Mixed species exhibit ideas

[Jarne]

What do you guys think of these exhibits?

Asian Plains:
Nilgai Antelope
Sandbar deer (you mean sambar I guess)
Axis Deer
Indian Greater One-horned Rhino (boy that's a mouthful)
Indian Elephant (maybe)
Guar
Indian Wild Ass

Asian Highlands:
Bactrian Camel
Bactrian Deer
Przewalski's Horse
Mongolian Wild Ass
Bar-headed goose
Wild Yak

Himalayan Hoof stock (not official name):
Sichuan Takin
Goral

• Exhibit 1:
Most of these species are exhibited together in San Diego Safari Park I believe, safe for the elephants and wild asses. The elephants are a maybe, but the amount of space that they have in the exhibit needs to be limited probably. For precaution I'd also not allow the rhino's acces to the elephants at all. The asses is a tricky one, I'm not convinced they wouldn't work but also not convinced they will. I guess it's worth the attempt.

In general the keywords for such an exhibit are space, separation exhibits and visual barriers. Make sure you have a hilly enclosure or patches of protected vegetation to break up sight-lines. Further a vast expanse of space should allow animals to avoid each other. Separation exhibits for males should also be considered. I'd say have a look at the San Diego Safari Park Asian plains exhibit here for more details: Mixed Species Resources — AZA Ungulates


• Exhibit 2:
I see two problems. You're combining two species of wild horses, that can lead to serious aggression. Second the bar-headed goose is just a bad idea, pinioned birds in hoofstock exhibits is asking for stress and trampling accidents. All the rest can do fine, but individual temperaments need to be taken in consideration. The same principles as above count here. Once again I refer to the manual above. There you can find more detailed reports about some of the mixes with these species

• Exhibit 3:
This mix has been done in a handfull of parks, some even breeding them. I'd say it would work but plenty of options to avoid each others are needed. It could also be important to separate mothers when giving birth and have the entrance to indoor quarters made so that takins won't get into the goral's stable (both done at St. Louis zoo).

 

[pendraig_milnerae]

Hiya. I hath returned to this thread as I have a few ideas I need help with. They are as follows:

1. European Bison, Scottish Red Deer
   
2. European Goldfinch, Hooded Crow, Rock Ptarmigan, Scottish Crossbill, Western Capercaillie
3. Great Argus, Malayan Tapir
4. Eastern Bongo, Yellow-Backed Duiker
5. Atlantic Walrus, Harbour Seal
6. Chapman’s Zebra, Dorcas Gazelle, Livingstone Eland
7. Agami Heron, Black-Faced Ibis Fuegian Streamer Duck, Limpkin, White-Faced Whistling Duck

theres quite a few I know, but hopefully after this I shouldn’t be asking in here again, there’s just a few things I’m a bit unsure of, some more so than others.

 

[Jarne]

Hiya. I hath returned to this thread as I have a few ideas I need help with. They are as follows:

1. European Bison, Scottish Red Deer
   
2. European Goldfinch, Hooded Crow, Rock Ptarmigan, Scottish Crossbill, Western Capercaillie
3. Great Argus, Malayan Tapir
4. Eastern Bongo, Yellow-Backed Duiker
5. Atlantic Walrus, Harbour Seal
6. Chapman’s Zebra, Dorcas Gazelle, Livingstone Eland
7. Agami Heron, Black-Faced Ibis Fuegian Streamer Duck, Limpkin, White-Faced Whistling Duck

theres quite a few I know, but hopefully after this I shouldn’t be asking in here again, there’s just a few things I’m a bit unsure of, some more so than others.

If you aren't tired of me answering to these yet, I don't mind giving advice on these things at all regardless of how many times you ask. Now to the mixes:

1: With enough space this shouldn't be a problem in most cases, with restricted space I'd recommend only housing female deer or to separate the stag during the rut.
2: Those crows will probably cause problems with the songbirds. The mixing of those two ground-dwelling birds might work but you'd probably need quite a bit of space.
3: I'd say this would work if there are spaces for the pheasants to retreat to. An aviary would be adviced as unpinioned birds can get away from the tapirs more easily reducing the risk of trampling.
4: This has been done (I had the same question on here b.t.w., but you probably noticed that already). I'd say bongo-free areas are a plus especially when breeding the duiker. Enough sight-barriers are also recommended in general for these forest-dwelling species.
5: I'm not sure. I believe the seals wouldn't pose a problem for the walrus, but I can't say for certain wether the same would be the case the other way around.
6: I'd say it depends on the specific individuals. Dorcas gazelles have been kept with Grevy zebra successfully so the Chapman's could work. I'm not that familiar with giant eland behavior, but if their behavior is similar to that of common elands I don't see any intrinsic problems.
7: Both limpkins and Agami herons aren't kept in captivity as far as I know, so I can't really say anything about them. For the other ones. With enough space it should work, though the steamer ducks can be very aggressive so a breeding pair might not work.

