Mixed species exhibit ideas

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Australia Zoo’s Crocodile Lodge currently has an exhibit with Koalas, Red Kangaroos and Emus.

Wallabies would also work with at least the latter two species, maybe all three.

 

[Great Argus]

Wallabies would also work with at least the latter two species, maybe all three.

Various wallaby species have been housed with koalas.

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Various wallaby species have been housed with koalas.

Okay thanks for confirming it.

 

[Jonathan Petersson]

Would there be an issue if sea otters and seals were together?

Something else I'm considering is beluga whales with sea otters. Would that work?

Neither of those combinations would work and both would have many issues due to difference in husbandry and species aggression. Harbor seals and beluga whales would work but mixed habitats with sea otters do not go well.

 

[AndyJ08]

Would this work?
Gray-winged Trumpeter- 0.2
Red-rumped Agouti- 1.0
Red-billed Toucan- 1.1

 

[Osedax]

Would this work?
Gray-winged Trumpeter- 0.2
Red-rumped Agouti- 1.0
Red-billed Toucan- 1.1

I don't see why not.

 

[Great Argus]

Would this work?
Gray-winged Trumpeter- 0.2
Red-rumped Agouti- 1.0
Red-billed Toucan- 1.1

Theoretically fine - I'd be a bit wary depending on floor space and agouti's behavior towards the trumpeters for an irl situation.

 

[wild boar]

In that scenario, my biggest concern would be the size of the exhibit and not the mix. Speke’s tend to do better in smaller enclosures just due to how very fractious and flighty they are. If you have a calm, tractable group — it could work, but you would have to be prepared for it go south very quickly. San Diego’s herd seems to do well with their lesser kudu, and I know Dallas has had that mix historically as well. The males of both antelope would have to be separated, though. Historically, the Speke’s program leader has required that males not be kept in mixed species exhibits because so many had been lost in inter-specific conflicts (including with male lesser kudu). I wouldn’t foresee the hornbills being much of an issue for either species, it would just be whether or not the antelope males are okay with the hornbills.

Are ellipsen waterbuck generally mild-tempered enough to be a replacement for lesser kudu in this otherwise same scenario?

Silver Arowana, Black Arowana, various Pacu, Red-tailed Catfish, Ripsaw Catfish, any of the shovelnose catfish, larger plecostomus and panaques, larger cichlids such as Oscar and Green Terror, and more. Could even do juvenile Arapaima.

What would adult arapaima be an issue with?

 

[wild boar]

I know black wildebeest are often pretty aggressive, but would that translate to elephants as well?

 

[Mr Gharial]

What would adult arapaima be an issue with?

Arapaima are some of the biggest fish in fresh water, and they feed at the surface of the water by sucking up anything that fits in their mouth. A 10 foot Arapaima will definitely suck up a 3 foot Caiman lizard...

 

[FBBird]

I know black wildebeest are often pretty aggressive, but would that translate to elephants as well?

I’ve known them live peacefully with zebras and nyala.

 

[Great Argus]

What would adult arapaima be an issue with?

The stated size of the tank was the main reason I said juvenile. There would be some potential risk to the smaller species both reptilian and fish when considering an adult Arapaima.

 

[BenFoxster]

Has any zoo ever made an aviary containing multiple birds and plants from around the world. Like a single large aviary (perhaps around 70,000 square feet) where the aviary itself is just one big aviary that is accessible to all the birds. I was wondering if such an aviary could be feasible enough to hold bird species such as -

• Great Currasow, Blue-Billed Currasow, Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Congo Peafowl, Common Peafowl, Greylag Goose, White-Faced Whistling Duck, Mallard, Ibis, White Ibis, Scarlett Ibis, Sacred Ibis, Red-Legged Seriema, Purple Swamphen, Sarus Crane, Wattled Crane, Cape Thick-Knee, Spur-Winged, Lapwing, Nicobar Pigeon, Red-and-Green Macaw, Blue-Throated Macaw, Military Macaw, White-Bellied Caique, Salmon-Crested Cockatoo, Long-Billed Corella, White-Cheeked Turaco, Violet Turaco, Lady Ross' Turaco, Greater Roadrunner, Common Barn Owl, Spectacled Owl, Tawny Frogmouth, Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, Keel-Billed Toucan, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, White-Eared Catbird, Plush-Crested Jay, Yellow-Billed Magpie, Bali Mynah, Superb Starling, White-Crowned Robin Chat, White Headed Buffalo Weaver, Black-Headed Weaver, Crested Oropendola, and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill

 

[Great Argus]

Has any zoo ever made an aviary containing multiple birds and plants from around the world. Like a single large aviary (perhaps around 70,000 square feet) where the aviary itself is just one big aviary that is accessible to all the birds. I was wondering if such an aviary could be feasible enough to hold bird species such as -

• Great Currasow, Blue-Billed Currasow, Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Congo Peafowl, Common Peafowl, Greylag Goose, White-Faced Whistling Duck, Mallard, Ibis, White Ibis, Scarlett Ibis, Sacred Ibis, Red-Legged Seriema, Purple Swamphen, Sarus Crane, Wattled Crane, Cape Thick-Knee, Spur-Winged, Lapwing, Nicobar Pigeon, Red-and-Green Macaw, Blue-Throated Macaw, Military Macaw, White-Bellied Caique, Salmon-Crested Cockatoo, Long-Billed Corella, White-Cheeked Turaco, Violet Turaco, Lady Ross' Turaco, Greater Roadrunner, Common Barn Owl, Spectacled Owl, Tawny Frogmouth, Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, Keel-Billed Toucan, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, White-Eared Catbird, Plush-Crested Jay, Yellow-Billed Magpie, Bali Mynah, Superb Starling, White-Crowned Robin Chat, White Headed Buffalo Weaver, Black-Headed Weaver, Crested Oropendola, and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill

Sounds like a disaster.

 

[15399]

Has any zoo ever made an aviary containing multiple birds and plants from around the world. Like a single large aviary (perhaps around 70,000 square feet) where the aviary itself is just one big aviary that is accessible to all the birds. I was wondering if such an aviary could be feasible enough to hold bird species such as -

• Great Currasow, Blue-Billed Currasow, Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Congo Peafowl, Common Peafowl, Greylag Goose, White-Faced Whistling Duck, Mallard, Ibis, White Ibis, Scarlett Ibis, Sacred Ibis, Red-Legged Seriema, Purple Swamphen, Sarus Crane, Wattled Crane, Cape Thick-Knee, Spur-Winged, Lapwing, Nicobar Pigeon, Red-and-Green Macaw, Blue-Throated Macaw, Military Macaw, White-Bellied Caique, Salmon-Crested Cockatoo, Long-Billed Corella, White-Cheeked Turaco, Violet Turaco, Lady Ross' Turaco, Greater Roadrunner, Common Barn Owl, Spectacled Owl, Tawny Frogmouth, Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, Keel-Billed Toucan, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, White-Eared Catbird, Plush-Crested Jay, Yellow-Billed Magpie, Bali Mynah, Superb Starling, White-Crowned Robin Chat, White Headed Buffalo Weaver, Black-Headed Weaver, Crested Oropendola, and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill

The concept of an aviary with birds from around the world has been done successfully, but this particular species line-up has some glaring problems with it. For starters, kookaburras tend not to be a good choice for mixes with smaller birds, which they will kill given the opportunity. I've known kookaburras at multiple different zoos to kill house sparrows, frogs, and more that dare wander into their outdoor exhibits- and one zoo I know of had to remove a kookaburra from a mixed-species walkthrough aviary for presenting a visitor with a red-crested cardinal it killed. I especially wouldn't want to see kookaburras kept with valuable, endangered bird species such as the Bali mynah. Ground hornbills are another species I am skeptical of in mixed aviaries, as they are known to be fairly opportunistic carnivores. Both toucans and plush-crested jays are known to raid nests as well, so breeding any of the smaller bird species would be essentially impossible in this exhibit.

One other thing about the list that concerns me is that it leans heavily towards ground-dwelling species. Generally for a mixed-species aviary to be successful it leans more towards species that utilize different niches in the habitat- for instance 1-2 ground bird species, alongside 2-3 species who mainly use the middle of the exhibit, a few species that tend to live high up in the canopy, and 1-2 primarily water-dwelling species. Having two species of cranes, two species of curassow, two species of peafowl, pheasants, seriema, swamp hen, roadrunners, thick-knees, and lapwings all in one exhibit is bound to create conflict for ground spaces, which I suspect will be to the detriment of the smaller species.

