My sentence was plural, "Gayal and Kerabau" which includes several zoos. And secondly, I was not trying to claim anything, even less that there were hundreds of zoos with Gayal. I was just expressing the idea that these animals are taking space that could be used in a better way, in my opinion.
Yes, I've visited a Buffalo farm in Italy in the 1990s.
Glad to see a lot of dedication to Asian deer in European zoos, as this is a group that unfortunately isn't doing so well in US zoos, partly due to challenges in moving animals across state lines. I'm a big fan of a lot of the Asian deer species, but in US Zoos most species are limited to a handful of very dedicated zoos (e.g., Bronx Zoo).Deer - Cervidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 28
# Species kept currently: 26 (-2)
# Species gained: -
# Species lost: 2
According to the average zoo visitor these are the most recognizable “boring” zoo inhabitants, often getting little love except when they can be fed or when fed on. Regardless, the European deer are commonly kept, most often in smaller zoos and there is quite a bit of variety of other species around too. There has been a clear trend towards endangered Asian deer, though not all Asian deer have profited. While no new species have appeared this century, 2 new subspecies appeared: moose (Alces alces americanus) in 2003 in Dierenpark Emmen and Barbary red deer (Cervus elaphus barbarus) in 2010 in Tierpark Berlin. Both taxa were imported from North America and were not made for any long-term presence. The final moose died in 2022 and only 3 females are left of the barbary red deer since the male died in 2021.
@Patrick87 With the passing of the only male Barbary red deer in Europe in 2021, this subspecies will die out again
Species lost
Marsh deer - Blastocerus dichotomus B5*
This species was first kept around 1970 in the Wildfreigehege Hellenthal in Germany and bred there. From there both Zoo Krefeld and Zoo Berlin acquired animals and Zoo Krefeld kept the species until the late 1990s. Zoo Berlin established a small breeding group that was successfully kept for decades but slowly died out in the 1990s. The final animal died of old age in 2009.
Pampas deer - Ozotoceros bezoarticus B5*
It is a bit repetitive but this species was long kept and bred in Zoo Berlin. All animals in Europe kept after the WW2 derive from 1.2 animals imported from Paraguay in 1974 and 1977. Both Zoo Krefeld and Tiergarten Nuernberg received offspring from Berlin in the 1970s but the species didn’t breed there. The final animal in Berlin died in 2003.
@Tim May A female marsh deer of the now deceased Zoo Berlin breeding group
Species gaining popularity
Tufted deer - Elaphodus cephalophus
These small deer will likely be the ultimate Reeves’ muntjac replacement once the latter slowly dies out because it’s breeding is banned under EU law. The current history of tufted deer started in 1992 when Diergaarde Blijdorp received animals from Shanghai Zoo. Together with an import by Tierpark Berlin from San Diego in 1997 that was the start of this species in Europe. The number of holders has increased from 3 in 2000 to 15 in 2023 (with a stronghold in Germany) and this number is only expected to increase.
Reindeer - Rangifer tarandus
The domestic variety of reindeer has long been a zoo staple, but true wild reindeer were hard to find. This has changed with the rise of the Eurasian forest reindeer (ssp. fennicus) which had been kept in Scandinavia for decades. In the early years of the century only Tierpark Bern and Burgers’ Zoo kept this species outside of Scandinavia, but that has changed now. An increasing number of zoos have now replaced the domestic variety with their wild counterparts
Hog deer - Axis porcinus
In recent years the endangered Asian deer have received something of a reappraisal. An increase in mixed species exhibits and the establishment of breeding programs will have aided hog deer. Hog deer can be mixed with rhinos and a whole mix of other species, so they make an easy addition.
Persian fallow deer - Dama mesopotamica
As the critically endangered cousin of Europe’s most widely held mammal it is in a good position to attract the attention of zoos that want to move away from the most commonly held species. It is still quite an uncommon species though, as there is plenty of competition to fill the endangered Asian deer slot.
Visayan spotted deer - Rusa alfredi
The current European zoo population is descended from a 1990 import by Zoo Mulhouse. At the start of the century this was still a huge rarity with only a handful of holders. With about 30 holders at the moment this is still an uncommon species, but one that is well established in Europe.
