ZTL says that 8 indris were kept at the Jardin des Plantes in 1939 but all died in about a month. The Bronx Zoo was so sure that it would keep indris that it mentioned the species in a zoo guide. A Madagascan zoo in Ivoloina kept a young indri for over a year about 30 years ago. When I saw indris at Perinet in 1987, there was a big enclosure that had kept indris to acclimatise them before export to Paris. The indris didn't survive.
According to his book “The Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity” (1964) Lee Crandall records that “eight or ten specimens were received at the Paris Menagerie in 1939, all of which died within one month”.
Similar comments about indri in Paris are also made in both "HandbookofLiving Primates" (Napier & Napier, 1967) and "Primates. 1. Strepsirhini" (Osman Hill, 1953). Unfortunately none of these sources provide further details about the Paris animals.
The book "Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; From the Living Collections of the World” (Richard Weigl; 2005) lists a male indri that lived for eleven days in San Diego (between 4th and 11th September 1965). Weigl makes no mention of the Paris specimens.
ZTL says that 8 indris were kept at the Jardin des Plantes in 1939 but all died in about a month. The Bronx Zoo was so sure that it would keep indris that it mentioned the species in a zoo guide. A Madagascan zoo kept indris for a short time about 30 years ago. When I saw indris at Perinet in 1987, there was a big enclosure that had kept indris to acclimatise them before export to Paris. The indris didn't survive.
Interesting, wonder who added that wrong information to Zootierliste. Did any of the youngsters survive to adulthood? The RSCC really didn't have a good track record for quite some of their imports...
Number of zoos kept (current and former during the holding period):
A 1 zoo
B 2-5 zoos
C 6-10 zoos
D >10 zoos
Time period kept:
1 < 1 year
2 1-5 years
3 6-10 years
4 11-20 years
5 > 20 years
* Species successfully bred
♱ Dead end (in case of species gained)
↑ Species gaining popularity (in case of species gained)
Lorises - Lorisidae # Species kept 1-1-2000: 4-5
# Species kept currently: 5 (- / +1)
# Species gained: 1-2
# Species lost: 1
A small family of nocturnal African and Asian primates. The taxonomy of this group is in flux so it isn’t completely clear which species were held where and when. This problem is especially acute when it comes to the slow lorises (Nycticebus spec.). There are a few slow lorises around in Europe, but identification to species level proves difficult and few zoos have had much success with breeding them, so overall numbers remain low. Slow lorises sometimes still enter zoos as confiscated animals, so that will probably remain a source.
@ro6ca66 As this pygmy slow loris shows, it is easier being small these days
Species gained
Bengal slow loris - Nycticebus bengalensis C5*
The first definite holding of this species is a pair of confiscated animals that arrived in Zoo Augsburg in 2003. But given the taxonomic uncertainty surrounding this species, individuals listed as Nycticebus coucang s.l. could also belong/ have belonged to this species. The RSCC seems to have imported some in 2011 and the main current holder is Monkey World in Wareham, though it is anyone's guess if all slow lorises there are really Bengal.
@ro6ca66 Slow lorises are hard to identify to species level, but fascinating nonetheless
Status unclear
Javan slow loris - Nycticebus javanicus B?
Zoo Decin allegedly kept this species until 2001, but at that time Zoo Prague did also long claim that their slow lorises were Javans, while they have been reidentified as Malaysian slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) since. There is thus a real chance that the Decin animals were misidentified too. If that is the case the only Javan slow loris in Europe was a single animal that was imported by the RSCC from Singapore via Howletts Wild Animal Park, which lived in Europe 2006-2007.
Species gaining popularity
Grey slender loris - Loris lydekkerianus
These small lorises have changed their status from a proper zoo rarity to “just” a somewhat uncommon species. Good breeding results in multiple zoos have enabled this funny creature to spread and especially in the United Kingdom this is not a rarity anymore with 7 holders, most of them recent additions.
Pygmy slow loris - Xanthonycticebus pygmaeus
Another small loris that is far more common than it was 25 years ago. While the number of holders appears to have slightly shrunk in recent years, this is still the most widely kept loris in Europe. Their pocket size helps them (and their slender cousins) to fit into nocturnal houses which are now deemed too small for their larger cousins.