 

[BerdNerd]

Hiya. I hath returned to this thread as I have a few ideas I need help with. They are as follows:

1. European Bison, Scottish Red Deer
   
2. European Goldfinch, Hooded Crow, Rock Ptarmigan, Scottish Crossbill, Western Capercaillie
3. Great Argus, Malayan Tapir
4. Eastern Bongo, Yellow-Backed Duiker
5. Atlantic Walrus, Harbour Seal
6. Chapman’s Zebra, Dorcas Gazelle, Livingstone Eland
7. Agami Heron, Black-Faced Ibis Fuegian Streamer Duck, Limpkin, White-Faced Whistling Duck

theres quite a few I know, but hopefully after this I shouldn’t be asking in here again, there’s just a few things I’m a bit unsure of, some more so than others.

1. Seems pretty risky as bison are known to be very territorial. Could maybe work if the deer had a separate part of the exhibit only they could access.

2. Hooded Crows will eat the eggs or young of the other birds if they start to breed. Mixing Corvids with smaller songbirds in general is also a pretty risky thing to do. Besides the crows, this exhibit could work.

3. I think it could work.

4. I think this has been done before so yes, this could definitely work.

5. No, since when walrus's usual diet (benthic invertebrates) is unavailable, they have been known to prey on other pinnipeds.

6. Zebras harass the young of other of animals. You would need to separate them during breeding season in order for this to work.

7. If the ducks decide to breed, the herons might potentially eat the ducklings. Everything else I could see working.

 

[pendraig_milnerae]

1. Seems pretty risky as bison are known to be very territorial. Could maybe work if the deer had a separate part of the exhibit only they could access.

2. Hooded Crows will eat the eggs or young of the other birds if they start to breed. Mixing Corvids with smaller songbirds in general is also a pretty risky thing to do. Besides the crows, this exhibit could work.

3. I think it could work.

4. I think this has been done before so yes, this could definitely work.

5. No, since when walrus's usual diet (benthic invertebrates) is unavailable, they have been known to prey on other pinnipeds.

6. Zebras harass the young of other of animals. You would need to separate them during breeding season in order for this to work.

7. If the ducks decide to breed, the herons might potentially eat the ducklings. Everything else I could see working.

Thanks for this. It would seem that most of the issues stem from harassment/predation of offspring, so if separation or prevention of breeding is possible then there is a higher likelihood of success, I think. On a separate note, could the seal/walrus thing work using a rotational exhibit system?

 

[Jarne]

1. Seems pretty risky as bison are known to be very territorial. Could maybe work if the deer had a separate part of the exhibit only they could access.

A breeding herd of bison has been combined with a breeding herd Przewalski horse in the Netherlands actually, so that territorial nature doesn't seem to be a big problem in large enough exhibits.

5. No, since when walrus's usual diet (benthic invertebrates) is unavailable, they have been known to prey on other pinnipeds.

Walrus have indeed been known to suck out the brains of seals, I kinda forgot that.

7. If the ducks decide to breed, the herons might potentially eat the ducklings. Everything else I could see working.

When it comes to herons, a lot of people say that but I've yet to experience such a problem with several aviaries in nearby zoos with both herons and breeding small birds like ducks, plovers and pigeons.

Thanks for this. It would seem that most of the issues stem from harassment/predation of offspring, so if separation or prevention of breeding is possible then there is a higher likelihood of success, I think. On a separate note, could the seal/walrus thing work using a rotational exhibit system?

These problems greatly depend on the individuals present, but indeed separation facilities for calving, males, ... are always a great plus in mixed exhibits.

Why wouldn't such a rotational exhibit work? As long as both species have continuous acces to acceptable exhibits.