White-lipped deer- Cervus albirostris
The European history of this species started in 1990 when Tierpark Berlin and Diergaarde Blijdorp started with this species, Rotterdam also imported animals further in the 1990s. By 2000 there were 3 holders and while this species is still quite uncommon the current number of 14 holders mean that the number of holders has increased nearly fivefold.
@Bubalus Like the other 1990s deer arrivals, Visayan spotted deer are on the rise in Europe
Species losing popularity
Reeves’s muntjac - Muntiacus reevesi
Although it is currently the most common non-European deer in Europe, the number of holdings is set to decline given it is now listed as an invasive species under the current EU legislation, banning the breeding of this species. But German zoos seem to be exempted as breeding is still regular there (or at least pretend they are). This species is often signed as Muntiacus muntjak despite clearly not being that species. It could be a tactic for rogue zoos to continue with this species as long as law enforcement remains asleep or without knowledge…
Axis deer - Axis axis
With the rising popularity of a number of endangered Asian deer species, it is no surprise that the most commonly kept species is decreasing in numbers, though still being very common. That status will probably change as it was included on the latest EU invasives list, whereas it isn’t an invasive species in Europe. In the EU there has been a small population on the Brijuni Island in Croatia since 1911, but nothing more substantial, it is considered invasive in other areas such as Argentina though. Nevertheless a risk assessment found the risk high enough so that it is now banned. If anyone would want to ban hog deer or sambar next, there is probably a good chance they would end up in a follow-up of this legislation, given the current selection criteria.
Pere David's deer - Elaphurus davidianus
Seeing an extinct in the wild species losing popularity might seem surprising, especially as it is one of the poster boys of species saved by zoos. It isn’t exactly extinct in the wild anymore with 1000s of animals living in (semi-)freedom in China. A larger issue is probably the result of inbreeding, with all animals descending from 1.2 kept in Zoo Berlin. From what I have heard that is causing problems with high calf mortality in zoos, though a Chinese study found no relationship between calf mortality and genetic diversity in the deer’s re-introduced populations.
Southern pudu - Pudu puda
Despite being a small species, being near threatened and part of a breeding program since a long time, the number of pudu holders has decreased by almost 1/3 this century. Small ungulates in general have a tough time these days, but being South-American isn't an asset either if you are a deer these days.
@vogelcommando Reeves's muntjac will become rarities in the foreseeable future
Dead ends
Grey brocket deer - Mazama gouazoubira
This species was kept and bred in Zoo Berlin from 1962-2009 when the final old animal died. Around 2009 Faunia, Madrid, imported a pair of this species from South America and there was regular breeding, but no population was established and the final animal was kept until 2022, at least when you believe Zootierliste. Photographic evidence on Facebook shows the final animal was still alive and kicking in 2023, somewhat extending the inevitable.
@twilighter Not dead yet, the final grey brocket deer in Faunia is still clinging on
Progress
21/22 orders completed
101/106 families completed
556-565 species present in 2000
572-575 species present in 2023
221-232 species gained this century
214-218 species lost this century
I'm aware, but forgot about them.
There was no decision to phase out or replace springbok. It was just a downgrade from an EEP to a monitoring population. The species is being recognised as difficult to keep appropriately. The European climate is not so favourable, the species is highly susceptible to parasites and stress factors and groups are hard to manage regarding aggression; especially during winter time when animals must stay most of the time indoors. There have been also reported some issues with inbreeding. ex-EEP animals that are in the Middle East are doing much better but imports of hoofstock from those regions to Europe require too much paperwork to enable frequent exchange of individuals. Although the TAG wants to focus and put resources into endangered gazelle species, it did not decide to phase-out the species, and it will just monitor its status while trying to figure out how to improve its husbandry. But a reduced interest from holders is notorious indeed. The situation for Thomson's Gazelle is pretty much the same from a management point of view. However, it seems to have more interested holders than the springbok, but the European population is not growing due to similar husbandry issues. Maybe the recent import from AZA to Tierpark Berlin might bring some fresh blood into Europe.Smaller antelopes - Aepycerotini, Cephalophini, Nesotragini, Oreotragini, Antilopini
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 17
# Species kept currently: 13 (-4)
# Species gained: 3
# Species lost: 7
This group contains mostly small(ish) antelopes from Africa and Asia and is incredibly diverse. With a few exceptions these smaller species are however generally less common than the large antelopes seen in the previous post. As a small note: Zootierliste lists Maxwell’s duiker until at least 2001 for Artis, Amsterdam, but these are most likely all blue duiker X Maxwell’s duiker hybrids and were listed at the time as blue duiker. The last hybrid of that line died in 2010 in Zoo Antwerp.