@Joker1706 Slender lorises are finally gaining ground in Europe
Dead ends
Potto - Perodicticus potto B5
This is the only African representative of the family to have been kept in Europe in recent decades. The species was never common, but has been continually present for many decades in Europe. In recent years breeding had already all but halted and the population was very male biased. Currently only 2 pairs remain in 2 English zoos with seemingly no recent breeding. So it is likely this species will disappear from Europe soon. But as Russian zoos have recently imported a number of potto from Africa, there is an import option, so if any European zoo has big plans with potto, they could potentially reappear.
@atheris Quite likely we will have to miss these quirky creatures in the near future
Progress 14/22 orders completed
30/106 families completed
79-82 species present in 2000
89 species present in 2023
38-40 species gained since 2000
29-30 species lost since 2000
Here is your definition of 'Europe' from the first post:
"For the purposes of this thread I use a somewhat narrow definition of Europe by excluding Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey from the survey. Cyprus, which is an Asian country despite being an EU member, is also excluded. I did however include the Canary Islands, which are geographically African, but for all other purposes European and a popular holiday destination for Europans (and zoochatters). The reason to exclude Russia, Belarus & Ukraine is twofold: (1) I have more doubts about data quality for these countries and (2) they are hardly ever visited by zoochatters anyway, which makes them less interesting when comparing perceived trends with real trends. Zoos in those countries also have a slightly different mentality compared to many other European countries with imports of wild caught species being more widespread still. If I refer to Europe or “the continent” in this thread, it is to the narrow definition, not the Wikipedia definition."
Hello, Lintworm. Your definition of 'Europe' is somewhat contentious. Countries such as Cyprus and Ukraine are in Europe, as are parts of Turkey and Russia. Some of the zoos you have included in your definition of 'Europe' show variations in obtaining and caring for their animals.
Here is your definition of 'Europe' from the first post:
"For the purposes of this thread I use a somewhat narrow definition of Europe by excluding Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey from the survey. Cyprus, which is an Asian country despite being an EU member, is also excluded. I did however include the Canary Islands, which are geographically African, but for all other purposes European and a popular holiday destination for Europans (and zoochatters). The reason to exclude Russia, Belarus & Ukraine is twofold: (1) I have more doubts about data quality for these countries and (2) they are hardly ever visited by zoochatters anyway, which makes them less interesting when comparing perceived trends with real trends. Zoos in those countries also have a slightly different mentality compared to many other European countries with imports of wild caught species being more widespread still. If I refer to Europe or “the continent” in this thread, it is to the narrow definition, not the Wikipedia definition."
Hello, Lintworm. Your definition of 'Europe' is somewhat contentious. Countries such as Cyprus and Ukraine are in Europe, as are parts of Turkey and Russia. Some of the zoos you have included in your definition of 'Europe' show variations in obtaining and caring for their animals.
I never said my definition was correct but I have no appetite for more discussions about it. I had my reasons to restrict Europe for the purposes of this thread, which have been explained, and there is plenty of discussion about that on the first 2 pages already. Accept it or not, but it ain't gonna change.
Number of zoos kept (current and former during the holding period):
A 1 zoo
B 2-5 zoos
C 6-10 zoos
D >10 zoos
Time period kept:
1 < 1 year
2 1-5 years
3 6-10 years
4 11-20 years
5 > 20 years
* Species successfully bred
♱ Dead end (in case of species gained)
↑ Species gaining popularity (in case of species gained)
Lorises - Lorisidae # Species kept 1-1-2000: 4-5
# Species kept currently: 5 (- / +1)
# Species gained: 1-2
# Species lost: 1
A small family of nocturnal African and Asian primates. The taxonomy of this group is in flux so it isn’t completely clear which species were held where and when. This problem is especially acute when it comes to the slow lorises (Nycticebus spec.). There are a few slow lorises around in Europe, but identification to species level proves difficult and few zoos have had much success with breeding them, so overall numbers remain low. Slow lorises sometimes still enter zoos as confiscated animals, so that will probably remain a source.
@ro6ca66 As this pygmy slow loris shows, it is easier being small these days
Species gained
Bengal slow loris - Nycticebus bengalensis C5*
The first definite holding of this species is a pair of confiscated animals that arrived in Zoo Augsburg in 2003. But given the taxonomic uncertainty surrounding this species, individuals listed as Nycticebus coucang s.l. could also belong/ have belonged to this species. The RSCC seems to have imported some in 2011 and the main current holder is Monkey World in Wareham, though it is anyone's guess if all slow lorises there are really Bengal.
