Trends in European zoo collections in the 21st century

[PossumRoach]

Beautiful squirrels - Callosciurinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 7-8
# Species kept currently: 8-9 (0/+1/+2)
# Species gained: 2-3
# Species lost: 1-2

As if other squirrels are not beautiful, but with species like the always popular Prevost's squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) there is a reason why this group has gotten this name. That is not to say there are no drab squirrels in this sub-family. The animals listed as Perny’s long-nosed squirrel (Dremomys pernyi) that are currently around in the Netherlands are however not long-nosed squirrels, but a Callosciurus species, though it seems unclear which species exactly.

@hmb_zoo A Prevost's squirrel showing off

Species gained

Grey-bellied squirrel - Callosciurus caniceps B3*
This species was first kept in Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, in 2006. That holding only lasted for several months though. There are multiple other former holders, but currently the species is only listed for Glad Zoo in Lintrup, Denmark.

Himalayan striped squirrel - Tamiops mecclellandii B4*
This species was first kept in the Zoo der Minis in Aue, Germany from 2008-2011. Many zoochatters will have seen this species when kept in Tierpark Berlin 2013-2021. It is currently kept in 3 German zoos, and bred in Tiergarten Schoenebeck, which is Germany’s rodent capital.

@Hix A grey-bellied squirrel in the wild

Species lost

Black-striped squirrel - Callosciurus nigrovitattus A2?
Zoo Plzen acquired 3 individuals in 1999, but it is unclear until when they were kept. The holding likely didn’t last longer than a few years only. As all animals were female, no breeding occurred.

@Chlidonias A black-striped squirrel showing it's black stripe

Status unclear

Northern palm squirrel - Funambulus pennantii A2
This species is allegedly kept in the Mini Zoo Rosite in Skredeli, Latvia, but no evidence after 2018 is given. This species was possibly still present in Odense Zoo at the start of the century, but no evidence after 1998 is available.

@J I N X Northern palm squirrels are invasive in Israel and as such are kept there in larger numbers then in Europe

Species gaining popularity

Swinhoe’s striped squirrel - Tamiops swinhoei
There is probably no other mammal species that has spread as quickly as this tiny hyperactive squirrel in recent years. As a small, active, cute and fast-breeding species it is clear that this squirrel has a lot going for it. But in recent years the number of holders has boomed and it won’t be long until it joins the club of 100 holders. It is suited to mixes with birds and is a popular addition for both small and large-sized zoos. As they are often kept in larger groups, there is always action and these animals are crowd favourites.

@Maguari Still most prevalent in Germany, but now a common species in more countries

Progress
16/22 orders completed
45/106 families completed
238-245 species present in 2000
234-236 species present in 2023
60-67 species gained since 2000
68-73 species lost since 2000

I have two questions:

1. Does the listing of the Siberian chipmunk to the European Invasive Alien Species law factor to the interests towards the Swinhoe’s striped squirrel along with the increase of holders?

2. I understand that you don’t give detailed accounts of species of stable holding numbers but with the them listed as invasive species, will the Pallas’s squirrel and the recently listed of the Finlayson’s squirrel ever lose popularity or face a decrease of number of holders.

 

[dillotest0]

Swinhoe’s striped squirrel - Tamiops swinhoei
There is probably no other mammal species that has spread as quickly as this tiny hyperactive squirrel in recent years. As a small, active, cute and fast-breeding species it is clear that this squirrel has a lot going for it. But in recent years the number of holders has boomed and it won’t be long until it joins the club of 100 holders. It is suited to mixes with birds and is a popular addition for both small and large-sized zoos. As they are often kept in larger groups, there is always action and these animals are crowd favourites.

It also helps that they look rather like North American chipmunks - an animal popular in the past but as of the EU phasing it out on ‘invasive’ grounds, this may well be the best substitute.