@Therabu Blue duiker have remained a rare antelope throughout this century, though all hybrid animals are now gone and the population consists solely of the congica subspecies
Species gained
Gerenuk - Litocranius walleri B4*
After being lost from Europe for decades, Tierpark Berlin imported this species from the USA in 2013. Over the past 10 years 6.6 animals were imported to Berlin, but despite regular breeding, the population has remained stable, due to relatively high losses. It is thus uncertain whether a long term population can be maintained of this unique antelope.
@amur leopard Gerenuk remain limited to the German capital for now
Species gained but lost
Royal antelope - Nesotragus pygmaeus A1
This tiny antelope was only kept very briefly in Europe, a single animal already died in quarantine in Poznan Nowe Zoo in 2004.
Red-flanked duiker - Cephalophus rufilatus A3*
Bioparc Valencia imported 2.1 animals from Los Angeles Zoo in 2009 and bred the species once. But that didn’t mean that a population could be established and the final animal died in 2015-2016.
@Flyer.Nick Red-flanked duiker remain limited to North America for now
Species lost
Klipspringer - Oreotragus oreotragus C5*
Zoo Frankfurt kept and bred this species from 1959-2018, but apart from Zoo Napoli in the 20th century it was the only European zoo breeding this species. In recent decades multiple zoos have kept offspring from Frankfurt, but nowhere was any breeding achieved. The final animal died in Bioparc Valencia in 2022, being born in Frankfurt in 1996.
Heuglin’s gazelle - Eudorcas tilonura A?
This species was in recent decades only kept in Zoo Warsaw, where the final animal died in 2010. It is unclear when the Warsaw holding started and how successful it was.
Arabian gazelle - Gazella arabica C5*
Based on imports from Yemen this species was successfully maintained for decades in a few UK zoos. But in the 21st century breeding ceased and the final animal died in Blackpool Zoo in 2015.
Cavendish’s dik-dik - Madoqua cavendishi A4
At the time this species was thought to be conspecific with the Kirk’s dikdik and the only reference to this species are 2 females acquired by Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, in 1996. One animal lived only shortly, the other died in 2008.
Saiga - Saiga tatarica D5*
These tapir antelope have long been a popular curiosity for zoos and many zoos have attempted to keep this species, though only Zoo Cologne had any long term “success” between 1976-2009. The only other holder this century was Zoopark Chomutov in Czechia, until 2004. Being easily stressed and susceptible to disease many zoos could breed this species, but could not outpace all the deaths. The breeding group in Cologne got a visit from a fox, which meant the end of all females, and the final male died in 2009.
@KevinB Europe's final saiga living in Cologne until 2009.
Species gaining popularity
Kirk’s dik-dik - Madoqua kirkii
This is probably the bovid that has seen the largest number of new holders this century. From being a rarity which was mainly bred in Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover in the 1990s it has gained a strong foothold on the continent and now has over 80 holders. This is now the go-to small antelope and is used as stand in for duikers in some places. They can also be easily mixed with birds, so their versatility and their funny noses will have helped. Few bovids can look as “cute” as these ones.
Dama gazelle - Nanger dama
The main selling point of these beautiful antelope is that they are critically endangered. While the red-necked subspecies (ruficollis) is now gone from Europe, the Mhor subspecies (mhor) is gaining ground quickly in recent years and has gone from a rarely kept antelope to what could be the next big thing in antelope country. Zoos are increasingly adding this gazelle to their collection as replacement for less endangered antelope. The red-necked gazelle was always a rarity in Europe, with at max a few breeding groups of (mostly?) American descent. The annihilation of the Leipzig group by sending them to Safaripark Hodenhagen at the start of the century was the beginning of the end. This subspecies (or genetically more likely: colour morph) was phased-out in favour of Mhor gazelle, of which all species derive from a few animals imported to Almeria in 1971.