@ro6ca66 Slow lorises are hard to identify to species level, but fascinating nonetheless
Status unclear
Javan slow loris - Nycticebus javanicus B?
Zoo Decin allegedly kept this species until 2001, but at that time Zoo Prague did also long claim that their slow lorises were Javans, while they have been reidentified as Malaysian slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) since. There is thus a real chance that the Decin animals were misidentified too. If that is the case the only Javan slow loris in Europe was a single animal that was imported by the RSCC from Singapore via Howletts Wild Animal Park, which lived in Europe 2006-2007.
Species gaining popularity
Grey slender loris - Loris lydekkerianus
These small lorises have changed their status from a proper zoo rarity to “just” a somewhat uncommon species. Good breeding results in multiple zoos have enabled this funny creature to spread and especially in the United Kingdom this is not a rarity anymore with 7 holders, most of them recent additions.
Pygmy slow loris - Xanthonycticebus pygmaeus
Another small loris that is far more common than it was 25 years ago. While the number of holders appears to have slightly shrunk in recent years, this is still the most widely kept loris in Europe. Their pocket size helps them (and their slender cousins) to fit into nocturnal houses which are now deemed too small for their larger cousins.
@Joker1706 Slender lorises are finally gaining ground in Europe
Dead ends
Potto - Perodicticus potto B5
This is the only African representative of the family to have been kept in Europe in recent decades. The species was never common, but has been continually present for many decades in Europe. In recent years breeding had already all but halted and the population was very male biased. Currently only 2 pairs remain in 2 English zoos with seemingly no recent breeding. So it is likely this species will disappear from Europe soon. But as Russian zoos have recently imported a number of potto from Africa, there is an import option, so if any European zoo has big plans with potto, they could potentially reappear.
@atheris Quite likely we will have to miss these quirky creatures in the near future
Progress 14/22 orders completed
30/106 families completed
79-82 species present in 2000
89 species present in 2023
38-40 species gained since 2000
29-30 species lost since 2000
Wow! I'm jealous of how many Lorisidae species Europe has! In the US, it's only Pygmy Slow lorises, and two dead end species (Potto and Slender Loris- the latter I'm only aware of at one zoo). They are so fascinating animals, and ones I wish more zoos would prioritize keeping.
This thread runs into a problem of splitting primates into more and more subspecies and species. Pottos, too, are proposed to be several subspecies or species.
Bad . All Mishmi takin in Europe derive from 2.1 animals imported by Tierpark Berlin (1.1 in the 1970s and 1.0 in 2004). All golden takin in Europe are derived from a single pair imported by Zoo Liberec from China in 2002.
Sichuan takin have a somewhat broader basis, though they are the takin to be phased-out in Europe, which makes some sense given their small population size. The population derives from a pair imported in the 90s from Shanghai by Diergaarde Blijdorp as well as animals from Moscow Zoo ( 2.3 imported from Beijing Zoo in the 2000s) and 2 pregnant females that arrived in Tierpark Berlin from San Diego in 2013.
To my knowledge, the only time that they bred at London this century was in 2000, and the most recent time that they bred in Europe in general was at Marwell in 2006. Not sure how old the current individuals at London or Birmingham are, but they can’t be any younger than 17 and are likely older. Given that this species, sadly, only lives until its late twenties, it is unlikely that, without miraculous breeding or further imports, this species will last much longer in Europe.
It makes me very sad to see that people are now accepting Pottos as a dead end, but in a way, makes me grateful to have had so many excellent views of them at London over the years. Hopefully, I will have a few more years to appreciate them.
When looking how zoos in the past obtained animals, bred and swapped progeny, all Pere David Deer in Woburn and elsewhere at one point derived from these 1,2 in Berlin. More Pere David Deer were imported from China, but descendants of other animals died out. And, on top of this, Pere David Deer in China were also likely inbred - they were a semi-captive herd in a walled imperial park. At these times the idea of genetic diversity was not known. And now back to primates
Pottos are very common in the wild, so it would not be surprising if more are imported.
