czech_invertebrates
Well-Known Member
I also forgot to mention that in the lower part of the zoo there are also black crowned night-herons (Nycticorax nyctocorax) and common moorhens (Gallinula chloropus).
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Wild wild animals living on the zoo grounds
- Thread starter Jurek7
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If it wasn't a Groundhog then it was a Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel. This species seems to have an affinity for zoos, Racine in particular has an especially large population,
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
Ooh, no, I definitely would remember if it looked that striking. Guess it was a groundhog after all. Thanks!
Groundhogs are much larger than the thirteen lined ground squirrels that used to be there, I don't think there would be much confusing the two. Thirteen lines are about the size of a chipmunk, but normally a bit thinner looking. From a distance thirteen lines can look mostly brown and fairly plain.
Golden Takin
Member
Urumqi Tianshan Zoo, China. They accidentally enclosed a herd of wild goitered gazelles when building its huge drive-through enclosure.
I didn't see it myself, but the writer I know was there until late evening for a field trip at the National Institute of Ecology last year and he saw a korean hare(Lepus coreanus).
As its name suggests, it is endemic specie of korean peninsula, but the only record of zoo breeding is a record of being bred a few times in the past at Changgyeongwon., and it is very difficult to see it now due to overfishing, habitat destruction, and feral predators. In the 2020s, it is said that it could be listed as an endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment, with a low population of 0.9 per square kilometer.
As its name suggests, it is endemic specie of korean peninsula, but the only record of zoo breeding is a record of being bred a few times in the past at Changgyeongwon., and it is very difficult to see it now due to overfishing, habitat destruction, and feral predators. In the 2020s, it is said that it could be listed as an endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment, with a low population of 0.9 per square kilometer.
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I saw many very tame wild Great Curassows at ZooAve in Alajuela, Costa Rica. This is the only remaining population of that species in the otherwise very urbanized Central Valley.
Have seen wild Stoats at Paignton, in what was at the time the Nene/Rhea enclosure opposite the kangaroos.
Wild birds encountered at various zoos include the usual garden birds (Robins, Blackbirds, Pigeons, Starlings, Tit species, etc) but also Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, and in more open zoos Kestrel and Red Kite.
Wild birds encountered at various zoos include the usual garden birds (Robins, Blackbirds, Pigeons, Starlings, Tit species, etc) but also Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, and in more open zoos Kestrel and Red Kite.
In my area Red Kite are about as 'usual' as birds come. Starlings not so much, but I know of some that visit a local area on occasion. I have also seen Grey Heron many occasions [in particular at Birdland at penguin feeding time], Chaffinch a few in zoo and outside, and I have seen a sparrowhawk at the edge of my garden once upon a time.
Torgos
Well-Known Member
We are an urban zoo surrounded by concrete. Grey squirrels, chipmunks all day long. Cooper's hawks, barred owls and red-tailed hawks nest on zoo grounds. Possums, raccoons and grey foxes most nights caught on camera. Occasional coyotes outside zoo perimeter but likely more often than they are caught on camera. Rat snakes, corn snakes, copperheads, Dekay's snake surely more often than we see. Bull frogs. Five-lined skink, maybe broad-headed skinks frequently, enter rhino hornbill at your own risk. We don't discuss rats. Flying squirrels likely year round but you have to be in zoo late at night to hear them. Ground hornbills catch moles. Then there's the palmetto bugs/American roaches. Heck yeah. We do those really well! And birds - huge list, one of our state's best birders is on staff!
A couple of years back Edible Dormice lived in the teeny tiny shoebox sized zoo grounds of Hanwell Zoo,in west London,UK.
Feeding time for the Penguins at London Zoo the past years,was always interrupted by Grey herons and thieving Black-headed,Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
I've seen a Red Kite in Whipsnade,and Reeves Muntjac deer at Beale Wildlife Pork
Feeding time for the Penguins at London Zoo the past years,was always interrupted by Grey herons and thieving Black-headed,Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
I've seen a Red Kite in Whipsnade,and Reeves Muntjac deer at Beale Wildlife Pork
I will nominate the Otorohanga Kiwi House
It has a predator proof fence to keep out introduced predators like rats, stoats and cats like Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari or Zealandia, and thus does attract a lot of bird life as well as the other birds that are captive in the park, like grey warblers and native ducks
It has a predator proof fence to keep out introduced predators like rats, stoats and cats like Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari or Zealandia, and thus does attract a lot of bird life as well as the other birds that are captive in the park, like grey warblers and native ducks
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
When I was at Roger Williams Park Zoo, there was a groundhog in the flamingo aviary
cornu aspersum
Well-Known Member
I saw rhesus macaques in both Delhi and Bannerghata zoo and they practically had free reign in those collections. I also remember seeing a group of a species of mongoose (consisting of parent and cubs) probably small Indian near the moats in the canid enclosures in Mysore zoo.
