Saw rather a lot of them in the safari portion of Dvur Kralove last month!
Trends in European zoo collections in the 21st century
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
Saw rather a lot of them in the safari portion of Dvur Kralove last month!
Nutria are that common in Europe!?! I doubt there's a single zoo keeping them in the US, besides maybe a rescue place in the South. Omaha did keep them until a few years ago, but that's all I'm aware of.
They indeed have a great group in a great enclosure. That shows why they were so popular in the first place.
Given that invasive sacred ibises in France originate from a free-flying zoo colony and a German zoo (used to?) have free-roaming nutria/coypu, you can't blame them for banning zoos. There is plenty of ammunition against this legislation and I don't think banning keeping nutria in zoos will do anything given how established they already are in Europe either...
I also came across pictures of nutria in the elephant enclosure in Kronberg, Germany, and they are wild on French zoo grounds too...
I find it surprising they are so rare in US zoos. Nutria are fantastic display animals, they are active, gregarious and breed easily. So there is always something happening, much more interesting to look at than most beaver enclosures, as European beavers in particular are mostly nocturnal. Nutria were among the most common zoo animals until 10 years ago, but in the Netherlands the number of holders has already halved.
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)
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)
Naked mole-rats - Heterocephalidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 1
# Species gained: -
# Species lost: -
A monotypic family that is often lumped with the mole-rats, but is treated as it’s own family here. The single member is one of the rodents that has taken off this century and is the stuff of many urban legends.
Species gaining popularity
Naked mole rat - Heterocephalus glaber
These sabre-toothed sausages have seen a remarkable increase in the number of holders. The number of holders has grown at least threefold this century and what once was a curious rarity is fast becoming a more standard species. Their unique appearance and interesting behaviour make them a popular display animal and their popularity will likely only grow.
@Jakub Not naked, not a mole and not a rat, but naked mole-rats are popular nonetheless
Mole-rats - Bathyergidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 2 (+1)
# Species gained: 2
# Species lost: 1
Together with the naked mole-rats this is the most commonly kept group of fossorial mammals, though their naked cousins are easily the most widespread. Their colonial bee-like life style and unique adaptations make them a popular study subject in universities. This was also the basis for the establishment of numerous mole rat species in Europe.
Species gained
Mechow’s mole rat - Fukomys mechowii B4*
This large species first appeared in European zoos in Zoo Osnabrueck, Germany, in 2009. After that is was kept in Plzen 2010-2013 and in Prague since 2012. Both the animals in Prague and Osnabrueck came from universities and both colonies have bred. The species reappeared in Plzen in 2022.
@Rhino00 Mole-rats, like this Mechow's mole-rat, tend to have a rather unique appearance
Species gained but lost
Silvery mole-rat - Heliophobius argenteocinereus B3
A few wild-caught individuals were kept in Schulzoo Leipzig 2003-2004 and in Zoo Plzen 2005-2006 and 2010-2016. There hasn’t been any breeding.
@Giant Eland Silvery mole-rats were not as successful as their cousins sourced from universities
Species gaining popularity
Ansell’s mole-rat - Fukomys anselli
These mole-rats have been present in European zoos since 1993, when Zoo Berlin acquired a group from Frankfurt University. Around the turn of the century Zoo Basel joined as second holder and there are now 5 zoos with this species. So while still a rarity, far behind the naked mole-rat, it has a stable following with 4 breeding groups that are about 20 years old at the minimum.
@Malayan Tapir Ansell's mole rats were confined to the German speaking zoo world, but with Biotropica in France as new holder that has changed.
Progress
16/22 orders completed
57/106 families completed
283-291 species present in 2000
280-282 species present in 2023
86-94 species gained this century
94-97 species lost this century
EU ban on captive nutra came too late and will have no impact on established population in nature I´m afraid. I opened some local stats - while in hunting season 2003 Czech hunters announced 158 killed nutrias, it was already 16.949 nutrias in season 2022. They are everywhere, not only in safari part of Dvur.
On the other side, nutria is a part of recent Czech history. It was a relatively commonly kept domestic animal in our villages in 1960s-1980s, some people preffered their meat over rabbit meat, fur was a bonus. But since late 1990s number of breeders dwindled from tens thousands to probably less than 100 today. When Prague zoo opened their new children zoo (circa 2000?) it had also a nutria pen showcasting animals of different colours and they were decently popular with families.
On the other side, nutria is a part of recent Czech history. It was a relatively commonly kept domestic animal in our villages in 1960s-1980s, some people preffered their meat over rabbit meat, fur was a bonus. But since late 1990s number of breeders dwindled from tens thousands to probably less than 100 today. When Prague zoo opened their new children zoo (circa 2000?) it had also a nutria pen showcasting animals of different colours and they were decently popular with families.
