Snowleopard's Mammals: A Lifetime List of Species Mammalian and Non-Mammalian

There are loads of climbing opportunities, a lot of netting and shelving units to give the apes height, and a deep layer of mulch on the floor. Pairi Daiza's orang temple is over the top and appeals to photo-snapping visitors, but it's also really good for the inhabitants and better than 90% of all the orangutan exhibits I've ever seen. Most don't even have a soft natural substrate on the floor.
There's an excellent paper on enrichment by legendary zoo designer Jon Coe coins the term "functional naturalism", and I think that term really applies here. There are certain things that, for most animals, absolutely must be naturalistic- having soft substrate and natural lighting come to mind. However, most of the time it is the function, not the item, that is important. This is why some exhibits work really well despite having obviously artificial climbing structures and other structures that don't look naturalistic at all. On the flip side, there are exhibits that are aesthetically naturalistic, but fail since they don't allow for and/or encourage naturalistic behaviors. An exhibit like Pairi Daiza's sounds like one that, while making no attempt at being aesthetically naturalistic, accounts for the behavior of orangutans to create one that is functionally naturalistic.

In many cases, zoos strive too much towards the aesthetic naturalism without considering the functional naturalism. What makes concepts like Zoo360 work is that they emphasis the latter. Of course, the best of the best zoo exhibits are those that accomplish both. Even on a smaller scale, when it comes to enrichment, I was recently talking with one person I know who once worked at a major US zoo who said that at the time they had a policy enrichment had to look naturalistic. Because of this, her team would've been allowed to give their gorillas a brown boomer ball, but wouldn't have been able to give an identical ball if it was red. In reality though, how much did the color of the ball matter? I doubt the gorillas cared.
 
I'm a big fan of seeing Hanuman Langurs

Does the whole 'ruined temple' theme ever really work in zoos? I'd love to know. The style is grating on the nerves of many zoo nerds and it seems that the animals are always props for whatever stylish Asian architecture has been constructed. The langurs have a very small space in Hannover, with little in the way of either height or climbing opportunities.

There is no exotic animal that I can think of that is more appropriate for displays with Asian temples than Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus). Hanuman is a Hindu deity often depicted with monkey characteristics. Hanuman langurs can be found around temples and towns and cities in Northern India where they are fed and considered sacred. That association has given them the common name of sacred langur. You could have also called them northern plains gray langurs.

Displaying Hanuman langurs in a temple setting allows zoos to tell a story about special religious and spiritual connections between these monkeys and humans and develop more empathy for them. I have not visited Zoo Hannover, so I do not know how well they have presented this source of interpretation. What are your thoughts about this Snowleopard?

Ideally, temples can be used as a way to create lots of vertical and structural complexity in an exhibit. The temple should be a prop for creating a more complex space for the langurs. I find it disappointing when temples are just used as a backdrop or barrier.
 
Who hasn't seen Squirrel Monkeys on numerous occasions? Here is a small, cute, inquisitive primate that is extremely common in zoos all over the world. It's no surprise that I've seen these guys at 78 zoos, although I would be interested if anyone would like to provide a quick breakdown of what types of Squirrel Monkeys I've come across over the years. For instance, Zootierliste lists Black-capped at Buffalo Zoo (USA), but is that what they had in 2010? Most of the monkeys I've seen would be Common, but what about Peruvian at 20 or so European zoos? There's also Bolivian at many facilities, but I was never too exact back in the day and so here's my total list of Squirrel Monkeys as a single species rather than figuring out the various species and subspecies.

1- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Squirrel Monkey – 1998
2- San Francisco Zoo (USA) –Squirrel Monkey – 2006
3- B.C. Wildlife Park (Canada) – Squirrel Monkey – 2006
4- Denver Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2006
5- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Squirrel Monkey – 2007
6- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
7- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
8- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
9- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
11- Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
12- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
14- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
15- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
16- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
17- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
18- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
19- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
20- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
21- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
22- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
23- Cameron Park Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
24- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
25- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
26- Oakland Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
27- Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
28- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
29- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
30- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
31- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
32- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
33- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
34- Brevard Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
35- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
36- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
37- Lincoln Children’s Zoo - Nebraska (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2014
38- Pueblo Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2014
39- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
40- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
41- Austin Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
42- Abilene Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
43- Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2017
44- Wildlife Learning Center (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2017
45- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) –Squirrel Monkey – 2017
46- Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) – Squirrel Monkey – 2018
47- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2018
48- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2018
49- Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
50- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
51- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
52- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
53- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
54- Aachener Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
55- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
56- Affen + Vogelpark Eckenhagen (Monkey + Bird Park) (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
57- Tierpark Fauna (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
58- Tierpark + Fossilium Bochum (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
59- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
60- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
61- Dierenpark de Oliemeulen (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
62- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
63- Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
64- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
65- Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
66- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
67- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
68- Tierpark Strohen (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
69- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
70- Nordhorn Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
71- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
72- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
73- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
74- Odense Zoo (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
75- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
76- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
77- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
78- Monterey Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2023

