Spec. Zoo Design questions

[BenFoxster]

How feasible would it be for an American zoo to obtain the following:
- Patagonian sea lion
- Blackbuck antelope
- Eld's Deer
- Indian Gaur
- Amazonian Manatee

 

[Mr.Ivory]

How feasible would it be for an American zoo to obtain the following:
- Patagonian sea lion
- Blackbuck antelope
- Eld's Deer
- Indian Gaur
- Amazonian Manatee

Blacbuck, Gaur, and Elds deer are already present in North America though Guar are on phase out

 

[Great Argus]

How feasible would it be for an American zoo to obtain the following:
- Patagonian sea lion
- Blackbuck antelope
- Eld's Deer
- Indian Gaur
- Amazonian Manatee

Patagonian Sea Lion is present but in very small numbers, probably not that likely.
Blackbuck is easy.
Eld's Deer is more about whether you can get them across state lines to where you want them; the population is not doing well because of this.
Gaur is doable.
Amazonian Manatee is unrealistic.

 

[pichu]

would it be feasible for an american zoo to have bonobo?

 

[BenFoxster]

Patagonian Sea Lion is present but in very small numbers, probably not that likely.
Blackbuck is easy.
Eld's Deer is more about whether you can get them across state lines to where you want them; the population is not doing well because of this.
Gaur is doable.
Amazonian Manatee is unrealistic.

How feasible would it be for a Californian zoo to obtain Florida manatees instead?

 

[Great Argus]

How feasible would it be for a Californian zoo to obtain Florida manatees instead?

All Florida Manatees are owned by the USFWS, and very very few manatees actually remain long term captives. Historically the USFWS has declined on sending manatees to California on grounds it is too far to ship manatees back and forth for rehab and release.

 

[15399]

would it be feasible for an american zoo to have bonobo?

Yes- a small number of zoos keep bonobos (Columbus, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, San Diego, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, and Memphis), and the population is in need of additional holders in order to grow. Bonobos are a species I wish there was more interest in from zoos!

 

[BenFoxster]

Would South American fur seals be more feasible for an American zoo or still unrealistic?

 

[Great Argus]

Would South American fur seals be more feasible for an American zoo or still unrealistic?

Nope - less realistic than Patagonian.

 

[pichu]

Yes- a small number of zoos keep bonobos (Columbus, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, San Diego, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, and Memphis), and the population is in need of additional holders in order to grow. Bonobos are a species I wish there was more interest in from zoos!

i find this surprising seeing as bonobos are much calmer than chimps, which, last i checked, are recommended to shoot if escaped rather than tranquilized.

 

[tigris115]

For an indoor tapir enclosure, is sand or mulch better?

 

[Great Argus]

For an indoor tapir enclosure, is sand or mulch better?

Try the Tapir ACM.

https://www.aza.org/animal-care-manuals

 

[tigris115]

Try the Tapir ACM.

https://www.aza.org/animal-care-manuals

Tried. They just said this

"Sand can be used but may be ingested and cause subsequent intestinal impaction (Janssen & Fowler, 1999)."

Nothing's said on other substrate options for indoor exhibits

 

[Mr Gharial]

Tried. They just said this

"Sand can be used but may be ingested and cause subsequent intestinal impaction (Janssen & Fowler, 1999)."

Nothing's said on other substrate options for indoor exhibits

Well, seeing that most zoos use Mulch for indoor enclosures, I'd assume that's the better option

 

[tigris115]

Well, seeing that most zoos use Mulch for indoor enclosures, I'd assume that's the better option

Thank you for the clear, straight-forward answer.

 

[Mr Gharial]

How many male Gorillas can you have in a bachelor group?

 

[Haliaeetus]

How many male Gorillas can you have in a bachelor group?

In Beauval, the bachelor group counted up to 5 males.

 

[Jarne]

How many male Gorillas can you have in a bachelor group?

Depends on the individual gorillas and how well the exhibit is designed. Ouwehands seems to do fine with 6 in a very well designed exhibit from the standpoint of the gorilla’s whilst Pairi Daiza already struggles with 2-3 together in a far less optimal exhibit.

 

[StellarChaser]

Brush-tailed Possums are absent in North America but about 23 European institutions hold them, is it realistic for AZA zoos to have Brush-tailed Possum? Also, how feasible would be for the Canadian zoos to acquire Tasmanian Devil and Tasmanian Wombat?

 

[Van Beal]

Few questions about zoo layout and general species:

1. For the very well-seasoned “veterans” of spec zoo design, how can I make the flow of my zoos, and any buildings within, more realistic?

2. How many “headliner” species would be recommended for sections of a zoo?

3. Is there an ideal ratio of larger species to smaller species? If so, what would it be? If there isn’t one, does anyone have recommendations on how many larger species should be kept and how many smaller species?

If anyone has any answers to my questions, I would not mind getting private messages about it if you feel that would be easier. Thanks!