 

[OkapiJohn]

Beautiful squirrels - Callosciurinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 7-8
# Species kept currently: 8-9 (0/+1/+2)
# Species gained: 2-3
# Species lost: 1-2

As if other squirrels are not beautiful, but with species like the always popular Prevost's squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) there is a reason why this group has gotten this name. That is not to say there are no drab squirrels in this sub-family. The animals listed as Perny’s long-nosed squirrel (Dremomys pernyi) that are currently around in the Netherlands are however not long-nosed squirrels, but a Callosciurus species, though it seems unclear which species exactly.

@hmb_zoo A Prevost's squirrel showing off

Species gained

Grey-bellied squirrel - Callosciurus caniceps B3*
This species was first kept in Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, in 2006. That holding only lasted for several months though. There are multiple other former holders, but currently the species is only listed for Glad Zoo in Lintrup, Denmark.

Himalayan striped squirrel - Tamiops mecclellandii B4*
This species was first kept in the Zoo der Minis in Aue, Germany from 2008-2011. Many zoochatters will have seen this species when kept in Tierpark Berlin 2013-2021. It is currently kept in 3 German zoos, and bred in Tiergarten Schoenebeck, which is Germany’s rodent capital.

@Hix A grey-bellied squirrel in the wild

Species lost

Black-striped squirrel - Callosciurus nigrovitattus A2?
Zoo Plzen acquired 3 individuals in 1999, but it is unclear until when they were kept. The holding likely didn’t last longer than a few years only. As all animals were female, no breeding occurred.

@Chlidonias A black-striped squirrel showing it's black stripe

Status unclear

Northern palm squirrel - Funambulus pennantii A2
This species is allegedly kept in the Mini Zoo Rosite in Skredeli, Latvia, but no evidence after 2018 is given. This species was possibly still present in Odense Zoo at the start of the century, but no evidence after 1998 is available.

@J I N X Northern palm squirrels are invasive in Israel and as such are kept there in larger numbers then in Europe

Species gaining popularity

Swinhoe’s striped squirrel - Tamiops swinhoei
There is probably no other mammal species that has spread as quickly as this tiny hyperactive squirrel in recent years. As a small, active, cute and fast-breeding species it is clear that this squirrel has a lot going for it. But in recent years the number of holders has boomed and it won’t be long until it joins the club of 100 holders. It is suited to mixes with birds and is a popular addition for both small and large-sized zoos. As they are often kept in larger groups, there is always action and these animals are crowd favourites.

@Maguari Still most prevalent in Germany, but now a common species in more countries

Progress
16/22 orders completed
45/106 families completed
238-245 species present in 2000
234-236 species present in 2023
60-67 species gained since 2000
68-73 species lost since 2000

These variations in the numbers are due to the unclear status of the presence of some animals or due to unclear taxonomy?

 

[lintworm]

1. Does the listing of the Siberian chipmunk to the European Invasive Alien Species law factor to the interests towards the Swinhoe’s striped squirrel along with the increase of holders?

That will indeed have been a factor, though the Swinhoe's are also popping up now in quite some places that didn't have chipmunks prior.

2. I understand that you don’t give detailed accounts of species of stable holding numbers but with the them listed as invasive species, will the Pallas’s squirrel and the recently listed of the Finlayson’s squirrel ever lose popularity or face a decrease of number of holders.

There is a good chance that the number of holders will decrease, especially for Pallas's squirrel where many of the individuals that were recently kept in zoos were caught from a free-ranging population in the Netherlands. But I also see a clear possibility that zoos will again be a place where squirrels caught out of the invasive populations will be kept, as culling (effective as it is) is often not appreciated much by the locals.

These variations in the numbers are due to the unclear status of the presence of some animals or due to unclear taxonomy?

They refer purely to the species mentioned under the header "status unclear".

 

[Coelacanth18]

Swinhoe’s striped squirrel - Tamiops swinhoei

As a small, active, cute and fast-breeding species it is clear that this squirrel has a lot going for it. But in recent years the number of holders has boomed and it won’t be long until it joins the club of 100 holders.

