Mixed species exhibit ideas

Neil chace said:
If the horses are actively having to avoid stress-causing conflicts, then that would be increasing their stress levels. A mix where one species intentionally has to flee from the other and escape is not a mix that is conducive to success.

Sure, but the space requirement to allow this mix to be successful and relatively stress-free would be substantially higher than what either species individually requires. Places such as The Wilds, SDWAP, etc. that have paddocks of five plus acres may be able to cohabitate these species, but traditional zoos don't have the spatial needs to mix these two species, especially when both would be more stress-free in smaller single-species exhibits.

You're partially correct here. While mixed species exhibits do often lead to increased space for the animals, and oftentimes mixes include species that won't interact much, mixes also need to consider the physical, social, and mental well-beings of the individuals when they do come into contact- as it's inevitable that at some point in time two species sharing an enclosure will come into contact, and oftentimes occurs quite often. Just because a mix can be done without killing anything doesn't make it a good idea.
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I still disagree, that a species tends to avoid another doesn't mean it's constantly stressed that conflicts could arise (conflicts being any form of antagonistic behavior between the two species, not the physical type most people think of). That's like pretending people are always going to be stressed when a train passes by, because they would get overrun if they stand on the tracks. Or that many animals living in large herds would continuously be stressed because on of their conspecifics could in theory attack them (intraspecific aggression and murder is way more common than many people would think). Animals learn to deal with the social situation, and if the exhibit and species assemblage allows it they will behave accordingly and stress levels will go down to normal levels. During the introduction fase, when both species are still learning each others behavior, some conflicts might arise and stress levels could be slightly higher for a bit. Hence the need for good introduction procedures, trained staff and the option to separate individuals and even whole species as the need arises.

In reality, in practically every mix animals can hurt each other if they really wanted to. Even in a species-only exhibit. Yet, animals adapt their behavior and learn how to deal with it as long as none of the species/individuals actively seeks out conflicts. And once again, cortisol levels will stabilize and you end up with an assemblage of species with more space and potentially also with positive interspecific interactions than there would have been had the species all been given separate exhibits. And that space certainly doesn't need to be measured in hectares, as shown by exhibits like the savannah of Artis beautifully uses visual barriers and feeding-station placement to create a conflict-light exhibit.

I've also never said that because species don't kill each other, it's a good mix. Such demonstrate many of the other replies I've given on this thread. On the other hand, quick conflicts are also far less problematic than you seem to be making them. What is most problematic is when a species is actively and continuously being harassed by another species. Short, irregular conflicts cause bursts in stress but are not detrimental to the long-term physical health of an animal and could even be considered a form of enrichment. In fact, with elephants that has even been suggested as an important part in increasing their immunotolerance to EEHV and why it seems less prevalent in nature.
 
Brayden Delashmutt said:
Does anyone know if mandrills can be successfully kept with bongos or other primates?
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Mandrils are a very bold species, and bongo's (especially the males) likely won't appreciate such large monkeys walking between them. Especially not when they have calves. Both species are also capable of fatally injuring the other, not ideal when one species will quite actively display conflict-causing behavior (conflicts being not just physical fights).

Mandrill have also been kept with other primates, not always without problems. Disregarding the risk of continuous stress due to antagonistic behaviors, mandrills are omnivorous preying upon animals as large as duikers. I would not take the risk, it's evident that some groups do manage to behave themselves somewhat in terms of direct aggression as some mixes have stood for years but considering their aggressive nature I wouldn't count on most groups (and alpha males) being that way. There are safer alternatives if you want a mixed African primate exhibit.
 
Rock Hyrax, Klipspringer, Meerkat, and Taveta Weaver. I am aware of risk to the birds but perhaps giving them perches that are inaccessible to the meerkats would make this a possible working exhibit?
 
birdsandbats said:
The mix also included Pygmy Hippo and several bird species (the birds also had access to a large area the primates couldn't get to).
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Mandrill with Pygmy Hippo has gone sour more than once.

Van Beal said:
Rock Hyrax, Klipspringer, Meerkat, and Taveta Weaver. I am aware of risk to the birds but perhaps giving them perches that are inaccessible to the meerkats would make this a possible working exhibit?
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It would technically work but the weavers would be at constant risk. Not recommended.
 
In a very large aviary (like Antwerp's buffalo aviary). Barbary macaques, Western roe deer and Auodad (Auodads and Roe deer separated from each other, but not the Macaques), as well as a large amount of birds;
Barbary partridge, Eurasian stone-curlew, Northern bald ibis, Purple heron, Iberian azure-winged magpies, Egyptian vulture, Rüppel's griffon vulture, Marbled duck, Tufted duck, Eurasian collared dove, European turtle dove, and a group of smaller birds (Golden oriole, Bee-eater, Wagtail, Hoopoe).


