@SwampDonkey they are at the offsite, not at the park
San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Zoo Safari Park Field Exhibit Species List - 28 April 2023
- Thread starter Kudu21
- Start date
I'm wondering how many defassa waterbuck are still at the facility and if they're breeding. At least one was born last year, apparently.
There are only 1.2 purebred animals left, and the male is castrated.
A quick update to this list!
The springbok has been removed from this habitat.
Hartmann's mountain zebra have been added to this habitat.
The Malayan sambar from this habitat have been moved to....
This habitat.
The springbok has been removed from this habitat.
Hartmann's mountain zebra have been added to this habitat.
The Malayan sambar from this habitat have been moved to....
This habitat.
It has been a while since I have provided an update for this, and there have been quite a few changes recently, so there is no better time than the present!While I might not have the patience for a full species list for a facility the size of the Safari Park, I will always have the patience for hoofstockI figured there would be enough interest in an exhibit-by-exhibit breakdown of the collection in the field exhibits, as the field exhibits are the main drawcard for the park amongst enthusiasts, and because the Asian field exhibits are still behind an additional paywall that some people might not be willing or able to pay for. I will list the exhibits in the order that they appear along the Africa Tram for the African field exhibits and then as they appear along the Cart Safari route for the Asian field exhibits. The African exhibits that are not visible from the tram will be denoted "Cart Safari Only".
East Africa:
- Angolan roan antelope
- Cape buffalo
- Common impala
- Defassa waterbuck
- Eastern Thomson's gazelle
- Eastern white-bearded wildebeest
- Fringe-eared oryx
- Generic giraffe
- Lowland nyala
- Nile lechwe
- Southern white rhinoceros
Bird Delta:
- Saddle-billed stork
- West African crowned crane
Greater Flamingos:
- East African grey crowned crane
- Greater flamingo
Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center:
- Southern white rhinoceros
South Africa:
- Cape buffalo
- Ellipsen waterbuck
- Gemsbok
- Masai giraffe
- Patterson's eland
- South African springbok
- Southern sable antelope
Arid Africa (Cart Safari Only):
- Defassa waterbuck
- Ellipsen waterbuck
- Grevy's zebra
- Nile lechwe
- Scimitar-horned oryx
- South African springbok
Bird Marsh:
- Dalmatian pelican
- East African grey crowned crane
- Great white pelican
- Lappet-faced vulture
- Ruppell's griffon vulture
- Yellow-billed stork
Mammal Marsh:
- Nubian Soemmerring's gazelle
Somali Wild Ass:
- Dromedary camel
- Nubian Soemmerring's gazelle
- Somali wild ass
Central Africa:
- Angolan roan antelope
- Grevy's zebra
- Lowland nyala
- Ugandan kob
Goat & Sheep Mountain (Cart Safari Only):
- Desert bighorn sheep
- Transcaspian urial
African Forest:
Hillside Exhibit (Viewed from Above, Across from North Africa):
- Common impala
- Eastern bongo
- Nubian red-fronted gazelle
- Red lechwe
- Speke's sitatunga
- Empty
North Africa:
- Ankole cattle
- Bactrian hangul
- Barbary deer
- Ellipsen waterbuck
- Nile lechwe
- Red lechwe
- Scimitar-horned oryx
Central Asia (Paid Safari Only):
- Burmese brow-antlered deer
- Indochinese sika
- Javan banteng
- Przewalski's wild horse
- Transcaspian urial
Asian Plains (Paid Safari Only):
- Bactrian hangul
- Barasingha
- Blackbuck
- Greater Indian one-horned rhinoceros
- Javan banteng
- Malayan sambar
- Nilgai
Asian Hillside Exhibit #1 (Paid Safari Only):
- Indochinese sika
- Malayan sambar
- Mandarin sika
- Nubian ibex
Asian Hillside Exhibit #2 (Paid Safari Only):
- Empty
Asian Hillside Exhibit #3 (Paid Safari Only):
- Arabian oryx
Asian Hillside Exhibit #4 (Paid Safari Only):
- Przewalski's wild horse
East Africa:
- Angolan roan antelope
- Cape buffalo
- Common impala
- Defassa waterbuck
- Eastern Thomson’s gazelle
- Eastern white-bearded wildebeest
- Fringe-eared oryx
- Generic giraffe
- Hybrid waterbuck
- Nile lechwe
- Lowland nyala
- Southern white rhinoceros
Bird Delta:
- East African grey crowned crane
Greater Flamingos:
- East African grey crowned crane
- Greater flamingo
- West African crowned crane
Nikita Khan Rhino Rescue Center:
- Southern white rhinoceros
South Africa:
- Cape buffalo
- Ellipsen waterbuck
- Gemsbok
- Lowland nyala
- Masai giraffe
- Nile lechwe
- Patterson’s eland
- South African springbok
- Southern sable antelope
Arid Africa (Paid Safari Only):
- Addax
- Defassa waterbuck
- Ellipsen waterbuck
- Grevy’s zebra
- Nile lechwe
- Scimitar-horned oryx
Bird Marsh:
- Cape vulture
- East African grey crowned crane
- Lappet-faced vulture
- Rupell’s griffon vulture
- Yellow-billed stork
Mammal Marsh:
- Empty
Somali Wild Ass:
- Dromedary camel
- Nubian Soemmerring’s gazelle
- Somali wild ass
Mountain Habitat (Paid Safari Only):
- Desert bighorn sheep
- Transcaspian urial
Central Africa:
- Angolan roan antelope
- Ugandan kob
African Forest:
- Common impala
- Eastern bongo
- Nubian red-fronted gazelle
- Red lechwe
- Speke’s sitatunga
African Hillside Habitat:
- Grevy’s zebra
North Africa:
- Ankole cattle
- Barbary deer
- Bactrian hangul
- Ellipsen waterbuck
- Hartmann’s mountain zebra
- Nile lechwe
- Red lechwe
- Scimitar-horned oryx
Central Asia (Paid Safari Only):
- Burmese brow-antlered deer
- Indochinese sika
- Indochinese sika x barasingha hybrid
- Javan banteng
