Spec. Zoo Design questions

[antilio capra]

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?

Tasmanian wombat doesen't seem the most realistic. Tasmanian devils were housed in Canada multiple times(all of the zoos were AZA accredited). But I would do more reaserch before confirming. The possum would be hard to transport overseas as they get stressed when deprived of water and food for long periods of time. I guess theoretically maybe(do more reaserch)

Though not all species can or have been brought overseas do to the AZA's lack of interest.(if the population in the AZA is small to zero and the species is least concern. Then the AZA does not recommend it *black legged seriema for example)

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

Depends on your zoo. Some zoos have gone without headliner species(and some meaner members of the public wrote bad reviews about them). But I'll give you straght answer I would say 2-4 would suffice depending on the size of the section of the zoo.

I also have questions of my own
Can this species be brought into a Canadian zoo?

Bongo(I know one CAZA zoo houses them already and a couple of AZA zoos had them in the past but can it be done again ?)

 

[Van Beal]

Can this species be brought into a Canadian zoo?

Bongo(I know one CAZA zoo houses them already and a couple of AZA zoos had them in the past but can it be done again ?)

Given proper indoor space during inclement weather and winter months. Overall I think it could be done given the proper preparations

 

[StellarChaser]

Bongo(I know one CAZA zoo houses them already and a couple of AZA zoos had them in the past but can it be done again ?)

African Lion Safari holds Bongo, and around 40 facilities in the US have them. So it is definitively doable species in Canadian zoo.

 

[Mr Gharial]

Can African moonies be held in a fully freshwater tank with the likes of cichlids and distichodus?

 

[KevinB]

Can African moonies be held in a fully freshwater tank with the likes of cichlids and distichodus?

I think many cichlid species would harass the moonies, and from a quick look at some aquarium websites it seems they do best in brackish or full salt water.

However mixing Distichodus with some type of cichlids I think might work.

 

[Great Argus]

Can African moonies be held in a fully freshwater tank with the likes of cichlids and distichodus?

When they're young, they can be held in full freshwater, but as they get older they should be shunted to at least brackish.

 

[cornu aspersum]

I've always been wondering if hippos can be contained using a deep moat filled with water since they only wade in shallow areas. Has this ever been tried in real life?(Repost from its own thread.)

 

[Great Argus]

I've always been wondering if hippos can be contained using a deep moat filled with water since they only wade in shallow areas. Has this ever been tried in real life?(Repost from its own thread.)

Insufficient - Hippo are capable of swimming quite well and any sort of water only barrier will not contain them.

 

[cornu aspersum]

Insufficient - Hippo are capable of swimming quite well and any sort of water only barrier will not contain them.

Thanks for answering!

 

[Chlidonias]

I've always been wondering if hippos can be contained using a deep moat filled with water since they only wade in shallow areas. Has this ever been tried in real life?(Repost from its own thread.)

Insufficient - Hippo are capable of swimming quite well and any sort of water only barrier will not contain them.

Hippos can't exit straight up onto land from deep water - i.e. they can't jump and they can't climb out if there is no purchase underneath them. I've seen the water part forming the front of an enclosure before (with a barrier/fence obviously to stop people falling in or whatever).

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

I've always been wondering if hippos can be contained using a deep moat filled with water since they only wade in shallow areas. Has this ever been tried in real life?(Repost from its own thread.)

Hippo are capable of swimming quite well

Hippos don't actually swim or even float at all though. They slowly sink to the bottom and then push their legs at the bottom of the water in order to move underwater.

 

[Jambo]

I've always been wondering if hippos can be contained using a deep moat filled with water since they only wade in shallow areas. Has this ever been tried in real life?(Repost from its own thread.)

That wouldn't really work but I reckon the opposite would, ie. a shallower shelf of the water coming right up to the visit path giving the impression that the public are closer to the hippos than they actually are.

 

[cornu aspersum]

That wouldn't really work but I reckon the opposite would, ie. a shallower shelf of the water coming right up to the visit path giving the impression that the public are closer to the hippos than they actually are.

That would be interesting to implement.

 

[cornu aspersum]

Hippos can't exit straight up onto land from deep water - i.e. they can't jump and they can't climb out if there is no purchase underneath them. I've seen the water part forming the front of an enclosure before (with a barrier/fence obviously to stop people falling in or whatever).

That's actually what I was picturing for the enclosure.

 

[antilio capra]

Could any of these species be feasable in a Canadian zoo?
White nosed coati
Guanaco
Kea Parrot
King Vulture

On another note: Are greater rhea's winter hardy?
Also any reasources on Warthog and Bongo welfare and guidelines?

 

[StellarChaser]

Could any of these species be feasable in a Canadian zoo?
White nosed coati
Guanaco
Kea Parrot
King Vulture

On another note: Are greater rhea's winter hardy?
Also any reasources on Warthog and Bongo welfare and guidelines?

Elmvale Zoo has White-nosed Coati, they just acquired it last year. The African Lion Safari is the only holder of King Vulture in Canada, which holds two individuals. The Edmonton Valley Zoo holds Kea Parrot.

 

[Van Beal]

Could any of these species be feasable in a Canadian zoo?
White nosed coati
Guanaco
Kea Parrot
King Vulture

On another note: Are greater rhea's winter hardy?
Also any reasources on Warthog and Bongo welfare and guidelines?

I think all could be feasible, given that plenty of American facilities hold all four species.

 

[Van Beal]

Also any reasources on Warthog and Bongo welfare and guidelines?

Both species have pages on the AZA Ungulate website -> AZA Ungulates

 

[Great Argus]

Could any of these species be feasable in a Canadian zoo?
White nosed coati
Guanaco
Kea Parrot
King Vulture

On another note: Are greater rhea's winter hardy?
Also any reasources on Warthog and Bongo welfare and guidelines?

Most of these are likely not held often in Canada due to not being cold tolerant. The Guanaco and Kea are fine, and the rhea could be fine with heated quarters, but the rest of them are fairly cold-sensitive species.

 

[antilio capra]

Another question which subspecies of Bongo is most often held in North American zoos. My guess is mountain bongo but I want confirmation.