I don't believe Barbary macaques have ever been mixed with birds before, but they're mostly grass eaters. I thought I'd still ask to be safe
 
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Mr Gharial said:
In a very large aviary (like Antwerp's buffalo aviary). Barbary macaques, Western roe deer and Auodad (Auodads and deer separated), as well as a large amount of birds;
Barbary partridge, Eurasian stone-curlew, Northern bald ibis, Purple heron, Iberian azure-winged magpies, Egyptian vulture, Rüppel's griffon vulture, Marbled duck, Tufted duck, Eurasian collared dove, European turtle dove, and a group of smaller birds (Golden oriole, Bee-eater, Wagtail, Hoopoe).


I don't believe Barbary macaques have ever been mixed with birds before, but they're mostly grass eaters. I thought I'd still ask to be safe
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Regardless of predation risk, I'd imagine barbary macaques being (too) interested in the birds at times. The smaller species would be able to quickly fly away to safe places, but the larger species could more easily be hindered or even grabbed by a monkey. Whether most species would really feel at ease with the macaques around is another issue, I don't recall seeing birds very often in the Planckendael barbary macaque enclosure. Combining the birds with the barbary sheep and roe deer seems less problematic to me, though shy roe deer would probably need a pretty large aviary (larger than that of Antwerp if you want the sheep in it as well) to thrive. I'm also not sure how often the roe deer would be scared whenever a vulture flies up, considering a vulture's size and the noise it makes. In general roe deer also seem to be unideal zoo-animals, being more suited for large wildlife-parks.
 
Jarne said:
Regardless of predation risk, I'd imagine barbary macaques being (too) interested in the birds at times. The smaller species would be able to quickly fly away to safe places, but the larger species could more easily be hindered or even grabbed by a monkey.
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Then what's the difference with Gelada's, I wonder? Since these are mixed with geese and some other birds quite often
 
Mr Gharial said:
Then what's the difference with Gelada's, I wonder? Since these are mixed with geese and some other birds quite often
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I always remember barbary macaques as being bolder and more inquisitive than gelada. However, I must add that for gelada mixes with vultures and marabou have been tried (it even seems to have been in an aviary, combined with caracara and golden eagle as well) and have failed. The gelada’s attacked the vultures after 14 years of cohabitation and then the mix was stopped.
 
It seems that gelada are also not the perfectly peaceful primates in mixes often thought of. They have been observed mistreating young hyraxes and barbary sheep with some deaths as a result. A barbary sheep also once murdered a gelada.
 
Mr Gharial said:
I don't believe Barbary macaques have ever been mixed with birds before, but they're mostly grass eaters.
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Barbary Macaques aren't "mostly grass-eaters". Their diet changes through the year because they live in seasonal mountain forests. For part of the year they feed preferentially on herbaceous plants (grass species as well as many other non-grass species which grow amongst the grasses), but during other parts of the year they feed primarily on non-herbaceous food sources (from trees etc). Like any macaque they are omnivorous.
 
Jarne said:
It seems that gelada are also not the perfectly peaceful primates in mixes often thought of. They have been observed mistreating young hyraxes and barbary sheep with some deaths as a result. A barbary sheep also once murdered a gelada.
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Anything that falls under the “baboon” umbrella is an agent of chaos* and should not be kept with other species (most of the time).
*agent of chaos (affectionate)
 
Take away the peccaries and it's probably safe- don't know how vicunas do around water though, I can see something going wrong if they get spooked
 
Lota lota said:
Would this mix work?
Capybara
Greater Rhea
Nutria
Patagonian mara
Vicunã
White-lipped peccary
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Capybara, rhea, mara & vicuña are a common mix in Europe that appears to go function quite well. The nutria's might work, I don't think they would really bother the other species, but they are known as escape artists and considering the size of such an exhibit that can become an expensive endeavour.

I would leave out the peccaries, they can inflict nasty wounds on other animals and probably wouldn't shy away from harassing and even eating a juvenile mara or capybara. I've only known them being mixed with coati which are very agile and a climbing species and with bison which don't really have anything to fear from the peccaries. AZA ungulate mixed resources mentions failed mixes with Brazilian tapir, guanaco and white-tailed deer, with all three species being harassed by the peccaries. A mix with rhea is mentioned for peccaries as being successful, so maybe with a select few individuals it is possible.
 
Would a mix of Komodo dragon, Snake-necked turtle, Pied imperial pigeon and a group of small finches and lizards work in a heavily forested greenhouse?
 
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