Natal red duiker - Cephalophora natalensis
This is a relative newcomer on the European zoo scene, as the species was first kept by Zoo Dresden in 1996. At the turn of the century this animal was kept in Zoo Berlin and in Zoo Dresden, but boomed quickly afterwards. High inbreeding does have it’s disadvantages and the boom is now a small bust. But the species is still kept and bred in roughly 10 different zoos, so it is in much better shape looking at the numbers compared to 2000. Whether this species can be maintained long term is something of a question mark though with only 3 founders.
Yellow-backed duiker - Cephalophus silvicultor
The current population of this species is also relatively new, with the first recent holding starting in 1999 in Zoo Wuppertal. It looked as if the species would die out again, but in recent years multiple zoos have imported animals from the USA and this year saw the first breeding result. So there is a possibility this species could gain ground in the future in Europe too.
Cuvier’s gazelle - Gazella cuvieri
While still a rarity, this species is now more widely kept then ever before in Europe. The Parque de Rescate de Fauna Sahariana in Almeria, Spain, has kept and bred this species since 1975. This century multiple zoos have acquired the species from there and at least 2 other zoos have bred these vulnerable antelope too. Given this species is EEP managed, I expect to see a further increase in the coming years. There is plenty of source material in Almeria, which keeps close to 100 of these gazelles.
@hmb_zoo Kirk's dikdik are a dry scrub species that have adapted perfectly to any savanna or rainforest habitat in zoos
Species losing popularity
Springbok - Antidorcas marsupialis
This was long one of the most common gazelle-like animals in Europe with multiple safari parks and zoos maintaining large breeding groups. In recent years interest has declined, which will likely accelerate with the EAZA decision to phase-out the species in favour of endangered gazelles. That move doesn’t seem to make any sense to me given that the gazelles that should replace springbok aren’t generally kept in the large mixed-species exhibits in which springbok are often found. So less springbok doesn’t necessarily mean more room for others. As one of the most typical antelope of Southern Africa it would also be a shame to lose them and fortunately breeding is still going on in 4 zoos including the Reserve Africaine de Sigean, France, which has a group of 75 springbok.
Goitered gazelle - Gazella subgutturosa
This Asian gazelle is having a hard time in zoos, with foxes, stress and disinterest being their main nemeses. With Zoo Karlsruhe and Zoo Helsinki there are fortunately 2 hardcore breeders and Tierpark Goerlitz, Germany, and Safaripark Beekse Bergen, Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands, are also actively breeding the species in recent years. So there is still plenty of opportunity for these vulnerable small antelopes.
@Julio C Castro Springbok and Thomson's gazelle are the most common and easily recognizable "gazelle" of their region, but both are having a tough time in Europe
Dead ends
Slender-horned gazelle - Gazella leptoceros
Always a great rarity in Europe, Dierenpark Planckendael in Mechelen, Belgium, has maintained a breeding group from 1987 to the late 2010s. In the early 2010s things looked quite bright and 3.3 animals were even sent to Zoo Landau, Germany, to set up a second breeding group. But that didn’t work out and the group in Planckendael was decimated around 2016 with only a single animal remaining now. So it is only a matter of time before we will lose this gazelle from Europe.
@twilighter Slender-horned gazelle in Europe were a typical boom-and-bust species showing how fragile rare species can be in captivity
Progress
21/22 orders completed
101/106 families completed
604-614 species present in 2000
614-618 species present in 2023
224-235 species gained this century
220-224 species lost this century
(note corrected number of species present in 2000/2023, apparently I still haven't learned to add numbers properly)
Interesting to hear about the differences between US and European holdings of this group. US still has sizeable populations of klipspringer, slender-horned gazelle, springbok, and addra gazelle, while mhorr gazelle and Cuvier's gazelle are almost, if not completely, gone, and Kirk's dik-diks are barely holding on.Smaller antelopes - Aepycerotini, Cephalophini, Nesotragini, Oreotragini, Antilopini
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 17
# Species kept currently: 13 (-4)
# Species gained: 3
# Species lost: 7
This group contains mostly small(ish) antelopes from Africa and Asia and is incredibly diverse. With a few exceptions these smaller species are however generally less common than the large antelopes seen in the previous post. As a small note: Zootierliste lists Maxwell’s duiker until at least 2001 for Artis, Amsterdam, but these are most likely all blue duiker X Maxwell’s duiker hybrids and were listed at the time as blue duiker. The last hybrid of that line died in 2010 in Zoo Antwerp.
