I wouldn't count them. Just because you didn't notice them until later, doesn't mean you didn't see them.
Species you could have seen, but didn't
- Thread starter ralph
- Start date
I wouldn't count them. Just because you didn't notice them until later, doesn't mean you didn't see them.
This would have been another example were it not for a pleasant ending, but there was a point that I nearly failed to see an animal that I'd always wanted to see. I visited Berlin Zoo, Germany, for the first time in the early 2010s. Prior to going, however, I learnt that Bao Bao, their Giant Panda, had passed away. Obviously I still went, and saw some amazing animals, but to say I was gutted about not being able to see a giant panda and missing it by such a small margin is probably understandable.
So then when Berlin announced the arrival of Jiao Qing and Meng Meng, I knew I had to go back there...but that was the year the "Beast from the East" hit and caused all sorts of weather conditions, which nearly cancelled our flight. Luckily, it didn't (it only delayed it)...and Jiao Qing in particular put up quite a show, climbing around, rolling over, wrestling with a rope and generally being silly.
So then when Berlin announced the arrival of Jiao Qing and Meng Meng, I knew I had to go back there...but that was the year the "Beast from the East" hit and caused all sorts of weather conditions, which nearly cancelled our flight. Luckily, it didn't (it only delayed it)...and Jiao Qing in particular put up quite a show, climbing around, rolling over, wrestling with a rope and generally being silly.
I only count them if I know for a fact I saw the individual animals, just didn't realize what they were.
~Thylo
When I went to the San Diego Zoo on 7/23/20, I visited the newly renovated African Rocks exhibit for the first time, since I haven't been to the SDZ for 7-8 years. I went to the walk-through aviary there, and one of the signs was for a bird called a Splendid Sunbird. I thought it looked really cool, so I looked for it a little bit but I got distracted by a go-away-bird flying overhead. I then forgot about it and went back to my hotel room. While surfing the Internet today, I found out that there are only three individual Splendid Sunbirds in the U.S. and only two zoos in the world (the other being in England) to house them. I regret not looking hard enough. 
The Honey Badger at Africa Rocks was a no-show also, so that's a bummer too.
The Honey Badger at Africa Rocks was a no-show also, so that's a bummer too.
I went to a zoo today and their Lowland Paca was off-exhibit, which was disappointing.
When I went to Portugal in 2018, I visited the Lisbon zoo. At the time, I didn't know Iberian lynxes were so rare in captivity, so I didn't care about them not appearing during my visit (the European wild rabbits didn't either. I still have probably never seen them). Then, I also had the opportunity to see the male siamang living there, but he was hiding in his exhibit. I probably had lots of other experiences like those, mostly with herps, but I don't remember at the moment.
Animallover360
Well-Known Member
Chimpanzees at ZooTampa when they had them a few years ago.
Bearded pigs in London
When I visited the Brookfield zoo back in 2018, I either forgot or did not realise that habitat Africa!: the forest had a pangolin, and I certainly wanted to visit that area regardless. Somehow, I never got around to there, and I haven't been back to Brookfield, and now I desperately need to.
Another one that hurts is that I was rushed towards the end of my visit to Denver zoo (I think it was in 2016), so I hurriedly made my way past the primate building, and I remember looking in the aye-aye exhibit, but I don't remember the aye-ayes themselves, which makes me think I didn't see any. To add insult to injury, it turns out I didn't need to be rushed after all and spent some time waiting around the entrance later.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
I missed African Civet and a species of Pangolin in the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes in the 2000's, and earlier Yellow-backed Duiker in the same zoo.
All these species are very rare in European zoos now (except, perhaps, the Civet, but this species isn't kept in French zoos at all).
All these species are very rare in European zoos now (except, perhaps, the Civet, but this species isn't kept in French zoos at all).
Well, the pangolin species in question isn't kept in Europe at all now.
Last time at Brookfield I missed the sloth bear, who was a no-show. That one really disappointed me because sloth bears are on my bucket list of animals to see in real life.
And I've got a bit of an odd one, but the beavers at Lincoln Park Zoo. They arrived at the zoo in 2005, and despite the fact I've visited the zoo dozens of times since that point, I have literally never seen them. Not once. Also missed the Puerto Rican parrot, though to be fair, they're still fairly recent additions to the zoo and they just recently reopened the Small Mammal-Reptile House, so I could still see them.
And I've got a bit of an odd one, but the beavers at Lincoln Park Zoo. They arrived at the zoo in 2005, and despite the fact I've visited the zoo dozens of times since that point, I have literally never seen them. Not once. Also missed the Puerto Rican parrot, though to be fair, they're still fairly recent additions to the zoo and they just recently reopened the Small Mammal-Reptile House, so I could still see them.
Beavers are basically never seen at any zoo that keeps them.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
In Vincennes Zoo (Paris) there used to be Canadian Beavers for a few years, I could see them only for a minute or less (without paying a special attention for them), I cannot manage to see them anymore in my other visits.
That surprises me! I almost always see them. The only one I can think of where I didn't was VA Living Museum. Maybe east coast beavers like to show off more?
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
And the most surprising is that Beavers can be quite easily seen in daytime, even in cities like Lyon and Orléans.
I talk about Eurasian Beavers, I don't know their behaviour in America.
I talk about Eurasian Beavers, I don't know their behaviour in America.
That surprises me! I almost always see them. The only one I can think of where I didn't was VA Living Museum. Maybe east coast beavers like to show off more?
I've had mixed luck with beavers, it's hit and miss. Seems to largely depend on the setup of the exhibit and what viewing opportunities are available.
I've seen beavers in broad daylight a few times, I usually see them closer to dawn or dusk though. They're definitely fairly nocturnal though, at least when living in closer proximity to people.
I've been quite lucky with beavers. They have about 4 individuals at Drusillas Park and they were never visible. Then one day, they were just suddenly there in plain sight and have been ever since. They're always easy to spot now, either swimming or sleeping.