I saw color morph nutrias in Plzen’s village section when I visited there last year. Now I understand why the nutria was there. They are beautiful animals and it will be sad to see them go.
Plzen keeps local nutria breed called Přeštická (Přeštice is a small town near Plzen) and I find this color morph (white body with patches of dark fur over eyes and ears) really nice too. However even our zoos didn´t manage to get an extemption from EU ban, since 1.1.2023 it´s prohibited to breed them, current animals can only be kept till death. Sad to see our national history being erased.
I think you meant "you can't blame them for banning coypus in zoos"
OkapiJohn
Well-Known Member
The invasive species directive does not apply only to zoos.
I think it is more important to prevent or mitigate the loss of native biodiversity due to invasive species than to care whether zoos keep two or three dozen selected species or not. Loving it or not the truth is that zoos are centres of high risk for the introduction of invasive species.
I think it is more important to prevent or mitigate the loss of native biodiversity due to invasive species than to care whether zoos keep two or three dozen selected species or not. Loving it or not the truth is that zoos are centres of high risk for the introduction of invasive species.
I used the word "generally" because I'm obviously not a proponent of just ignoring invasive species, but I think implementing a complete EU-wide ban is the wrong way to go about it. For example, the cases you mention could have been avoided - and similar cases can be avoided in the future - by simply making stricter rules for which animals can be kept free-ranging in zoos.
Given that the EU countries have quite different climates, I'd also like to see some more country-specific regulation. Sacred ibises may be doing well in France, but according to biologists, they would die off in the wild in a typical Danish winter (not to mention Swedish or Finnish winters). It's also been discovered that the red-eared sliders that have escaped or been released into Danish nature hardly ever manage to breed due to the cold temperatures. I know that animals, especially birds, can spread to other countries, but the risks are bigger when they can establish a population in the nature right around the zoo.
Oh well, that's a bit of a digression (though it could be interesting to discuss further in a topic-specific thread), but I just wanted to clarify.
Interesting to hear NMRs were rare in Europe recently, as in the US they are one of the most commonly kept rodents (the only two rodents I've seen in more zoos than NMRs are cape porcupine and North American porcupine). I'm also surprised to hear that European zoos don't have any Damaraland mole rats, as that's the other mole rat species to be kept somewhat frequently in US zoos.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)
Naked mole-rats - Heterocephalidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 1
# Species gained: -
# Species lost: -
A monotypic family that is often lumped with the mole-rats, but is treated as it’s own family here. The single member is one of the rodents that has taken off this century and is the stuff of many urban legends.
Species gaining popularity
Naked mole rat - Heterocephalus glaber
These sabre-toothed sausages have seen a remarkable increase in the number of holders. The number of holders has grown at least threefold this century and what once was a curious rarity is fast becoming a more standard species. Their unique appearance and interesting behaviour make them a popular display animal and their popularity will likely only grow.
@Jakub Not naked, not a mole and not a rat, but naked mole-rats are popular nonetheless
Mole-rats - Bathyergidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 2 (+1)
# Species gained: 2
# Species lost: 1
Together with the naked mole-rats this is the most commonly kept group of fossorial mammals, though their naked cousins are easily the most widespread. Their colonial bee-like life style and unique adaptations make them a popular study subject in universities. This was also the basis for the establishment of numerous mole rat species in Europe.
Species gained
Mechow’s mole rat - Fukomys mechowii B4*
This large species first appeared in European zoos in Zoo Osnabrueck, Germany, in 2009. After that is was kept in Plzen 2010-2013 and in Prague since 2012. Both the animals in Prague and Osnabrueck came from universities and both colonies have bred. The species reappeared in Plzen in 2022.
@Rhino00 Mole-rats, like this Mechow's mole-rat, tend to have a rather unique appearance
Species gained but lost
Silvery mole-rat - Heliophobius argenteocinereus B3
A few wild-caught individuals were kept in Schulzoo Leipzig 2003-2004 and in Zoo Plzen 2005-2006 and 2010-2016. There hasn’t been any breeding.
@Giant Eland Silvery mole-rats were not as successful as their cousins sourced from universities
Species gaining popularity
Ansell’s mole-rat - Fukomys anselli
These mole-rats have been present in European zoos since 1993, when Zoo Berlin acquired a group from Frankfurt University. Around the turn of the century Zoo Basel joined as second holder and there are now 5 zoos with this species. So while still a rarity, far behind the naked mole-rat, it has a stable following with 4 breeding groups that are about 20 years old at the minimum.
@Malayan Tapir Ansell's mole rats were confined to the German speaking zoo world, but with Biotropica in France as new holder that has changed.