I have also seen a species of woodpecker in a hoof stock enclosure in Delhi zoo. I assume it is a white-bellied woodpecker. Delhi zoo has huge lakes in which a variety of wild waterbirds are guaranteed to be seen.
I have also seen some species of lizard in Nainital zoo. In the same zoo, I have also seen a tree pie sneak into the red panda cage.
I have also seen a species of woodpecker in a hoof stock enclosure in Delhi zoo. I assume it is a white-bellied woodpecker. Delhi zoo has huge lakes in which a variety of wild waterbirds are guaranteed to be seen.
I have also seen some species of lizard in Nainital zoo. In the same zoo, I have also seen a tree pie sneak into the red panda cage.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
In the time since my last post in this thread, I visited Prague which is probably the best zoo I have been to for wildlife. As well as the sousliks and night-herons mentioned by @czech_invertebrates upthread, there are also countless nesting Grey Herons on the trees along the cliff face, huge Crucian Carps in the streams throughout the lower portion of the zoo, Marsh Frogs wild in the same lakes and (although I couldn't see any) there are allegedly over 1200 wild Pine Snakes living amongst the rocks on the cliffs, as well as European Green Lizards. And, like most of Czechia, there are a lot of Beech Martens, and a lot of the zoo's aviaries have been designed in a certain way with the explicit goal of keeping martens out. Though I didn't see any martens on my visit, but by chance in the weeks leading up to my visit I saw on the zoo's website that they have live cameras showing footage of their elephant enclosure, even at night, and when I opened the camera I was immediately greeted by the sight of a marten right in front of it. The wooded upper portion of the zoo was teeming with birds although I didn't get enough prolonged sightings to compile a species list. And although they aren't the biggest of rarties, I have never seen as many magpies in one place as in the Great Aviary at Prague, enough to exhaust the famous nursery rhyme several times over!
I don't think you mean Pine Snake
I've certainly seen wild Smooth Snake in and around the zoo - most often in the vicinity of the Ganges Gharial house, funnily enough.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I meant Dice Snakes, apologies! This information is courtesy of @Jana who mentioned it in a reply to my review. Re-reading said post, and other interesting wild animals, such as breeding groups of hoopoe and kingfishers, as well as locally extinct butterfly species that were reintroduced to the area by the zoo, much like the sousliks, are also mentioned.I don't think you mean Pine Snake
Didn't notice any Smooth Snakes near Chambal myself, will have to look out for those on any future visits - granted I wasn't all that focused on wildlife in that particular area given my excitement to see the Gharials, although a huge Marsh Frog leaping across the water in the pond turtle enclosure was impossible to miss!
filovirus
Well-Known Member
Breaking the guideline set out in the original post to say that there's quite a few sparrows who have made their way into the Tropics Trail building at the Minnesota Zoo. I only state this as an exception because I find it interesting that wild birds seem rather content indoors. The Tropics Trail building is warm year-round and also has a lot of aviaries within it, though obviously all netted-off.
Frankly if I were a small bird in a freezing-cold state like this one... I'd think living in that building was like winning the lottery lol.
Frankly if I were a small bird in a freezing-cold state like this one... I'd think living in that building was like winning the lottery lol.
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
Due to the nature of Indonesian zoos (Located around forested area and available food supply in the form of captive animal foods), several wild animals can be seen in the zoo ground.
The most I've ever seen are Asian water monitor, crab-eating macaque, plantain squirrel, and some birds. Very lucky guests often saw wild Javan mongoose and Javan langurs.
The most I've ever seen are Asian water monitor, crab-eating macaque, plantain squirrel, and some birds. Very lucky guests often saw wild Javan mongoose and Javan langurs.
