Royal Antelope

[jayjds2]

Does anyone know the status of Royal antelope in the US, or in captivity overall? Are there any on exhibit anymore? At one point they were considered an emerging program by he AZA, but they now seem to be disappearing. The four zoos I know of that used to have them are the San Diego Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Lowry Park Zoo, and Brookfield Zoo. I sent email inquiries to both the Brookfield and Lowry Park Zoos, and both responded that they no longer had the species. A San Diego regular told me that the animals are off exhibit there, but does anyone have more information? Are they still breeding? I didn't see the species at Los Angeles either; is anybody able to provide more information? Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MikeG]

San Diego only has 1.1 specimens: both were born at the zoo in 2013.

 

[Batto]

I saw one on display at Lowry Park Zoo a few years ago.

 

[jayjds2]

After visiting Tampa yesterday, I can confirm that there are no longer royal antelope.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Sadly Los Angeles Zoo no longer keeps Royal antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) either.

One thing I am quite interested in knowing, perhaps some zoo proffesional on here may have further information on the matter (and can share it here if it isnt proprietary), what zoos in recent history were interested in acquiring them (on a waiting list to get them) but the plans did not come to fruition?

 

[pachyderm pro]

Currently, San Diego and Brookfield are the only zoos to keep the species. San Diego's are off exhibit, and at Brookfield it only comes on exhibit the Summer. Sad to see such a cool species die out in American zoos.

 

[Chlidonias]

This is such a shame. I was just looking back - on a 2008 thread on here, San Diego had ten of them and Lowry Park had seven, so there were quite a good number. It seems like the original animals were imported by San Diego, so I would guess there weren't many founders.

 

[birdsandbats]

and at Brookfield it only comes on exhibit the Summer.

Do you know the reason why? When I went the Royal Antelope I saw was indoors. If the antelope was indoors, why would it only be on exhibit in the summer?

 

[pachyderm pro]

Do you know the reason why? When I went the Royal Antelope I saw was indoors. If the antelope was indoors, why would it only be on exhibit in the summer?

In the Winter, that indoor exhibit is used for a family of red-flanked duikers. In the Summer, they move to the outdoor habitat, and the royal antelope takes up the indoor exhibit for the Summer.

 

[birdsandbats]

In the Winter, that indoor exhibit is used for a family of red-flanked duikers. In the Summer, they move to the outdoor habitat, and the royal antelope takes up the indoor exhibit for the Summer.

Do the Red-Billed Hornbills stay in that exhibit in winter or do they go off exhibit with the Royal Antelope?

 

[pachyderm pro]

Do the Red-Billed Hornbills stay in that exhibit in winter or do they go off exhibit with the Royal Antelope?

They are always on exhibit throughout the year.