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

Giraffes
Masai Giraffe (10 holders)
Brevard Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Franklin Park Zoo
Houston Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Nashville Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Santa Barbara Zoo

Rothschild's/Nubian Giraffe (suspected) (2 holders)
B. Bryan Preserve
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Giraffe (sensu lato) (19 holders)
Audubon Species Survival Center
Audubon Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Chattanooga Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Southwicks Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Tampa

Okapi (11 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Dallas Zoo
Houston Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Garden
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Zoo Tampa

Now obviously I am missing many, many holders for these animals. I likely will for most taxa I cover. But this is where you all come in, let's fill those gaps!

~Thylo

Generic giraffe: Sacramento, San Francisco, Wildlife Safari, I believe also Oregon Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and Woodland Park. (I know both have giraffe, I think I'm remembering subspecies right.)

Masai Giraffe: Sacramento Zoo

Okapi: Sacramento Zoo

For Okapi, there is a thread on the site somewhere that has a map showing worldwide holdings, including numbers and facilities. It is not quite up to date, but between the map and that thread you should just about have Okapi done.

EDIT: Can't find the thread, but did find the link.
" there is already a complete world map, if you click on each zoo you get the current stock:
It's an Okapi World - Google My Maps "
 
Last edited:
Masai Giraffes are also kept by Columbus, Racine, Toledo, The Wilds, and (apparently) Timbavati Wildlife Park.

Saint Louis, Columbus, and Brookfield all keep Okapi.

Lincoln Park and The Wilds claims their Giraffes are pure Rothschild's, not sure if this is accurate.

Generic Giraffes are kept by Henry Vilas, NEW, Milwaukee, Como Park, Columbus, The Wilds, Saint Louis, Detroit, Binder Park, Indianapolis, Brookfield, and Timbavati Wildlife Park.

From photos it does appear that Timbavati has at least one Masai Giraffe mixed with a generic. Weird, that.

Most zoos claim their giraffes are either pure Rothschild's or Reticulated. The vast majority of these claims are wrong and are simply based on which phenotype the animal has. A few SDZSP animals and a handful of males sent from there to other zoos (B. Bryan Preserve and Audubon Species Survival Center; the Audubon animals I believe were sent to locations unknown, though) are the only confirmed ones at this time.

Giraffe is a big place to start, there's 150+ holders :)

The main issue with ungulates is all the private places that hold species. Should ranches and the like be included, for accurate numbers, or just places people can visit?

This is a good question and one I'm not entirely sure on yet. It will be pretty impossible to list out all private collections, however I think it may be good to include those which notably work with the AZA for the timebeing when possible.

Generic giraffe: Sacramento, San Francisco, Wildlife Safari, I believe also Oregon Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and Woodland Park. (I know both have giraffe, I think I'm remembering subspecies right.)

Masai Giraffe: Sacramento Zoo

Okapi: Sacramento Zoo

For Okapi, there is a thread on the site somewhere that has a map showing worldwide holdings, including numbers and facilities. It is not quite up to date, but between the map and that thread you should just about have Okapi done.

EDIT: Can't find the thread, but did find the link.
" there is already a complete world map, if you click on each zoo you get the current stock:
It's an Okapi World - Google My Maps "

Thank you! That will be very useful!

I'll be looking at/linking other relevant ungulate threads in the future as well.

~Thylo
 
Wild Cattle

Javan Banteng (2 holders)
Rum Creek Ranch
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Gaur (6 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
Living Treasures (not sure which one, there are two in Virginia but one has Gaur supposedly)
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Zoo Miami

Cape Buffalo (2 holders)
Denver Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Amazed to see these wild cattle (Banteng and Cape Buffalo) reduced to just two holders each. I believe both the Bronx Zoo and the Catskills Game Farm had Banteng in the 1980’s. San Antonio Zoo had Cape Buffalo in the 1980’s a well.
 
Last edited:
Amazed to see these wild cattle (Banteng and Cape Buffalo) reduced to just two holders each. I believe both the Bronx Zoo and the Catskills Game Farm has Banteng in the 1980’s. San Antonio Zoo has Cape Buffalo in the 1980’s a well.

They have more holders, I'm just not sure who they are yet. I'll add them in as I learn more about their whereabouts. For example, I found out Safari Wilderness in Florida keeps the buffalo so that will be listed as a third holder when I update the list next.

~Thylo
 
Have you thought about adding Canada holdings as really being part of north America?
 
There's definitely more for Banteng, they're one of the species Source Population Alliance is working with.
 
Have you thought about adding Canada holdings as really being part of north America?

Given his base figures were from AZA numbers and thus including Canadian zoos with AZA accreditation, they are potentially included. Given the thread is posted under United States forum though perhaps not? We'll have to get clarification from @ThylacineAlive on the subject.
 
Ranches are going to be impossible to get accurate numbers as inventory changes almost daily with some species.
 