@Therabu Blue duiker have remained a rare antelope throughout this century, though all hybrid animals are now gone and the population consists solely of the congica subspecies
Species gained
Gerenuk - Litocranius walleri B4*
After being lost from Europe for decades, Tierpark Berlin imported this species from the USA in 2013. Over the past 10 years 6.6 animals were imported to Berlin, but despite regular breeding, the population has remained stable, due to relatively high losses. It is thus uncertain whether a long term population can be maintained of this unique antelope.
@amur leopard Gerenuk remain limited to the German capital for now
Species gained but lost
Royal antelope - Nesotragus pygmaeus A1
This tiny antelope was only kept very briefly in Europe, a single animal already died in quarantine in Poznan Nowe Zoo in 2004.
Red-flanked duiker - Cephalophus rufilatus A3*
Bioparc Valencia imported 2.1 animals from Los Angeles Zoo in 2009 and bred the species once. But that didn’t mean that a population could be established and the final animal died in 2015-2016.
@Flyer.Nick Red-flanked duiker remain limited to North America for now
Species lost
Klipspringer - Oreotragus oreotragus C5*
Zoo Frankfurt kept and bred this species from 1959-2018, but apart from Zoo Napoli in the 20th century it was the only European zoo breeding this species. In recent decades multiple zoos have kept offspring from Frankfurt, but nowhere was any breeding achieved. The final animal died in Bioparc Valencia in 2022, being born in Frankfurt in 1996.
Heuglin’s gazelle - Eudorcas tilonura A?
This species was in recent decades only kept in Zoo Warsaw, where the final animal died in 2010. It is unclear when the Warsaw holding started and how successful it was.
Arabian gazelle - Gazella arabica C5*
Based on imports from Yemen this species was successfully maintained for decades in a few UK zoos. But in the 21st century breeding ceased and the final animal died in Blackpool Zoo in 2015.
Cavendish’s dik-dik - Madoqua cavendishi A4
At the time this species was thought to be conspecific with the Kirk’s dikdik and the only reference to this species are 2 females acquired by Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, in 1996. One animal lived only shortly, the other died in 2008.
Saiga - Saiga tatarica D5*
These tapir antelope have long been a popular curiosity for zoos and many zoos have attempted to keep this species, though only Zoo Cologne had any long term “success” between 1976-2009. The only other holder this century was Zoopark Chomutov in Czechia, until 2004. Being easily stressed and susceptible to disease many zoos could breed this species, but could not outpace all the deaths. The breeding group in Cologne got a visit from a fox, which meant the end of all females, and the final male died in 2009.
@KevinB Europe's final saiga living in Cologne until 2009.
Species gaining popularity
Kirk’s dik-dik - Madoqua kirkii
This is probably the bovid that has seen the largest number of new holders this century. From being a rarity which was mainly bred in Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover in the 1990s it has gained a strong foothold on the continent and now has over 80 holders. This is now the go-to small antelope and is used as stand in for duikers in some places. They can also be easily mixed with birds, so their versatility and their funny noses will have helped. Few bovids can look as “cute” as these ones.
Dama gazelle - Nanger dama
The main selling point of these beautiful antelope is that they are critically endangered. While the red-necked subspecies (ruficollis) is now gone from Europe, the Mhor subspecies (mhor) is gaining ground quickly in recent years and has gone from a rarely kept antelope to what could be the next big thing in antelope country. Zoos are increasingly adding this gazelle to their collection as replacement for less endangered antelope. The red-necked gazelle was always a rarity in Europe, with at max a few breeding groups of (mostly?) American descent. The annihilation of the Leipzig group by sending them to Safaripark Hodenhagen at the start of the century was the beginning of the end. This subspecies (or genetically more likely: colour morph) was phased-out in favour of Mhor gazelle, of which all species derive from a few animals imported to Almeria in 1971.