 

[pendraig_milnerae]

A breeding herd of bison has been combined with a breeding herd Przewalski horse in the Netherlands actually, so that territorial nature doesn't seem to be a big problem in large enough exhibits.


Walrus have indeed been known to suck out the brains of seals, I kinda forgot that.


When it comes to herons, a lot of people say that but I've yet to experience such a problem with several aviaries in nearby zoos with both herons and breeding small birds like ducks, plovers and pigeons.


These problems greatly depend on the individuals present, but indeed separation facilities for calving, males, ... are always a great plus in mixed exhibits.

Why wouldn't such a rotational exhibit work? As long as both species have continuous acces to acceptable exhibits.

Cheers for the feedback. I must also point out some level of scepticism on the territorial nature of Wisent, because as you said they have been mixed with Przewalski’s Horse in the Netherlands, as well as Port Lympne also having this mix until recently. I believe they only stopped because the horse were moved to a new exhibit, and they still keep one individual with them, although I must point out that the exhibit is huge.

 

[Jarne]

Cheers for the feedback. I must also point out some level of scepticism on the territorial nature of Wisent, because as you said they have been mixed with Przewalski’s Horse in the Netherlands, as well as Port Lympne also having this mix until recently. I believe they only stopped because the horse were moved to a new exhibit, and they still keep one individual with them, although I must point out that the exhibit is huge.

And wisent have been kept with wild boars for years in a german park, and in the caves of Han I think they roam freely in te main paddock with red deer.

 

[hudson111]

West African Dwarf Crocodile, Bay Duiker, Green Bee Eater, and West African Side-Necked Turtle

 

[pendraig_milnerae]

West African Dwarf Crocodile, Bay Duiker, Green Bee Eater, and West African Side-Necked Turtle

The crocodile and turtle mix should work, and it might be possible if you could prevent the bee-eaters from landing on the ground or too close to the water, but I seriously doubt that the duiker and croc mix would work, especially when you consider that humans, which are much larger than dwarf crocs, have to proceed with caution around them.

 

[hudson111]

The crocodile and turtle mix should work, and it might be possible if you could prevent the bee-eaters from landing on the ground or too close to the water, but I seriously doubt that the duiker and croc mix would work, especially when you consider that humans, which are much larger than dwarf crocs, have to proceed with caution around them.

Do you have any Ideas for other animals that might work well

 

[Jarne]

Those crocs might stress out those turtles, I don't have any knowledge about a facility both keeping them with crocodiles and breeding them.

I'd be cautious about the duikers too. The bee eaters is an interesting one, it might work if there's enough space without crocodiles and other big water sources.

 

[hudson111]

Another combination that could work is...

1. Mandrill, Drill, Red River Hog, and Black and White Colobus

I believe some of these are kept together at Zoo Atlanta but I could be wrong

 

[Jarne]

Mandrill + drill seems like a heck of a lot of aggression and hybridization risk. Mandrill + red river hog has been done in Bronx but I believe there were/are some problems with the combination. Drill + brazza-monkey or diana-monkey has been done in the past so maybe colobus could work, but I'm not sure wether colobini aren't more aggressive which could increase conflicts.

 

[hudson111]

Mandrill + drill seems like a heck of a lot of aggression and hybridization risk. Mandrill + red river hog has been done in Bronx but I believe there were/are some problems with the combination. Drill + brazza-monkey or diana-monkey has been done in the past so maybe colobus could work, but I'm not sure wether colobini aren't more aggressive which could increase conflicts.

Ok thanks for the response, I was at the bronx zoo a couple of days ago and there are Mandrills and River Hogs together there. I think you might be right about the other stuff though

 

[hudson111]

What about these
1. Cuban Rock Iguana, Cuban Tody, Cuban Amazon

I have no idea if this is being done anywhere

2. Komodo Dragon, Zebra Finch, Gouldian Finch

The Komodos and Zebra Finches are together at Bronx Zoo

 

[Jarne]

I suspect both should work, as long as attention is paid to hygiene.

 

[hudson111]

I suspect both should work, as long as attention is paid to hygiene.

Do you have any mixed species ideas?

 

[Jarne]

Do you have any mixed species ideas?

You mean with the animals you mentioned? If you mean in general: too many to list here.

 

[hudson111]

I have a few more for you

1. Asian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, Sambar deer, Barasinga
2. Yacare Caiman, Mata Mata, Scarlet Macaw