When I visited Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) in 2019, I was told that the zoo had 18 Squirrel Monkeys and that the primates were fully free. They could leave the grounds if they wished, but were content to stay fed and close to their home. Apparently there really isn't any traditional "exhibit" and instead the monkeys can go wherever they like! Although, they do have an indoor area they can retreat to when it gets cold. The Dutch are very liberal with their animal containment ideas. ;)

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@Mr Gharial

There aren't quite as many now, but when I was at Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) in 2019, the zoo had 89 Squirrel Monkeys in a forested area. They were everywhere!

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@Mr Gharial

Walk-through exhibits with Squirrel Monkeys are at numerous zoos in Europe, including Ree Park Safari (Denmark) with its island home for the South American primates. In general, the consensus is that European zoo visitors are better behaved than most, and I have never heard of any major problems of people trying to steal a monkey or harm animals.

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I personally really enjoy naturalistic exhibits, such as this Squirrel Monkey island at Odense Zoo (Denmark). The monkeys were up high in the canopy during my visit, just as they would be in the wild.

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The most famous American zoo for Squirrel Monkeys would be Phoenix Zoo (USA), simply because it's the only one (out of approximately 1,000 zoos/aquariums) with a walk-through exhibit for this primate. I was there in 2008, 2011 and 2023, but the experience became less exciting each time. On my first two occasions I was thrilled beyond belief, but then after a couple of big European trips in 2019 and 2022, suddenly the Phoenix Zoo's exhibit wasn't as impressive.

Visitors are given a speech before they enter the area and have to patiently listen about the rules and regulations of the walk-through. There are always maybe 15 monkeys or less, which is not a great deal of primate action in the Arizona heat. The exhibit is a bit sparser in terms of vegetation these days, and it's just so different in comparison to European zoos. Over there, a visitor walks in with no volunteers or workers around, sometimes has the place to themselves, is usually in a much larger area, sees more monkeys, and so for all those reasons the Phoenix Zoo exhibit is merely adequate these days. It's still an enriching experience for anyone who hasn't been to Europe, but definitely suffers in comparison.

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The tree cover in 2011:

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San Diego Zoo (USA) recently opened a brand-new exhibit for Squirrel Monkeys, and while it's not very naturalistic at least there's a lot of climbing opportunities for the active troop. The mesh roof and sides, the netting, various poles and fake tree trunks all combine to create an enriching environment for the monkeys, although they are surrounded by screaming kids in a water-based play area.

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@pachyderm pro

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@Julio C Castro

I prefer to see something like the lush island at Caldwell Zoo (USA), as long as there's significant tree cover.

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There's always going to be the occasional dire exhibit for Squirrel Monkeys, like this one at Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA):

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But, in general, Squirrel Monkeys are usually well taken care of in captivity. A well-furnished cage can make a more than adequate space for these primates, as long as they are kept busy with things to inspect as they appear to have insatiable curiosity.

One of the very best exhibits I've ever seen for this type of monkey is found at Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands). It's a walk-through area with monkeys either high up in the trees or close down on the ground as they are always checking out the visitors as they stroll through the habitat.

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Squirrel Monkeys are tiny and yet memorable, full of character and energy. It's not difficult to understand why they are so common in zoos all across the globe. I've seen Squirrel Monkeys in more zoos than any of the great apes.

