) (2/2)

(Six new additions)

Spoiler: Second Chance Red List Challenge (14/14)

Vulnerable (/4):
1. Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)
2. Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi)
3. Mindanao Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba crinigera)
4. Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)
Endangered (/4):
1. Purple-naped Lory (Lorius domicella)
2. Wrinkled Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus)
3. Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)
4. Golden-headed Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)
Critically Endangered (/4):
1. Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis)
2. Edward's Pheasant (Lophura edwardsi)
3. Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
4. Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
Extinct in the Wild (/2):
1. Socorro Dove (Zenaida graysoni)
2. Tapairu Tree Snail (Partula hebe)

(Already completed)

Spoiler: Island Hoppers Challenge (19/22)

Mammals (5/5)
1. Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
2. Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena)
3. Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)
4. Sulawesi Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa)
5. Sulawesi Crested Macaque (Macaca nigra)

Birds (6/6)
1. Javan Green Magpie (Cissa thalassina)
2. Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
3. Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)
4. Mindanao Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba crinigera)
5. Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi)
6. Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)

Reptiles (6/6)
1. Round Island Skink (Leiolopisma telfarii)
2. Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger)
3. Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
4. Mindanao Water Monitor (Varanus cumingi)
5. Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
6. Dumeril's Boa (Acrantophis dumerili)

Amphibians (2/3)
1. Sardinian Brook Salamander (Euproctus platycephalus)
2. Majorcan Midwife Toad (Alytes muletensis)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: I'm Hot-blooded (For Cold Blood) (9/24 + Open-ended)

Monitors (/4)
1. Blue-spotted Tree Monitor (Varanus macraei)
2. Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
3. Mindanao Water Monitor (Varanus cumingi)

Geckos (2/2)
1. William's Electric Blue Gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi)
2. Standing's Day Gecko (Phelsuma standingi)

Venomous Snakes (1/10)
1. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Pythons (2/3)
1. Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus)
2. Royal Python (Python regius)

Crocodiles/gharials (1/4)
1. Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)

Turtles and Tortoises (Open-ended)
1. Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger)
2. Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca)
3. Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius)
4. Annam Leaf Turtle (Mauremys annamensis)

(Two new additions)

Spoiler: Usborne's Scavenger Hunt Challenge (3/15)

1. Bolivian Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri boliviensis)
2. Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
3. Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Rio Challenge (3/8)

1. Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis)
2. Green-winged Macaw (Ara chloropterus)
3. Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Hall of Champions (1/11)

1. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

(No new additions)

Spoiler: Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (1/3 + 1/1 Bonus)

1. Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis)

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter Bonus:
1. Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis)

(No new additions)

Not as many new additions as I would have hoped for, but overall not bad.

In-Progress (17/29):
Penguimonium
Fly the Coop
We're Gonna Need a Bigger Trap
How Many Toes Am I Holding Up?
Let that Ruminate
Thylo's Top 20
Small but Will Fight
See, Don't Touch
Let's Give this Another Go
Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Turn on the Lights
Embrace the ABCs Challenge
Island Hoppers Challenge
I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood)
Usborne's Scavenger Challenge
Rio Challenge
Bona Fide Rarity Hunter

Completed (4/29):
Asian Songbird Challenge
River Giants
Second Chance Red List Challenge
One Zoo Wonder