Mammals and birds regular in zoos but still difficult to breed

J

Jurek7

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
There were threads like this before, but they focused on animals which are completely not found in zoos, e.g. large whales, indris or albatrosses.
Which of reasonably regular birds and mammals are still difficult to breed sustainably?
- King Penguins - they breed more commonly recently, are they already sustainable?
- Shoebills
- Tarsiers - was there ever a sustained breeding?
- Douc Langurs - are they bred sustainably in South-East Asian zoos?
 
Cottbus Tierpark is the only (European) zoo that seems to really have cracked the code of breeding saddle-billed storks. They are not that rare in captivity, but hardly ever breed elsewhere.

I don't know if there's anything particular to this species that makes it difficult, but I seem to remember that storks and cranes in general are difficult to breed if you keep them pinioned and/or in mixed-species exhibits.
 
Marabou Storks seem to be difficult to breed in most zoos.
But they are often displayed in substandard conditions, for example pinioned birds in a plain, mixed with many hoofstock species like giraffes, zebras and rhinos.
 
Hvedekorn said:
Cottbus Tierpark is the only (European) zoo that seems to really have cracked the code of breeding saddle-billed storks. They are not that rare in captivity, but hardly ever breed elsewhere
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Audubon Species Survival Center has had success hatching saddlebilled storks on two different occasions (maybe more) but I do not know any other successes in North America.
 
PossumRoach said:
Audubon Species Survival Center has had success hatching saddlebilled storks on two different occasions (maybe more) but I do not know any other successes in North America.
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A few other zoos have, but the main problem is most of ours are pinioned birds. As has already been noted twice in thread here pinioning severely inhibits breeding in large storks especially.
 
A lot of species are regularly kept in zoos, but are intentionally not bred. This is especially common in native species, where many of the individuals kept as rescues. May not be exactly what you're looking for, as they may not be inherently difficult to breed, but even some of the most common North American mammals in AZA zoos are seldom, if ever bred, due to their frequency as rescues. Examples include North American Black Bears, Cougars, Bobcats, Coyotes, and, in the world of birds, most notably the Bald Eagle, but also Red-tailed Hawks and some native Owl species, plus most native songbirds.
 
Neil chace said:
in the world of birds, most notably the Bald Eagle, but also Red-tailed Hawks and some native Owl species,
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Also Turkey and Black vultures and the native pelicans.

Neil chace said:
plus most native songbirds.
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Disagree here, as several AZA zoos are starting to put more emphasis on breeding species in decline, though usually this is bts and largely goes under the radar.
 
birdsandbats said:
What species, out of curiosity?
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National has been working with tanagers, orioles, and buntings especially bts, some others too I believe. I believe Rose-breasted Grosbeak is another target. Don't forget Florida Grasshopper Sparrow efforts.
The AZA has established a SAFE program for NA Songbirds, headed by National and Columbus. Not a ton of information on the page but I'll link it anyways.
SAFE Species
 
Are tenrec hard to breed? i think streaked tenrec have issue with breeding in captivity but im not sure do the more common hedgehog tenrec have the same problem
 
Great Argus said:
National has been working with tanagers, orioles, and buntings especially bts, some others too I believe. I believe Rose-breasted Grosbeak is another target. Don't forget Florida Grasshopper Sparrow efforts.
The AZA has established a SAFE program for NA Songbirds, headed by National and Columbus. Not a ton of information on the page but I'll link it anyways.
SAFE Species
Click to expand...
It's less about difficulty to maintain in captivity than about attractiveness of the species for the public and general policy of the zoos.
In French zoos native songbirds are practically absent from the collections, while many non-passerine native birds (and exotic songbirds) are commonly kept and bred. Wildlife refuges take care of many native songbirds, but they don't especially search captive breeding and they are usually closed to the public.
I'm not aware of a single captive breeding program - with conservation purpose - for a passerine species of mainland France, perhaps it exists for endemic overseas species (Caribbean, Guiana, Pacific, Indian Ocean...).
 
Jurek7 said:
There were threads like this before, but they focused on animals which are completely not found in zoos, e.g. large whales, indris or albatrosses.
Which of reasonably regular birds and mammals are still difficult to breed sustainably?
- King Penguins - they breed more commonly recently, are they already sustainable?
- Shoebills
- Tarsiers - was there ever a sustained breeding?
- Douc Langurs - are they bred sustainably in South-East Asian zoos?
Click to expand...
Nothing sustained for tarsiers. One is known to have given birth at Lincoln Park Zoo sometime in the mid-eighties, but the baby only survived a few months.
 
Lota lota said:
Why are bobcats so difficult to breed?I don't know much about breeding in zoos,so I find it strange because both Iberian and eurasian lynx seem to be easy to breed.
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Read the post you quoted from. ;)

Neil chace said:
some of the most common North American mammals in AZA zoos are seldom, if ever bred, due to their frequency as rescues.
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Most of our common wildlife we don't breed to keep spaces open for rescues to be placed. Bobcats breed readily enough, but it would be pointless to do so. Plenty available without breeding them.
 
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