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@Green_mamba

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos

Gorillas - 74 (including 1 Eastern Lowland Gorilla at Antwerp Zoo in 2019)
Orangutans - 74

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6
 
Who hasn't seen Squirrel Monkeys on numerous occasions? Here is a small, cute, inquisitive primate that is extremely common in zoos all over the world. It's no surprise that I've seen these guys at 78 zoos, although I would be interested if anyone would like to provide a quick breakdown of what types of Squirrel Monkeys I've come across over the years. For instance, Zootierliste lists Black-capped at Buffalo Zoo (USA), but is that what they had in 2010? Most of the monkeys I've seen would be Common, but what about Peruvian at 20 or so European zoos? There's also Bolivian at many facilities, but I was never too exact back in the day and so here's my total list of Squirrel Monkeys as a single species rather than figuring out the various species and subspecies.

1- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Squirrel Monkey – 1998
2- San Francisco Zoo (USA) –Squirrel Monkey – 2006
3- B.C. Wildlife Park (Canada) – Squirrel Monkey – 2006
4- Denver Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2006
5- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Squirrel Monkey – 2007
6- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
7- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
8- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
9- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
11- Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
12- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2008
14- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
15- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
16- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
17- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
18- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
19- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
20- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
21- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
22- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
23- Cameron Park Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
24- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
25- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2010
26- Oakland Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
27- Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
28- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
29- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2011
30- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
31- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
32- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
33- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
34- Brevard Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
35- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
36- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2012
37- Lincoln Children’s Zoo - Nebraska (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2014
38- Pueblo Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2014
39- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
40- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
41- Austin Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
42- Abilene Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2015
43- Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2017
44- Wildlife Learning Center (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2017
45- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) –Squirrel Monkey – 2017
46- Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) – Squirrel Monkey – 2018
47- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2018
48- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2018
49- Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
50- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
51- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
52- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
53- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
54- Aachener Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
55- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
56- Affen + Vogelpark Eckenhagen (Monkey + Bird Park) (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
57- Tierpark Fauna (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
58- Tierpark + Fossilium Bochum (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
59- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
60- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
61- Dierenpark de Oliemeulen (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
62- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
63- Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
64- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
65- Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
66- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
67- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
68- Tierpark Strohen (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
69- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
70- Nordhorn Zoo (Germany) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
71- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Squirrel Monkey – 2019
72- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
73- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
74- Odense Zoo (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
75- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
76- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
77- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Squirrel Monkey – 2022
78- Monterey Zoo (USA) – Squirrel Monkey – 2023

When I visited Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) in 2019, I was told that the zoo had 18 Squirrel Monkeys and that the primates were fully free. They could leave the grounds if they wished, but were content to stay fed and close to their home. Apparently there really isn't any traditional "exhibit" and instead the monkeys can go wherever they like! Although, they do have an indoor area they can retreat to when it gets cold. The Dutch are very liberal with their animal containment ideas. ;)

full


@Mr Gharial

There aren't quite as many now, but when I was at Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) in 2019, the zoo had 89 Squirrel Monkeys in a forested area. They were everywhere!

full


@Mr Gharial

Walk-through exhibits with Squirrel Monkeys are at numerous zoos in Europe, including Ree Park Safari (Denmark) with its island home for the South American primates. In general, the consensus is that European zoo visitors are better behaved than most, and I have never heard of any major problems of people trying to steal a monkey or harm animals.

full


I personally really enjoy naturalistic exhibits, such as this Squirrel Monkey island at Odense Zoo (Denmark). The monkeys were up high in the canopy during my visit, just as they would be in the wild.

full


The most famous American zoo for Squirrel Monkeys would be Phoenix Zoo (USA), simply because it's the only one (out of approximately 1,000 zoos/aquariums) with a walk-through exhibit for this primate. I was there in 2008, 2011 and 2023, but the experience became less exciting each time. On my first two occasions I was thrilled beyond belief, but then after a couple of big European trips in 2019 and 2022, suddenly the Phoenix Zoo's exhibit wasn't as impressive.

Visitors are given a speech before they enter the area and have to patiently listen about the rules and regulations of the walk-through. There are always maybe 15 monkeys or less, which is not a great deal of primate action in the Arizona heat. The exhibit is a bit sparser in terms of vegetation these days, and it's just so different in comparison to European zoos. Over there, a visitor walks in with no volunteers or workers around, sometimes has the place to themselves, is usually in a much larger area, sees more monkeys, and so for all those reasons the Phoenix Zoo exhibit is merely adequate these days. It's still an enriching experience for anyone who hasn't been to Europe, but definitely suffers in comparison.