Galagos - Galagonidae # Species kept 1-1-2000: 4
# Species kept currently: 4
# Species gained: 0
# Species lost: 0
A small family of active African nocturnal primates, which are also known as bushbabies due to their calls. There has been no change in the species held in this family, but there have been some movements. In this century the rarely kept southern lesser galago (Galago moholi) almost disappeared around 2010-2015, but by concentrating many animals in Prague the situation could be reversed as breeding in Zoo Prague proved very successful. The greater thick-tailed galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus) had almost disappeared from Europe by 2018, but then both Zoo Dvur Kralove and Zoo Jihlava acquired new animals and Jihlava bred successfully. So while still very rare, the species is clinging on. Greater thick-tailed galagos were not uncommon in the 20th century, but by the end of the century numbers had already greatly declined. Northern galago (Galago senegalensis) remain the most commonly seen galago in Europe by a big margin.
@Tomek Southern lesser galago are back from the brink
Species gaining popularity
Garnett’s greater galago - Otolemur garnetti
At the start of the century there was only a breeding group in the then recently closed nocturnal house of Burgers’ Zoo. It isn’t clear if this is the group that Zoo Plzen acquired in 2001, as Zootierliste claims the species was kept until 2002 in Burgers' Zoo, so the numbers don't quite add up, though it would make sense. From Plzen the species spread in (mostly) Eastern Europe. Despite a clear male bias multiple zoos are now breeding the species and while still a rarity, 8 zoos is more than 1.
@Rhino00 Garnett's greater galago are still an Eastern European speciality
Progress 14/22 orders completed
31/106 families completed
83-86 species present in 2000
93 species present in 2023
38-40 species gained since 2000
29-30 species lost since 2000
In this century the rarely kept southern lesser galago (Galago moholi) almost disappeared around 2010-2015, but by concentrating many animals in Prague the situation could be reversed
The turning point was a swap of few animals between Prague and Bronx zoo in 2014 - initiated by the US side that searched for unrelated animals for their program. Prague received 2 young females that proved to be very prolific and cornerstone of revived European population.
Sakis - Pitheciidae # Species kept 1-1-2000: 5
# Species kept currently: 3 (-2)
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: 3
While the number of species kept currently is slightly lower than 25 years ago, you have a bigger chance of seeing a member of this family than ever before.
@Therabu It seems unlikely we will see these skinhead monkeys again in Europe anytime soon
Species gained
Guianan bearded saki - Chiropotes sagulatus C4*↑
This species made its way to Europe in 2010 when via the RSCC animals were imported and kept in Zoo Belfast and Zoo Colchester. Todd Dalton, the owner of RSCC and later the Feral Animal Project, has imported more individuals of this species to Europe in later years. Apart from an additional animal from South Africa the current zoo population completely derives from these imports. There is relatively regular breeding, but also here a male bias is problematic, so it remains to be seen if this species can survive on its own.
@Therabu The only uakari left in Europe are quite hairy
Species lost
Red bald uakari - Cacajao rubicundus C5*
Only a single red bald uakari lived into the 21st century in Europe and this was an ancient animal from a gone era when importing wild caught animals was the standard. Zoo Twycross kept this individual until 2001 having held the species since 1968. This species was until recently lumped with the other bald uakari into a single species, see below.
White bald uakari - Cacajao calvus A5
In recent decades this species was only held in Cologne Zoo and by the time the 21st century started only 2 geriatric animals were still alive, which died in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Cologne never bred this species.
Uta Hick’s bearded saki - Chiropotes utahicki B5
Only very 4 animals of this species seem to have been imported to Europe. A single animal lived in Zoo Cologne 1964-1982 and Paris Menagerie/Jardin des Plantes imported 3 animals in 1985. Of those 3 one died in 1986 and the other 2 were sent to Zoo Mulhouse in 1989. There the remaining animals passed in 1992 and 2013.
@alexkant The final white bald uakari in Europe was looking ancient to say the least at the end
Species gaining popularity
White-faced saki - Pithecia pithecia s.l.
This is by now one of the most commonly kept primates of them all. They are easy to mix with other primates, but also with a wide range of other species including birds and butterflies. They also look interesting and are generally active and as a final bonus they are an EEP managed species too. With so many selling points it is no wonder these monkeys are so common. Taxonomy of this species is in flux, but the 2013 study that split this species into multiple species is quite weak, even though it is followed in the ASM Mammal Diversity Database, so I expect some lumps in the coming years. If the splits stand, the European population likely consists of hybrids and of golden-faced saki (Pithecia chrysocephala).
Coppery titi - Plecturocebus cupreus
Until 2010 this was an extreme rarity outside of Great Britain and while half of the current holders are still located on the island it isn’t a very uncommon species anymore on the mainland. Just as with white-faced saki these animals tend to do well in mixed-species exhibits, are attractive and are EEP managed.
