Mixed species exhibit ideas

[Van Beal]

And it may be extremely hard to get Northern White Rhinos. Maybe Southern Whites as proxies, as it already happens in some zoos and even conservancies in East Africa ?

That too, considering Northerns are the ones that are only globally represented by two female individuals anymore, making them legitimately impossible to acquire them.

 

[Enzo]

I fear two things with this mix. First and foremost, the cranes would be at massive trampling risk at the hands (or hooves, really) of every other inhabitant of the exhibit. Also (and correct me if I'm wrong) I recall being told that mixing multiple larger ungulates, being the rhino and the buffalo in this case, wouldn't end great due to aggression toward one another.

Hmmm... Yeah, sounds fair. However, the exhibit would be as large as Havana's safari section, which mixes elephants, Cape buffalo and rhinos with very few problems.

 

[Van Beal]

Hmmm... Yeah, sounds fair. However, the exhibit would be as large as Havana's safari section, which mixes elephants, Cape buffalo and rhinos with very few problems.

Well I may not be able to gauge just how large the Havana safari exhibit is, I believe that if it can house elephants, buffalo and rhinos, the size should be well large enough to avoid conflicts. D'you mind linking any media for the exhibit (if there is any)?
However, even with this size, I don't think that removes the trampling risk for the cranes. I'd also like to make a note again of the fact that only two Northern White Rhinoceros individuals exist in the world (and I don't mean in captivity, I mean captive and wild) which would make them impossible (quite literally) to acquire in a realistic situation.

 

[Enzo]

Well I may not be able to gauge just how large the Havana safari exhibit is, I believe that if it can house elephants, buffalo and rhinos, the size should be well large enough to avoid conflicts. D'you mind linking any media for the exhibit (if there is any)?
However, even with this size, I don't think that removes the trampling risk for the cranes. I'd also like to make a note again of the fact that only two Northern White Rhinoceros individuals exist in the world (and I don't mean in captivity, I mean captive and wild) which would make them impossible (quite literally) to acquire in a realistic situation.

I get it, but let's just imagine the best exhibit possible (Havana-sized, separate areas for the cranes and such). Plus, I do know we only have two northern white rhinos left, but I just wanted to know if they were as sociable as their southern cousins. Here's a link for Zoológico Nacional de Cuba (the largest of the two zoos in Havana):

 

[Charles]

would any of these species be able to mix

Grey reef shark, Green sawfish, Green turtle, sand tiger shark, zebra shark

 

[BenFoxster]

I have a list of mixed species ideas I’m curious about. Would any of these work?

• Colobus monkey and Wolf’s Guenon
• Colobus monkey and De Brazza’s
• Colobus, Wolf’s Guenon, Dr Brazza’s, and red River hogs
• Okapi and gerenuk (both peaceful solitary animals)
• Ringtail lemurs, Black and White Ruffed lemurs, Blue Eyed Black lemur, and Pygmy hippos
• 5-6 acre savannah with giraffes, white rhinos, ostrich, mountain zebra, sable antelope, Greater Kudu, bontebok, besbok, and springbok antelope
• Said Savannah, with an area that is only accessible to a group of African flamingos
• Okapi and red River hogs
• Gibbons and sloth bear with lots of trees so Gibbons can avoid the bear
• Various birds of paradise (particularly Vogelkop) in a walkthrough Papa New Guinea exhibit (if so, which fellow birds would be compatible?)
• 
  Thanks in advance.

 

[birdsandbats]

I have a list of mixed species ideas I’m curious about. Would any of these work?

• Colobus monkey and Wolf’s Guenon
• Colobus monkey and De Brazza’s
• Colobus, Wolf’s Guenon, Dr Brazza’s, and red River hogs
• Okapi and gerenuk (both peaceful solitary animals)
• Ringtail lemurs, Black and White Ruffed lemurs, Blue Eyed Black lemur, and Pygmy hippos
• 5-6 acre savannah with giraffes, white rhinos, ostrich, mountain zebra, sable antelope, Greater Kudu, bontebok, besbok, and springbok antelope
• Said Savannah, with an area that is only accessible to a group of African flamingos
• Okapi and red River hogs
• Gibbons and sloth bear with lots of trees so Gibbons can avoid the bear
• Various birds of paradise (particularly Vogelkop) in a walkthrough Papa New Guinea exhibit (if so, which fellow birds would be compatible?)
• 
  Thanks in advance.

Zebras in general, and Mountain Zebras especially, are very aggressive in mixed exhibits. It has been done but it is generally not advised.

 

[Great Argus]

• Colobus monkey and Wolf’s Guenon

• Colobus monkey and De Brazza’s

No real issues here.

Colobus, Wolf’s Guenon, Dr Brazza’s, and red River hogs

Can be done, but you'd need to monitor the hogs closely for aggression towards the monkeys.

Okapi and gerenuk (both peaceful solitary animals)

Might work - not sure that it's ever been tried.

Ringtail lemurs, Black and White Ruffed lemurs, Blue Eyed Black lemur, and Pygmy hippos

Risky. Particularly for the Ring-tails being a more ground dwelling species.

5-6 acre savannah with giraffes, white rhinos, ostrich, mountain zebra, sable antelope, Greater Kudu, bontebok, besbok, and springbok antelope

Likely to be some aggression issues but might work if the exhibit had enough visual barriers. Bontebok and Blesbok would hybridize.

• Said Savannah, with an area that is only accessible to a group of African flamingos

I wouldn't allow the flamingos the opportunity to get in with the hoof stock - set it up as a vista style exhibit and keep them separate.