Diet is also a concern. Parrots and a lot of the passerine species mentioned have rather distinct dietary needs from each other, so how do you plan to make sure they are eating their own food, and not that of another species, or else you risk severe medical complications due to improper diet.

And all of those problems are without even mentioning the glaring inclusion of two owl species in an exhibit with a lot potential prey species for them.

 

[BenFoxster]

The concept of an aviary with birds from around the world has been done successfully, but this particular species line-up has some glaring problems with it. For starters, kookaburras tend not to be a good choice for mixes with smaller birds, which they will kill given the opportunity. I've known kookaburras at multiple different zoos to kill house sparrows, frogs, and more that dare wander into their outdoor exhibits- and one zoo I know of had to remove a kookaburra from a mixed-species walkthrough aviary for presenting a visitor with a red-crested cardinal it killed. I especially wouldn't want to see kookaburras kept with valuable, endangered bird species such as the Bali mynah. Ground hornbills are another species I am skeptical of in mixed aviaries, as they are known to be fairly opportunistic carnivores. Both toucans and plush-crested jays are known to raid nests as well, so breeding any of the smaller bird species would be essentially impossible in this exhibit.

One other thing about the list that concerns me is that it leans heavily towards ground-dwelling species. Generally for a mixed-species aviary to be successful it leans more towards species that utilize different niches in the habitat- for instance 1-2 ground bird species, alongside 2-3 species who mainly use the middle of the exhibit, a few species that tend to live high up in the canopy, and 1-2 primarily water-dwelling species. Having two species of cranes, two species of curassow, two species of peafowl, pheasants, seriema, swamp hen, roadrunners, thick-knees, and lapwings all in one exhibit is bound to create conflict for ground spaces, which I suspect will be to the detriment of the smaller species.

Diet is also a concern. Parrots and a lot of the passerine species mentioned have rather distinct dietary needs from each other, so how do you plan to make sure they are eating their own food, and not that of another species, or else you risk severe medical complications due to improper diet.

And all of those problems are without even mentioning the glaring inclusion of two owl species in an exhibit with a lot potential prey species for them.

Thank you Neil, I must confess I did not take into consideration diet concerns. I had no idea about the kookaburras, jays, toucans, and ground hornbills and their carnivorous tendencies. I confess I was pushing it including the two owl species, I just wanted to double check but yes that was very stupid of me. Too many ground species was something I should have taken to consideration as well.

I'm wondering if something like this would work instead:

• Black-faced ibis, Scarlet ibis, Hadada ibis, Blue-gray tanager, Black-faced tanager, Crested oropendola, Giant cowbird, Venezuelan troupial, Screaming piha, Spangled cotinga, Golden-breasted starling, Yellow-hooded blackbird, Scarlet-headed blackbird, Bali mynah, Blue-crowned motmot, Guira cuckoo, Blue-bellied roller, Green woodhoopoe, Bearded barbet, Ringed teal, Hooded merganser, Scaly-sided merganser, African pygmy-goose, North American ruddy duck, Rosy-billed pochard, West Indian whistling duck, New Guinea masked lapwing, Palawan peacock pheasant, Green-naped pheasant-pigeon, Boat-billed heron, Snowy egret, Inca tern, Javan pond heron, Wattled curassow, White-throated ground dove, White-tailed trogo, Raggina Bird of Paradise, Boat-Billed Heron, Brown Pelican, Carribean Flamingo

 

[15399]

Thank you Neil, I must confess I did not take into consideration diet concerns. I had no idea about the kookaburras, jays, toucans, and ground hornbills and their carnivorous tendencies. I confess I was pushing it including the two owl species, I just wanted to double check but yes that was very stupid of me. Too many ground species was something I should have taken to consideration as well.