- Przewalski’s wild horse
- Transcaspian urial
Asian Plains (Paid Safari Only):
- Bactrian hangul
- Barasingha
- Blackbuck
- Burmese brow-antlered deer
- Greater one-horned rhinoceros
- Javan banteng
- Malayan sambar
- Nilgai
Asian Hillside Habitat #1 (Paid Safari Only):
- Indochinese sika
- Malayan sambar
- Nubian ibex
Asian Hillside Habitat #2 (Paid Safari Only):
- Kordofan aoudad
Asian Hillside Habitat #3 (Paid Safari Only):
- Arabian oryx
Asian Hillside Habitat #4 (Paid Safari Only):
- Przewalski’s wild horse
Last edited:
Gibbonsagainstgravity
Well-Known Member
On the Africa tram when we visited the guide told us that they had attempted to keep the flamingoes with the other water birds but they were “overwhelmed by all the space they were offered and didn’t like it” so they had fence off part of the enclosure for them. Is this true?
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
How many Barbary Deer do they keep? And is it easy to observe them? Thanks a lot
There are only three very old female Barbary deer left. Unfortunately, they are not particularly easy to see. Unless you pay for a cart tour, the North Africa field exhibit can only be seen from one side from the Africa Tram. Seeing them is then entirely dependent on them being in that small front section of the exhibit when your tram goes by.
Theoretically, it would be possible if they’re on that hillside, yes, but without good binoculars they’d be nothing more than brown blobs in the distance. There are also 13 Bactrian hangul in that exhibit, so you’d have to be confident in your identification to be sure you were actually seeing the Barbary deer from that distance.
In their summer coats, yes — the Barbary deer are distinctly darker. In their winter coats (which they will be in during @Lucas Lang’s visit), the Barbary are harder to distinguish unless they’re near the Bactrian (the Bactrian are notably larger) because the Barbary get paler. I just want to set realistic expectations for those who want to see them because they are genuinely not easy to see.
Understandable, hope the best for @Lucas Lang , this is for my my own benefit
A collection of recent updates!
The greater flamingos have been moved off-display due to HPAI concerns.
This exhibit is now home to peninsular pronghorn.
The 2.0 Grevy's zebra have moved back into this exhibit, and 0.2 southern white rhinoceroses have been added, as well
The single (1.0) common impala in African Forest was moved to the East Africa field exhibit for breeding.
0.2 greater kudu moved into this exhibit after the Grevy's zebra moved back to Central Africa.
The single (1.0) ellipsen waterbuck was moved from North Africa to the South Africa field exhibit for breeding.
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
Oh No HPAI, hope that will not influence my January trip
So far only the flamingos, pelicans, and waterfowl have been taken off display. Some of the waterfowl have been moved into covered aviaries, so they’re still on display.
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the information
Eletan888
Active Member
So I'm going to the Safari Park for the first time next week and have a few questions regarding seeing the field exhibits.
1. From what I've gathered, it looks like the park doesn't have black rhinos anymore? I just want to make sure because I want to see them so badly!
2. I'm considering purchasing a safari since I would like a better view of the animals than the tram. Which is the best for seeing the most species in the savannas? Unfortunately, the deluxe cart safari is sold out to see both the African and Asian species are sold out. I guess I'd prioritize seeing African and rare hoofstock.
1. From what I've gathered, it looks like the park doesn't have black rhinos anymore? I just want to make sure because I want to see them so badly!
2. I'm considering purchasing a safari since I would like a better view of the animals than the tram. Which is the best for seeing the most species in the savannas? Unfortunately, the deluxe cart safari is sold out to see both the African and Asian species are sold out. I guess I'd prioritize seeing African and rare hoofstock.
Mary
Well-Known Member
1.) You are correct, there are no black rhinos.
2.) The Wildlife Safari is $90 and is the traditional open-air safari ride. Deluxe is $113 and apparently has even more viewing opportunities for Africa and/or Asia. Southwest to Savannah is also a good option from what I’ve been told and is $200.
1. That is correct, the Park no longer has black rhinoceros. The last pair was moved to the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii once they could no longer be maintained in the mixed-species field exhibit.
2. For the safaris, it is going to depend on what experience you want. All of the African field exhibits are viewable from the Africa Tram, while the Asian field exhibits are only visible via the paid safaris. The caravan safaris will take you directly into the field exhibits for an up-close safari experience; however, there is no guarantee which exhibits you will enter — it could be one of the African exhibits or it could be the Asian exhibits. The cart safaris take you around the tram path and the old monorail path, depending on if you pick Africa or Asia. “Rare hoofstock” is hard at the Safari Park because many of the species are rare. It’s going to depend on whether you want an up-close experience or want to see everything the Park has to offer.