As they are often kept in larger groups, there is always action and these animals are crowd favourites.

It also helps that they look rather like North American chipmunks - an animal popular in the past but as of the EU phasing it out on ‘invasive’ grounds, this may well be the best substitute.

Not gonna lie, my first thought when I saw that squirrel was "it just looks like a chipmunk" and I had half a mind that @lintworm was making a joke with the "crowd favorite" praise I guess if Europe doesn't have any equivalent to chipmunks people might be excited to see them?

Admittedly I'm not the biggest fan of squirrels, but reading about all the different species European zoos have been breeding and that one pushing 100 holders is baffling to me. Is it that hard for all of you to see wild squirrels outside?

 

[Lafone]

Not gonna lie, my first thought when I saw that squirrel was "it just looks like a chipmunk" and I had half a mind that @lintworm was making a joke with the "crowd favorite" praise I guess if Europe doesn't have any equivalent to chipmunks people might be excited to see them?

Admittedly I'm not the biggest fan of squirrels, but reading about all the different species European zoos have been breeding and that one pushing 100 holders is baffling to me. Is it that hard for all of you to see wild squirrels outside?

I see lots of grey squirrels but still enjoy the different sub species. Takes all sorts.

 

[dillotest0]

Not gonna lie, my first thought when I saw that squirrel was "it just looks like a chipmunk" and I had half a mind that @lintworm was making a joke with the "crowd favorite" praise I guess if Europe doesn't have any equivalent to chipmunks people might be excited to see them?

Admittedly I'm not the biggest fan of squirrels, but reading about all the different species European zoos have been breeding and that one pushing 100 holders is baffling to me. Is it that hard for all of you to see wild squirrels outside?

Lots of greys yes, but still not all too many reds even. [though saying that I have seen wild red squirrels in Finland and Germany's cities]
So zoos will be the most accessible way for many people to see the species.

 

[lintworm]

Not gonna lie, my first thought when I saw that squirrel was "it just looks like a chipmunk" and I had half a mind that @lintworm was making a joke with the "crowd favorite" praise I guess if Europe doesn't have any equivalent to chipmunks people might be excited to see them?

Apart from the UK with its plethora of invasive gray squirrels, the only wild squirrel across most of Europe is the red squirrel ( marmots and sousliks are the other ones). These squirrels are commonly seen in some zoos, I saw about 20 in the Wilhelma in on day, but depending one how urban it is, they can be absent from zoos (whereas grey squirrels in the UK are very urban). Red squirrels are basically always somewhat shy though, I have never observed any hand feeding of them as is possible with chipmunks or grey squirrels.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

the only wild squirrel across most of Europe is the red squirrel ( marmots and sousliks are the other ones).

And, just about, Siberian Flying Squirrel - although those are even less seen than those you cited.

 

[Jurek7]

Swinhoe’s striped squirrel - Tamiops swinhoei

In contrast to it, chipmunks are aggressive and cannot normally be kept in larger groups.

Squirrels are usually kept in old enclosures which became too small for larger animals. Poor man's monkeys, so to say.

 

[Fallax]

And squirrels tend to make pretty good exhibits as well, at Chester people always stop to look at the Prevost's squirrels since they are always very active and pretty looking. Swinhoe's are active too. I don't think its that strange that they are so common in zoos.

 

[birdsandbats]

And squirrels tend to make pretty good exhibits as well, at Chester people always stop to look at the Prevost's squirrels since they are always very active and pretty looking. Swinhoe's are active too. I don't think its that strange that they are so common in zoos.

While I agree that squirrels often make excellent exhibit animals, the fact that they are common zoo animals in Europe is very strange from an American perspective. The only squirrel (not counting things like prairie dogs or marmots) that's even remotely seen in zoos over here is Prevosts's. Even that isn't super common. There's a handful of rescue gray squirrels and flying squirrels, plus a few chipmunks here and there, and that's it.