Progress
16/22 orders completed
57/106 families completed
283-291 species present in 2000
280-282 species present in 2023
86-94 species gained this century
94-97 species lost this century
OkapiJohn
Well-Known Member
Just as a quick note: since the EU operates as a single market, there is freedom movement of people and goods all around. As such it does not make sense that you ban something in one country and people can still import it freely through the border, simply because there are no border checks. One thing contradicts the other. Hence the EU wide ban.
Do you have any examples of an invasive species establishing and spreading because it escaped from a zoo, excluding species which were free to roam the zoo.
I think animals in zoo enclosures pose a very small risk actually, so a much easier requirement would be to ban free-ranging animals.
The issue with this regulation is that every member state can propose additional species and many seem to make it to the list, so the list will only grow and grow, as it is easy to say for many species the potential risk is high. The private pet trade seems to be the main source, covering that in legislation would have you covered.
The problem is that with climate change the species you mention could potentially start breeding in Denmark too, we already see that in the Netherlands. Given most EU members are also Schengen members a partial ban would be very hard to implement and check anyway, so I understand why the ban applies to all countries for all species.
OkapiJohn
Well-Known Member
The idea of the ban is not to have a contest on who poses a higher risk. Is to eliminate risks. It is enough one single accident to have a whole new population of an invasive species. And you don't need free roaming animals. It is enough one strong storm to destroy a fence or net, a fire to damage a building cover, etc. And zoo escapes are more common than you may think. And if we talk about aquatic animals, such as fish or inverts, the level of biosecurity needs to be even higher. It is better to be safe than sorry. Only someone that does not understand the importance to protect native biodiversity against invasive species can be against the EU ban. Zoos have thousands of other species they can exhibit.
I work as an ecologist for an organization managing a large area of protected natural land and have a PhD in invasion biology, so I think that I have an inkling of what I am talking about.
No piece of legislation can eliminate all risks, so what they should aim for in my opinion is effective measures that eliminate most risks. If licensed zoos are not a source of introduction, except for free-ranging species, what is the gain of a complete ban and would other measures not be less drastic and just as effective?
I know zoo escapes happen fairly often, but most are single animals that often are quickly found. And there is a lot that needs to happen to go from a few escaped animals to an estsblished population, let alone one that reaches invasive status. That risk is extremely low, so it is far more effective to put money and resources in control of the pet trade.
OkapiJohn
Well-Known Member
The thing is what is a licensed zoo? Both a high profile zoo like Berlin zoo or the petting zoo I run on my backyard can have a zoo licence. I agree that high profile zoos have higher biosecurity measures but at the eyes of the legislation they are the same. Most countries do not distinguish one from the other.
I hate to drive away from the thread topic but I do want to ask; by per this “risk free at all costs” approach, should domestic livestock and companion animals (especially house cats) also be prohibited? Or should they not because
And if the sole criteria for banning a species throughout the EU is "could this animal survive in the wild ANYWHERE in the EU if it somehow escaped from multiple zoos in the numbers required to establish a viable long-term breeding population" that list becomes a lot, lot shorter given the fact the ecosystems and climates in the EU range from arid sub-tropical, Mediterranean and desert all the way to tundra and arctic conditions.
Not to mention the fact that in the case of some already-banned species, including American Mink and Nutria, the fur farms which were the actual source of the invasive populations have been made exempt from the bans!
Then have policies about how certain animals need to be held. In the US, certain potentially injurious species are managed under the Lacey Act, and those species have additional regulations around them that other species do not. For example, extra permits to transfer them between zoos and requirements that they are double contained at all times. Any zoo, whether "high profile" or your backyard petting zoo would need to meet these same standards. There's a whole lot of area in between "doing nothing" and "complete outright bans". There are still plenty of US Zoos keeping and breeding meerkats, dwarf mongoose, and multiple fruit bat species- all of whom are covered by the Lacey Act.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Hello,
I had the same thinking a few months ago when I discussed about Common Coatis, a species that is under the ban for a few years, but still displayed in various EU zoos including one on Martinique Island.
European Union encompasses various climates from the subarctic tundras of Lapland to the arid zones of Canary Islands and Andalucia (and much more if you include the tropical overseas of Indian Ocean, Caribbean and French Guiana), that are recognized as ecoregions under EU legislation (Bird and Habitat Directives). And other EU regulations are based on a biogeographical approach (for example I think to the fishing policy).
In these terms, the general bans of species are senseless without consideration of the ecoregions. A tropical lizard or fish that can be highly detrimental on Réunion or Martinique Island wouldn't survive a single day if released in Scandinavia, and the opposite is true.
Even if it is a big concern for many zoo species, this topic deserves its own thread, that may be separated from this one.