Okapi and red River hogs

This one does sometimes work, but tends to vary depending on individuals involved.

Gibbons and sloth bear with lots of trees so Gibbons can avoid the bear

I wouldn't - pretty high chance of a real ugly scene.

Various birds of paradise (particularly Vogelkop) in a walkthrough Papa New Guinea exhibit (if so, which fellow birds would be compatible?)

Could work, not the best setup for them though. Various New Guinea species would be fine compatibility-wise so long as they aren't too aggressive. Doves and small parrots would work.

Zebras in general, and Mountain Zebras especially, are very aggressive in mixed exhibits. It has been done but it is generally not advised.

Mountain is the least problematic species, though still a bit risky - Grevy's is the worst offender.

 

[birdsandbats]

Minnesota does currently mix Red River Hog with Black-and-white Colobus and DeBrazza's Monkey (and also formerly Rock Hyrax) FWIW.

 

[Haliaeetus]

would any of these species be able to mix

Grey reef shark, Green sawfish, Green turtle, sand tiger shark, zebra shark

The shark / turtle mixed exhibits are common in public aquaria.

 

[Charles]

The shark / turtle mixed exhibits are common in public aquaria.

Oh ok thank you

 

[KevinB]

I have recently heard two cases (Antwerp and GaiaZoo) of mountain zebras causing problems in a mix with white rhinoceroses, and in both cases the mix was ended. I would say any mix with zebras should only be tried with great caution, and that zebras should probably be kept separetely if possible.

 

[BenFoxster]

Zebras in general, and Mountain Zebras especially, are very aggressive in mixed exhibits. It has been done but it is generally not advised.

No real issues here.



Can be done, but you'd need to monitor the hogs closely for aggression towards the monkeys.



Might work - not sure that it's ever been tried.



Risky. Particularly for the Ring-tails being a more ground dwelling species.



Likely to be some aggression issues but might work if the exhibit had enough visual barriers. Bontebok and Blesbok would hybridize.



I wouldn't allow the flamingos the opportunity to get in with the hoof stock - set it up as a vista style exhibit and keep them separate.



This one does sometimes work, but tends to vary depending on individuals involved.



I wouldn't - pretty high chance of a real ugly scene.



Could work, not the best setup for them though. Various New Guinea species would be fine compatibility-wise so long as they aren't too aggressive. Doves and small parrots would work.



Mountain is the least problematic species, though still a bit risky - Grevy's is the worst offender.

Minnesota does currently mix Red River Hog with Black-and-white Colobus and DeBrazza's Monkey (and also formerly Rock Hyrax) FWIW.

I have recently heard two cases (Antwerp and GaiaZoo) of mountain zebras causing problems in a mix with white rhinoceroses, and in both cases the mix was ended. I would say any mix with zebras should only be tried with great caution, and that zebras should probably be kept separetely if possible.

Thanks for all the help everyone, it means a lot to me. I was very hesitant about the idea of zebras from the beginning, I was just too impressed by Beauval's success with mixing zebras into a similar mixed species exhibit, also similar in acreage. Definitely won't be mixing bontebok and besbok, admittedly I just put them both into one question so that I wouldn't have to ask the exact same question again but replace just one species, lol.

 

[Osedax]

Would this work?

An large indoor open-topped exhibit based on the mangroves of the Northern Territory, with 2-3 adult Freshwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni), a juvenile Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), a pair of Pig-nosed Turtles (Carettochelys insculpta), some Oxeye Herrings (Megalops cyprinoides), and a group of male Barramundi (Lates calcarifer).
The Estuarine Crocodile would live in this exhibit from 2-8 years of age.

 

[Great Argus]

Would this work?

An large indoor open-topped exhibit based on the mangroves of the Northern Territory, with 2-3 adult Freshwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni), a juvenile Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), a pair of Pig-nosed Turtles (Carettochelys insculpta), some Oxeye Herrings (Megalops cyprinoides), and a group of male Barramundi (Lates calcarifer).
The Estuarine Crocodile would live in this exhibit from 2-8 years of age.

I suspect you'd sooner or later find the exhibit turtle-less and the fish in declining numbers.

 

[Van Beal]

Not sure on this, but would any of the following mixed exhibits work?
1) An exhibit for Little Blue Penguin and Magpie Goose
2) A mostly aquatic area for Pearse’s Mudskipper, Banded Archerfish, Red Claw Yabby, and Fly River Turtle
3) A mix of Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Short-beaked Echidna, and Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby?

 

[Osedax]

I suspect you'd sooner or later find the exhibit turtle-less and the fish in declining numbers.

That is why I put a young Estuarine croc in the exhibit. What if the turtles were particularly large individuals?

 

[Osedax]

Not sure on this, but would any of the following mixed exhibits work?
1) An exhibit for Little Blue Penguin and Magpie Goose
2) A mostly aquatic area for Pearse’s Mudskipper, Banded Archerfish, Red Claw Yabby, and Fly River Turtle
3) A mix of Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Short-beaked Echidna, and Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby?

1) Might work, but they have quite different requirements. Also, the geese may harass the penguins.
2) Should work. The only thing that might be a problem is the mudskippers.
3) With the right individuals this would work.

 

[Van Beal]

2) Should work. The only thing that might be a problem is the mudskippers

Really? What kind of problem would they pose?

 

[Osedax]

Really? What kind of problem would they pose?

I don't know if they would cause a problem, I have just never seen them in a mixed-species exhibit before.