Giraffes
Masai Giraffe (10 holders)
Brevard Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Franklin Park Zoo
Houston Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Nashville Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Santa Barbara Zoo

Rothschild's/Nubian Giraffe (suspected) (2 holders)
B. Bryan Preserve
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Giraffe (sensu lato) (19 holders)
Audubon Species Survival Center
Audubon Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Chattanooga Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Southwicks Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Tampa

Okapi (11 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Dallas Zoo
Houston Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Garden
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Zoo Tampa

Now obviously I am missing many, many holders for these animals. I likely will for most taxa I cover. But this is where you all come in, let's fill those gaps!

~Thylo

Generic giraffe: Sacramento, San Francisco, Wildlife Safari, I believe also Oregon Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and Woodland Park. (I know both have giraffe, I think I'm remembering subspecies right.)

Masai Giraffe: Sacramento Zoo

Okapi: Sacramento Zoo

For Okapi, there is a thread on the site somewhere that has a map showing worldwide holdings, including numbers and facilities. It is not quite up to date, but between the map and that thread you should just about have Okapi done.

EDIT: Can't find the thread, but did find the link.
" there is already a complete world map, if you click on each zoo you get the current stock:
It's an Okapi World - Google My Maps "

Fresno currently has 2.1 generic giraffe (and the female is 26), and also has 1.2 Masai as of this year, actually.

They had a group of 2.2 generics and 0.1 Masai for a while, with the older of the generic bulls neutered and the Masai on contraception I believe. Then this year was busy: they imported a 2 year old Masai bull from The Wilds in February 2020, lost one of the elderly generic females (26 as well) in May, and most recently imported a young female Masai from Phoenix this past June/July. So it's looking like they might choose to focus on breeding Masai, at least for now.

They're my mom's favorite, so taking her to visit the Fresno herd for feeding and photos is a regular thing. I've been kept up to date on them via their biggest fan for years :D
 
Banteng at Zoo Miami and Lee Richardson Zoo.

Gaur at Bayou Wildlife Park.

North Carolina Zoo has impure bison.

Also isn’t living treasures in PA?
 
Wild Cattle
American Bison (pure) (5 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo

American Bison (impure) (6 holders)
Action Wildlife
Queens Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Space Farms Zoo & Museums
Wildlife World Zoo

Lowland Anoa (7 holders)
Fort Worth Zoo
Micanopy Zoological Preserve
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Rum Creek Ranch
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Zoo Tampa

Javan Banteng (2 holders)
Rum Creek Ranch
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Gaur (6 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
Living Treasures (not sure which one, there are two in Virginia but one has Gaur supposedly)
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Zoo Miami

Cape Buffalo (2 holders)
Denver Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Again, there are definitely others for these, especially the impure bison, it's just a little difficult to check every single zoo website at 11pm :p

~Thylo
Banteng is also kept by Saint Louis.

More holders for impure bison (here I'm assuming every bison I've seen in a zoo that isn't specified as pure isn't):
Henry Vilas
NEW
The Wilds
Columbus
Wildwood Zoo
Animal Haven Zoo
Glacier Ridge Animal Farm
Manitowoc Lincoln Park
MacKensie Center
Brookfield
Como Park
Lone Elk Park
Doc's Harley-Davidson
Shalom Wildlife Zoo
Detroit
 
Have you thought about adding Canada holdings as really being part of north America?
Given his base figures were from AZA numbers and thus including Canadian zoos with AZA accreditation, they are potentially included. Given the thread is posted under United States forum though perhaps not? We'll have to get clarification from @ThylacineAlive on the subject.

So at first I was thinking no for simplicity's sake, but now I'm thinking we should. They are apart of North America, some zoos do participate in AZA programs, and are often hindered by the same laws and regulations placed onto ungulates as US zoos are. I believe some of the Cervus deer figures I gave at the beginning of this thread include Canadian holdings as well. I know Toronto has Masai Giraffe so that would be a good addition.

I'd imagine Canada has a fair few Wood Bison holdings? I have Toronto down already.

Ranches are going to be impossible to get accurate numbers as inventory changes almost daily with some species.

Yes I know, I think the aim here is just to get as close to an accurate look at what species are kept in North America and where. Population figures will always be limited unfortunately.

Banteng at Zoo Miami and Lee Richardson Zoo.

Gaur at Bayou Wildlife Park.

North Carolina Zoo has impure bison.

Also isn’t living treasures in PA?

Interesting, had no idea at Bayou! Wonder how many they keep?

Yes, the two LTs are in PA, that was my mistake. I can't really find info on their supposed Gaur either.

More holders for impure bison (here I'm assuming every bison I've seen in a zoo that isn't specified as pure isn't):

This is probably the best assumption, yes. I'm not too positive there even are any pure holders outside of the 5 listed.