I'm wondering if something like this would work instead:

• Black-faced ibis, Scarlet ibis, Hadada ibis, Blue-gray tanager, Black-faced tanager, Crested oropendola, Giant cowbird, Venezuelan troupial, Screaming piha, Spangled cotinga, Golden-breasted starling, Yellow-hooded blackbird, Scarlet-headed blackbird, Bali mynah, Blue-crowned motmot, Guira cuckoo, Blue-bellied roller, Green woodhoopoe, Bearded barbet, Ringed teal, Hooded merganser, Scaly-sided merganser, African pygmy-goose, North American ruddy duck, Rosy-billed pochard, West Indian whistling duck, New Guinea masked lapwing, Palawan peacock pheasant, Green-naped pheasant-pigeon, Boat-billed heron, Snowy egret, Inca tern, Javan pond heron, Wattled curassow, White-throated ground dove, White-tailed trogo, Raggina Bird of Paradise, Boat-Billed Heron, Brown Pelican, Carribean Flamingo

You're on a better track with this set-up. As I am sure you are aware with the number of waterfowl, this aviary would require a very large water feature. I'm not aware of any zoos with pelicans in such a large aviary, so I'm not certain how well they'd do in this sort of exhibit. There are still a lot of ground-dwelling species in this exhibit. I'm not confident that curassows, peacock pheasants, pheasant pigeons, and ground doves would all be able to peacefully coexist, especially when this exhibit would inevitably require so much water space.

The first species that stands out to me as being one I would not recommend in this exhibit, however, are mot-mots. Their tendency to burrow doesn't tend to mesh well with large walk-through aviaries, and I've known multiple zoos to lose mot-mots as a result of their burrows collapsing. The other species that sticks out is the cowbirds, since they are brood parasites you wouldn't be able to breed any of the smaller species with them in the exhibit.

 

[BenFoxster]

You're on a better track with this set-up. As I am sure you are aware with the number of waterfowl, this aviary would require a very large water feature. I'm not aware of any zoos with pelicans in such a large aviary, so I'm not certain how well they'd do in this sort of exhibit. There are still a lot of ground-dwelling species in this exhibit. I'm not confident that curassows, peacock pheasants, pheasant pigeons, and ground doves would all be able to peacefully coexist, especially when this exhibit would inevitably require so much water space.

The first species that stands out to me as being one I would not recommend in this exhibit, however, are mot-mots. Their tendency to burrow doesn't tend to mesh well with large walk-through aviaries, and I've known multiple zoos to lose mot-mots as a result of their burrows collapsing. The other species that sticks out is the cowbirds, since they are brood parasites you wouldn't be able to breed any of the smaller species with them in the exhibit.

Thanks greatly for the feedback Neil, the mot-mots and cowbirds could be removed. If necessary I'd be willing to remove the pelicans as well, if just because I already have so many waterfowl. I was hoping to go for a wetland jungle theme, so yes a large body of water would be necessary. I'll take into consideration the over abundance of ground species, very hard to choose which could remove besides maybe the ground pigeon. Thanks again!

 

[Great Argus]

I'm wondering if something like this would work instead:

• Black-faced ibis, Scarlet ibis, Hadada ibis, Blue-gray tanager, Black-faced tanager, Crested oropendola, Giant cowbird, Venezuelan troupial, Screaming piha, Spangled cotinga, Golden-breasted starling, Yellow-hooded blackbird, Scarlet-headed blackbird, Bali mynah, Blue-crowned motmot, Guira cuckoo, Blue-bellied roller, Green woodhoopoe, Bearded barbet, Ringed teal, Hooded merganser, Scaly-sided merganser, African pygmy-goose, North American ruddy duck, Rosy-billed pochard, West Indian whistling duck, New Guinea masked lapwing, Palawan peacock pheasant, Green-naped pheasant-pigeon, Boat-billed heron, Snowy egret, Inca tern, Javan pond heron, Wattled curassow, White-throated ground dove, White-tailed trogo, Raggina Bird of Paradise, Boat-Billed Heron, Brown Pelican, Carribean Flamingo

I'm a bit skeptical of the ibis mixes - theoretically they shouldn't hybridize. The waterfowl mix is a bit iffy, between a low chance of hybridization potential and species that prefer different water temperatures. Brown Pelican should theoretically be fine. Could be some fighting among the icterid species as well.

 

[15399]

I'm a bit skeptical of the ibis mixes - theoretically they shouldn't hybridize. The waterfowl mix is a bit iffy, between a low chance of hybridization potential and species that prefer different water temperatures. Brown Pelican should theoretically be fine. Could be some fighting among the icterid species as well.

I've seen scarlet and hadada ibises in the same exhibit before at Franklin Park Zoo. If hybridization or competition for breeding space were possible issues, single-sex ibis flocks are rather common and would be another option.