Natal red duiker - Cephalophora natalensis
This is a relative newcomer on the European zoo scene, as the species was first kept by Zoo Dresden in 1996. At the turn of the century this animal was kept in Zoo Berlin and in Zoo Dresden, but boomed quickly afterwards. High inbreeding does have it’s disadvantages and the boom is now a small bust. But the species is still kept and bred in roughly 10 different zoos, so it is in much better shape looking at the numbers compared to 2000. Whether this species can be maintained long term is something of a question mark though with only 3 founders.
Yellow-backed duiker - Cephalophus silvicultor
The current population of this species is also relatively new, with the first recent holding starting in 1999 in Zoo Wuppertal. It looked as if the species would die out again, but in recent years multiple zoos have imported animals from the USA and this year saw the first breeding result. So there is a possibility this species could gain ground in the future in Europe too.
Cuvier’s gazelle - Gazella cuvieri
While still a rarity, this species is now more widely kept then ever before in Europe. The Parque de Rescate de Fauna Sahariana in Almeria, Spain, has kept and bred this species since 1975. This century multiple zoos have acquired the species from there and at least 2 other zoos have bred these vulnerable antelope too. Given this species is EEP managed, I expect to see a further increase in the coming years. There is plenty of source material in Almeria, which keeps close to 100 of these gazelles.
@hmb_zoo Kirk's dikdik are a dry scrub species that have adapted perfectly to any savanna or rainforest habitat in zoos
Species losing popularity
Springbok - Antidorcas marsupialis
This was long one of the most common gazelle-like animals in Europe with multiple safari parks and zoos maintaining large breeding groups. In recent years interest has declined, which will likely accelerate with the EAZA decision to phase-out the species in favour of endangered gazelles. That move doesn’t seem to make any sense to me given that the gazelles that should replace springbok aren’t generally kept in the large mixed-species exhibits in which springbok are often found. So less springbok doesn’t necessarily mean more room for others. As one of the most typical antelope of Southern Africa it would also be a shame to lose them and fortunately breeding is still going on in 4 zoos including the Reserve Africaine de Sigean, France, which has a group of 75 springbok.
Goitered gazelle - Gazella subgutturosa
This Asian gazelle is having a hard time in zoos, with foxes, stress and disinterest being their main nemeses. With Zoo Karlsruhe and Zoo Helsinki there are fortunately 2 hardcore breeders and Tierpark Goerlitz, Germany, and Safaripark Beekse Bergen, Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands, are also actively breeding the species in recent years. So there is still plenty of opportunity for these vulnerable small antelopes.
@Julio C Castro Springbok and Thomson's gazelle are the most common and easily recognizable "gazelle" of their region, but both are having a tough time in Europe
Dead ends
Slender-horned gazelle - Gazella leptoceros
Always a great rarity in Europe, Dierenpark Planckendael in Mechelen, Belgium, has maintained a breeding group from 1987 to the late 2010s. In the early 2010s things looked quite bright and 3.3 animals were even sent to Zoo Landau, Germany, to set up a second breeding group. But that didn’t work out and the group in Planckendael was decimated around 2016 with only a single animal remaining now. So it is only a matter of time before we will lose this gazelle from Europe.
@twilighter Slender-horned gazelle in Europe were a typical boom-and-bust species showing how fragile rare species can be in captivity
Progress
21/22 orders completed
101/106 families completed
604-614 species present in 2000
614-618 species present in 2023
224-235 species gained this century
220-224 species lost this century
(note corrected number of species present in 2000/2023, apparently I still haven't learned to add numbers properly)
It's understandable. The EEP framework is the flagship of the work that Zoos and EAZA do for wildlife conservation. And if it was not the EEP framework many species we today take for granted would not be around.I mean, given EAZA's obsession with EEPs it probably isn’t really that far from truth...
I mean, given EAZA's obsession with EEPs it probably isn’t really that far from truth...