~Thylo
 
Last edited:
As a general update for what I have right now:

Giraffes
Masai Giraffe (20 holders)
USA-
Brevard Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Franklin Park Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Houston Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Metro Richmond Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Racine Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
Safari West
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Santa Barbara Zoo
The Wilds
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Toledo Zoo

Canada-
Toronto Zoo

Rothschild's/Nubian Giraffe (suspected) (3 holders)
Audubon Zoo
B. Bryan Preserve
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Giraffe (sensu lato) (51 holders)
Audubon Species Survival Center
Audubon Zoo
Bayou Wildlife Zoo
Binder Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Central Florida Zoo
Chattanooga Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Como Park Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Denver Zoo
Detroit Zoo
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Giraffe Ranch
Gladys Porter Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo
Hogle Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Living Treasures Wild Animal Park (Moraine)
Metro Richmond Zoo
Milwaukee Zoo
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
NEW Zoo & Adventure Park
North Carolina Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Sacramento Zoo
Safari West
St. Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
San Francisco Zoo
Southwicks Zoo
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
The Wilds
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Topeka Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Wildlife Safari
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Tampa

Okapi (29 holders)
Audubon Special Survival Center
Brookfield Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Dallas Zoo
Denver Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Houston Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Garden
Maryland Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Potawatomi Zoo
Roosevelt Park Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
St. Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
White Oak Conservation Center
Zoo Miami
Zoo Tampa

~Thylo
 
Last edited:
Wild Cattle
American Bison (pure) (5 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo

American Bison (impure) (6 holders)
Action Wildlife
Queens Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Space Farms Zoo & Museums
Wildlife World Zoo

Lowland Anoa (7 holders)
Fort Worth Zoo
Micanopy Zoological Preserve
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Rum Creek Ranch
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Zoo Tampa

Javan Banteng (2 holders)
Rum Creek Ranch
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Gaur (6 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
Living Treasures (not sure which one, there are two in Virginia but one has Gaur supposedly)
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Zoo Miami

Cape Buffalo (2 holders)
Denver Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Again, there are definitely others for these, especially the impure bison, it's just a little difficult to check every single zoo website at 11pm :p

~Thylo

Cape Buffalo are present at Safari West in Sonoma, CA
 
Wild Cattle
American Bison (pure) (5 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo

American Bison (impure) (25 holders)
Action Wildlife
Animal Haven Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Como Park Zoo
Detroit Zoo
Doc’s Zoo
Glacier Ridge Animal Farm
Henry Vilas Zoo
Living Treasures Wild Animal Park (Jones Mills)
Lincoln Park Zoo (Manitowoc)
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
MacKenzie Center
Metro Richmond Zoo
NEW Zoo & Adventure Park
North Carolina Zoo
Queens Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary
Space Farms Zoo & Museums
Wildlife Safari
Wildlife World Zoo
Wildwood Zoo

Wood Bison (2 holders)
USA-
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Canada-
Toronto Zoo

Lowland Anoa (8 holders)
Fort Worth Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Garden
Micanopy Zoological Preserve
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Rum Creek Ranch
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Zoo Tampa

Javan Banteng (6 holders)
Lee Richardson Zoo
Rum Creek Ranch
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
St. Louis Zoo
The Wilds
Zoo Miami

Gaur (7 holders)
Bayou Wildlife Park
Bronx Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
Living Treasures Wild Animal Park (Moraine)
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Zoo Miami

Cape Buffalo (4 holders)
Denver Zoo
Safari West
Safari Wilderness
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

African Forest Buffalo (1 holder?)
Micanopy Zoological Preserve?

~Thylo
 
As a general update for what I have right now:

Giraffes
Masai Giraffe (20 holders)
USA-
Brevard Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Franklin Park Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Houston Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Metro Richmond Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Racine Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
Safari West
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Santa Barbara Zoo
The Wilds
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Toledo Zoo

Canada-
Toronto Zoo

Rothschild's/Nubian Giraffe (suspected) (3 holders)
Audubon Zoo
B. Bryan Preserve
San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Giraffe (sensu lato) (51 holders)
Audubon Species Survival Center
Audubon Zoo
Bayou Wildlife Zoo
Binder Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Central Florida Zoo
Chattanooga Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Como Park Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Denver Zoo
Detroit Zoo
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Giraffe Ranch
Gladys Porter Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo
Hogle Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Living Treasures Wild Animal Park (Moraine)
Metro Richmond Zoo
Milwaukee Zoo
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
NEW Zoo & Adventure Park
North Carolina Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Sacramento Zoo
Safari West
St. Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
San Francisco Zoo
Southwicks Zoo
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
The Wilds
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Topeka Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Wildlife Safari
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Tampa

Okapi (29 holders)
Audubon Special Survival Center
Brookfield Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Dallas Zoo
Denver Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Houston Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Garden
Maryland Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Potawatomi Zoo
Roosevelt Park Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
St. Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
White Oak Conservation Center
Zoo Miami
Zoo Tampa

~Thylo
The Kansas City Zoo also holds Masai Giraffe
 
Back
Top