 

[15399]

To echo @birdsandbats, I for one am shocked that squirrels are so commonly exhibited in Europe. I've been to thirty five US and Canadian zoos, and have seen only two sciurid species in captivity, Prevost's squirrels (only at a single zoo) and Black-tailed prairie dogs. To hear that Europe has squirrel species kept in over a hundred zoos is basically insane from an American perspective, unless you are discussing prairie dogs. Are prairie dogs rare and/or absent from Europe? That could possibly explain why other species of sciurid are more common.

 

[dillotest0]

Are prairie dogs rare and/or absent from Europe? That could possibly explain why other species of sciurid are more common.

Oh no - they are very common as well. Mostly smaller collections; though a handful of large collections have them too.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Are prairie dogs rare and/or absent from Europe? That could possibly explain why other species of sciurid are more common.

Very much the reverse - per ZTL there are 188 European collections with Black-tailed Prairie Dog, and I would be inclined to suspect there are other smaller collections with the species which have eluded notice too!

 

[pangolin12]

a little bit random but on the topic of squirrels are any of the japanese squirrels (sciurus lis) known to be pure in europe? I didnt know if it is a sort of pardine genet situation where some are certainly pure and others are uncertain, or if there was more to it perhaps?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

a little bit random but on the topic of squirrels are any of the japanese squirrels (sciurus lis) known to be pure in europe? I didnt know if it is a sort of pardine genet situation where some are certainly pure and others are uncertain, or if there was more to it perhaps?

From what I recall hearing, the problem is that both Sciurus lis and the Hokkaido Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis) were originally imported privately under the name "Japanese Squirrel" and it is likely some or all of the animals held in public collections are hybrids, as the pied phenotype is unknown in true wild lis but does sometimes occur in S. v. orientis.

The Pardine Genet issue is somewhat different insofar as much as it appears this is a case of two entirely different (but distinct) taxa inadvertently ending up with the label "Pardine Genet" in private and public collections, rather than "merely" some being pure and others being hybrids.

 

[Pertinax]

These squirrels are commonly seen in some zoos, I saw about 20 in the Wilhelma in on day, but depending one how urban it is, they can be absent from zoos (whereas grey squirrels in the UK are very urban). Red squirrels are basically always somewhat shy though, I have never observed any hand feeding of them as is possible with chipmunks or grey squirrels.

Many years ago I remember seeing a number of Red Squirrels in Nurnburg Zoo in Germany which is in a pineforest area. Not just 'Red', but black and brown ones too- three different colour morphs. In UK we only have the classic Red one. I've never seen/heard of Reds approaching close enough to be handfed either, at least in the UK.

 

[oflory]

From what I recall hearing, the problem is that both Sciurus lis and the Hokkaido Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis) were originally imported privately under the name "Japanese Squirrel" and it is likely some or all of the animals held in public collections are hybrids, as the pied phenotype is unknown in true wild lis but does sometimes occur in S. v. orientis.

The Pardine Genet issue is somewhat different insofar as much as it appears this is a case of two entirely different (but distinct) taxa inadvertently ending up with the label "Pardine Genet" in private and public collections, rather than "merely" some being pure and others being hybrids.

Interesting - I have seen the pardine at Honeybourne, which looks 'right' - what is the other taxon in reality, do you think? I've seen some pictures of supposed G. pardina that look to me like G. genetta, but am not an expert.

 

[remar]

I had the luck this summer to meet someone who raised an orphaned squirrel and didn't release it. Although i didn't like the way it was kept there i've learned interesting facts about them. The lady found the animal as naked kid outside the nest on the ground and raised it up. It can use the whole house there. When visitors come it usually hides in the cellar and doesn't show up as long as the visitors are in the house. Luckily for me, on the day that i was there it was curious about me and i was able to touch it. But the owner was even more curious about that behavior as this never happened the three years before. Another interesting info was, that when the owner comes back from vacation the squirrel is even a little bit scared to her for some days. So somewhat shy is probably an understatement.