Last of their kind in a zoo

Onychorhynchus coronatus

Onychorhynchus coronatus

Well-Known Member
Lately I've read / learned about quite a few examples of the last individuals of a species kept by a zoo (blue ducks in UK, Mauritius kestrel in UK and in USA, Douc langur in Europe, Nilgiri langur and "Baby" in Germany etc).

I find these last individuals of species in zoos to be quite an interesting subject not the least because of what it often says about the shortcomings of zoos and ex-situ programes but also because the animals themselves seem enigmatic and tragic in a certain sense.

What examples of the last captive individuals in a zoo (either nationally, regionally or globally) can you think of that you've seen and that have somehow moved you ?

Look forward to reading your replies.
 
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birdsandbats said:
The US is now down to one last West Caucasian Tur at Racine Zoo.
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Was it just lack of interest in the species in US zoos / difficulties in sourcing more stock or why and how did it get to that point ?

Apparently his name is "Tavek" and he looks like quite an ancient individual too.

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Photo credits to @pachyderm pro.
 
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There are still many Turs of the two species in Europe.

Individuals that qualify as true last of their kind (species or subspecies sometimes) in any facility outside their native range :
- Trumpet manucode - Phonygammus keraudrenii in Zoo Berlin
- Crested drongo - Dicrurus forficatus in Zoo Zürich
- Pitta-like ground roller - Atelornis pittoides in Zoo Zürich
- Chaco eagle - Buteogallus coronatus in Les Aigles du Léman (although there might still be another one in a university zoo in Brasil)
- Bornean bearded pig - Sus barbatus barbatus in Zoo Berlin (not sure if there is any left in the US ? - probably some still kept in Asia)
- Grauer's gorilla - Gorilla beringei graueri in Zoo Antwerp
- Red-rumped putty-nosed monkey - Cercopithecus nictitans martini in Zoo Barcelona (last of its subspecies)
- Mountain anoa - Bubalus quarlesi in Zoo Krefeld
- South-central black rhino - Diceros bicornis minor in Zoo Frankfurt
- Northern mountain viscacha - Lagidium peruanum in Schönebeck Tiergarten

Many birds are down to one individual in European zoos but most of them are readily or sporadicaly available on the private trade. Plzen is a very nice stronghold of last bird individuals in public zoos (in Europe at least) and so is Walsrode, due to their very extensive collection.
Out of the 4 bird species I listed, I don't think the 3 first ones will ever see a replacement in Europe once they'll be gone.

Edit : Just thought about the last Short-tailed spotted cuscus Spilocuscus maculatus in Ouwehands Dierenpark. Although there might be some on the private trade or in zoos in Asia and maybe in the US.
Edit 2 : Also remembered the last Black oystercatcher - Haematopus bachmani here in Europe is getting old and is kept at the Oceanario Lisboa.
And the last Cape hartebeest - Alcelaphus caama in a zoo is kept at Wroclaw Zoo. I know there are still hartebeests in the US but I believe they're of a different species.
 
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"Billy", the last Nilgiri langur held outside of India at the Erfurt zoo, now sadly deceased.
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"Julius" the last mountain anoa outside of Indonesia at zoo Krefeld:
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The last purple faced langur in Europe at Cotswold Wildlife park, now sadly deceased:
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The last Douc langur in Europe at Cologne zoo:
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The last Jentinks duiker outside of Africa at Gladys Porter Zoo:
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"Baby" the last Orinoco river dolphin at Duisburg zoo:
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"Daisy" the last red uakari monkey outside of South America at the LA zoo:
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Photo credits to @Maguari,@EmperorTamarin , @KevinB, @Ding Lingwei and @Baldur.
 
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Rayane said:
There are still many Turs of the two species in Europe.

Individuals that qualify as true last of their kind (species or subspecies sometimes) in any facility outside their native range :
- Trumpet manucode - Phonygammus keraudrenii in Zoo Berlin
- Crested drongo - Dicrurus forficatus in Zoo Zürich
- Pitta-like ground roller - Atelornis pittoides in Zoo Zürich
- Chaco eagle - Buteogallus coronatus in Les Aigles du Léman (although there might still be another one in a university zoo in Brasil)
- Bornean bearded pig - Sus barbatus barbatus in Zoo Berlin (not sure if there is any left in the US ? - probably some still kept in Asia)
- Grauer's gorilla - Gorilla beringei graueri in Zoo Antwerp
- Red-rumped putty-nosed monkey - Cercopithecus nictitans martini in Zoo Barcelona (last of its subspecies)
- Mountain anoa - Bubalus quarlesi in Zoo Krefeld
- South-central black rhino - Diceros bicornis minor in Zoo Frankfurt
- Northern mountain viscacha - Lagidium peruanum in Schönebeck Tiergarten

Many birds are down to one individual in European zoos but most of them are readily or sporadicaly available on the private trade. Plzen is a very nice stronghold of last bird individuals in public zoos (in Europe at least) and so is Walsrode, due to their very extensive collection.
Out of the 4 bird species I listed, I don't think the 3 first ones will ever see a replacement in Europe once they'll be gone.

Edit : Just thought about the last Short-tailed spotted cuscus Spilocuscus maculatus in Ouwehands Dierenpark. Although there might be some on the private trade or in zoos in Asia and maybe in the US.
Edit 2 : Also remembered the last Black oystercatcher - Haematopus bachmani here in Europe is getting old and is kept at the Oceanario Lisboa.
And the last Cape hartebeest - Alcelaphus caama in a zoo is kept at Wroclaw Zoo. I know there are still hartebeests in the US but I believe they're of a different species.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this @Rayane, much appreciated.
 
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