@MagpieGoose Although a speciose group, only a single titi species is present in Europe, but its numbers are increasing
Progress 14/22 orders completed
35/106 families completed
88-91 species present in 2000
96 species present in 2023
39-41 species gained since 2000
32-33 species lost since 2000
Spider monkeys and allies - Atelidae # Species kept 1-1-2000: 10
# Species kept currently: 8 (-2)
# Species gained: 0
# Species lost: 2
This family contains howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys and the 2 species of muriqui, except the latter all main groups are currently kept in European zoos. Especially with spider monkeys it has sometimes been difficult to assess which species was kept when, as hybridization used to be quite common in captivity.
@MagpieGoose The distinctive Mexican subspecies of Geoffrey's spider monkey was only lost for a single year, but is now present again in Europe due an import by Zoo Prague
Species lost
Bolivian red howler monkey - Alouatta sara A4*
The only members of this species kept in Europe were a pair imported by Twycross Zoo from San Diego in 1989 and their offspring. The species bred at least in 1989. The final animal passed away in 2007, it was never kept in any other European Zoo.
White-bellied spider monkey - Ateles belzebuth B5*
This species was kept in a few zoos in the 20th century, but without a lot of breeding and in Wilhelma, Stuttgart there was hybridization with Colombian black spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps). The final animals were kept in Zoo Hoyerswerda until 2004 and in the Omega Parque Jardim Zoologico in Monchique, Portugal in 2007.
@Maguari The only Bolivian red howler monkeys in Europe were kept in Twycross zoo
Species gaining popularity
Venezuelan red howler monkey - Alouatta seniculus
At the start of the century this species was only kept in Zoo Frankfurt and Zoo Cologne. The final Frankfurt animal was sent to Cologne in 2007 which had started breeding this species in 2003 and has never stopped since. Zoo Cologne still keeps multiple breeding groups of this species, but in 2010 Aquazoo Leeuwarden in the Netherlands was the first other European zoo to profit from the success story in Cologne. Currently there are 9 European zoos with this species and despite (again) a male bias the population is still expanding with multiple zoos breeding this species
Black howler monkey - Alouatta caraya
This has long been the most widespread howler monkey and still is. But it was quite a rarity at the start of the century with not more than a handful of holders, only the past 15 years saw a large increase in the number of holders. A testament to their past rarity is that the first German zoo to breed this species (Wilhelma) did so in 2003. The species is especially popular in the UK, but also on the mainland a significant number of new holders were found, so there are now over 30 zoos with black howler monkeys. The howler monkeys are a group of (mostly) leaf eaters whose diet now has been cracked with excellent breeding results. Sadly there are other leaf eaters of which that can’t be said.
@Benosaurus Howler monkey calls are an increasingly common sound in European zoos
Species losing popularity
Common woolly monkey - Lagothrix lagothricha
While still kept in a similar number of zoos as at the start of the century, this species is a likely phase-out in most. Except for Monkey World, Wareham, and Zoo Schmiding in Austria there are only single sex groups left. Monkey World maintains multiple groups, whereas Zoo Schmiding, Austria, recently imported a pure subspecific pair from Brazil (Lagothrix lagothricha cana). Most other animals in Europe are subspecific hybrids. While multiple sources still recognize multiple species of common woolly monkey, genetic research indicates these are best treated as subspecies. Apart from Apenheul, Apeldoorn, not a single zoo has been able to raise more animals than died, so while keeping them alive is working reasonably well nowadays, these monkeys have never been sustainably bred.
Black spider monkey - Ateles chamek
These lookalikes for the commonly kept brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps) have almost disappeared from Europe with a single breeding group remaining in the Zoo Santo Inacio in Avintes, Portugal. I do expect some former holdings have been misidentifications though, as they aren't the only spider monkey to be black....
@Therabu Woolly monkeys are slowly vanishing from most of Europe
Progress 14/22 orders completed
36/106 families completed
98-101 species present in 2000
104 species present in 2023
39-41 species gained since 2000
34-35 species lost since 2000
. All Mishmi takin in Europe derive from 2.1 animals imported by Tierpark Berlin (1.1 in the 1970s and 1.0 in 2004). All golden takin in Europe are derived from a single pair imported by Zoo Liberec from China in 2002. 