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The tree cover in 2011:

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San Diego Zoo (USA) recently opened a brand-new exhibit for Squirrel Monkeys, and while it's not very naturalistic at least there's a lot of climbing opportunities for the active troop. The mesh roof and sides, the netting, various poles and fake tree trunks all combine to create an enriching environment for the monkeys, although they are surrounded by screaming kids in a water-based play area.

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@pachyderm pro

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@Julio C Castro

I prefer to see something like the lush island at Caldwell Zoo (USA), as long as there's significant tree cover.

full


There's always going to be the occasional dire exhibit for Squirrel Monkeys, like this one at Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA):

full


But, in general, Squirrel Monkeys are usually well taken care of in captivity. A well-furnished cage can make a more than adequate space for these primates, as long as they are kept busy with things to inspect as they appear to have insatiable curiosity.

One of the very best exhibits I've ever seen for this type of monkey is found at Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands). It's a walk-through area with monkeys either high up in the trees or close down on the ground as they are always checking out the visitors as they stroll through the habitat.

full


Squirrel Monkeys are tiny and yet memorable, full of character and energy. It's not difficult to understand why they are so common in zoos all across the globe. I've seen Squirrel Monkeys in more zoos than any of the great apes.

full


@Green_mamba

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos

Gorillas - 74 (including 1 Eastern Lowland Gorilla at Antwerp Zoo in 2019)
Orangutans - 74

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6
A growing favorite of mine! Buffalo Zoo actually has *both* black-capped and common squirrel monkeys (two females of each), and they are a blast to watch! Buffalo is the last AZA zoo with black-capped. FYI, black-capped and Bolivian are two names for the same species.
 
If I thought that I'd seen a lot of zoos with Squirrel Monkeys (78), that number was eclipsed by the volume of zoos where I've seen Spider Monkeys. The total is 91 zoos.

Here's where things get tricky with taxonomy. I've been to many roadside zoos that have had a sign simply saying 'Spider Monkey' with literally no other information. Therefore, it's hard to track down specific data, especially if my visit was 10 or 15 years ago. I've seen zoo signs that say 'Black-handed', 'Black-headed', 'Black-armed', 'Colombian Black' or just 'Black' when referencing Spider Monkeys, and the same goes for all the 'Brown' names. There's been a lot of 'Geoffroy's Spider Monkeys' as well, plus a few others thrown into the mix. Of all the primates I've come across in my zoo travels, the most confusing to keep track of in terms of species would be Spider Monkeys. I've been accurate up to now with this thread, but with this type of primate I've had to 'wing it' and label a lot as 'Black-handed' as it's been too difficult to go back through 551 zoos/aquariums and figure it all out. I'm not alone here, because when I go through a particular zoo's photos in the gallery, some Spider Monkeys end up having 3 or 4 different names. The important fact is, at the end of the day, I've certainly seen a LOT of Spider Monkeys!

I mainly went with the labels placed on the exhibits by the zoos, which sometimes are not accurate but that's normal at many 'lesser facilities' and even at accredited zoos as well. It's fascinating to note that I saw 4 zoos that had more than one type of Spider Monkey labeled and I highlighted those in bold below.

1- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 1975
2- Stanley Park Zoo (Canada) – Spider Monkey – 1986
3- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Black Spider Monkey – 1998
4- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Brown Spider Monkey – 2006
5- Denver Zoo (USA) –Spider Monkey – 2006
6- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2007
7- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Red-faced Spider Monkey – 2008
8- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2008
9- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) –Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2008
10- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2008
11- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2008
12- Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Colombian Spider Monkey – 2008
14- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
15- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Brown-headed Spider Monkey– 2010
16- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – White-bellied Spider Monkey, Colombian Spider Monkey – 2010
17- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
18- Chattanooga Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
19- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
20- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
21- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
22- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
23- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
24- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
25- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Black Spider Monkey, Mexican Spider Monkey – 2010
26- El Paso Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
27- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Brown Spider Monkey – 2010
28- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Spider Monkey – 2010
29- Zoo Boise (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2010
30- Charles Paddock Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2011
31- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey, Black-headed Spider Monkey – 2011
32- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Black Spider Monkey, Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2011
33- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Spider Monkey – 2012
34- Potter Park Zoo (USA) – Black-headed Spider Monkey – 2012
35- Erie Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2012
36- Brevard Zoo (USA) – Spider Monkey – 2012
37- Palm Beach Zoo (USA) – Mexican Spider Monkey – 2012
38- Naples Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2012
39- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Black Spider Monkey – 2012
40- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2012
41- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Spider Monkey – 2012
42- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2012
43- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
44- Chahinkapa Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
45- Hemker Park & Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
46- Como Park Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
47- DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) – Colombian Spider Monkey – 2014
48- Racine Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
49- Peoria Zoo (2014) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
50- Scovill Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
51- Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) Brown-headed Spider Monkey – 2014
52- Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
53- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2014
54- Riverside Discovery Center (USA) – Colombian Spider Monkey – 2015
55- Tiger Safari (USA) – Colombian Black Spider Monkey – 2015
56- G W Exotic Animal Park (USA) – Colombian Black Spider Monkey – 2015
57- Amarillo Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2015
58- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2015
59- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2015
60- Franklin Drive-Thru Safari (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2015
61- The Texas Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2015
62- Abilene Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2015
63- Hillcrest Park Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2015
64- Sequoia Park Zoo (USA) – Black-headed Spider Monkey – 2015
65- Micke Grove Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2017
66- America’s Teaching Zoo: Moorpark College (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2017
67- Roscommon Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2018
68- Wilderness Trails Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2018
69- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2018
70- Washington Park Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2018
71- Columbian Park Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2018
72- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2018
73- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Black-faced Spider Monkey – 2019
74- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Black Spider Monkey – 2019
75- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Spider Monkey – 2019
76- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Red-faced Spider Monkey – 2019
77- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Brown Spider Monkey – 2019
78- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Brown Spider Monkey – 2019
79- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Colombian Black Spider Monkey – 2019
80- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Black-headed Spider Monkey – 2019
81- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Colombian Black Spider Monkey – 2019
82- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Red-faced Spider Monkey – 2019
83- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Brown-headed Spider Monkey – 2019
84- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Brown-headed Spider Monkey – 2019
85- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – Black-handed Spider Monkey – 2019
86- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Black-headed Spider Monkey – 2019
87- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) - Colombian Spider Monkey – 2019
88- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Brown Spider Monkey – 2022
89- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Black Spider Monkey – 2022
90- Aalborg Zoo (Denmark) – Black Spider Monkey – 2022
91- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Black Spider Monkey – 2022

Seeing Spider Monkeys at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) was always a thrill years ago, with a big troop of the primates on one of those crazy looking tree contraptions. There would be monkeys battling it out with Koi for food, as the zoo had food dispensers set up on the visitor bridge. Squirrel Monkeys were also on the sculpted tree in this mixed-species exhibit. What's up with this area these days? Maybe @MGolka knows?

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Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) has at least a half-dozen Spider Monkey islands, all with the same general appearance.

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Inside 'Jungola', which is advertised as being Europe's largest Tropical House at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands), there are incredibly lush Spider Monkey islands where it's difficult finding the primates crashing through the trees. The track in this photo is for the boat ride, which offers up slighter closer views of primates and elephants.

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@Mr Gharial

Naturally, Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) has Spider Monkeys hanging around:

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@Therabu

And GaiaZOO (Netherlands) has Red-faced Spider Monkeys:

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@Fat-tailed dwarf lemur

The distinctive hair colour of Spider Monkeys varies across species, with this image being from Audubon Zoo (USA):

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@Semioptera

I saw Spider Monkeys bouncing around coniferous trees (!!) at Kristiansand Zoo (Norway):

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Having Spider Monkeys on an island home is very common in most zoos, such as this exhibit at Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) in southern Texas.

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Here's an odd structure. It was built in 1911 and has been home to Spider Monkeys for many years. This exhibit is found at Bramble Park Zoo (USA), in South Dakota.

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Thankfully, seeing Spider Monkeys in poor enclosures, such as this one at Roscommon Zoo (USA), Michigan, is not as prevalent as it used to be.

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My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos (multiple species)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Gorillas - 74 (including 1 Eastern Lowland Gorilla at Antwerp Zoo in 2019)
Orangutans - 74 (a mixture of Bornean and Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6
 
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Inside 'Jungola', which is advertised as being Europe's largest Tropical House at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands), there are incredibly lush Spider Monkey islands where it's difficult finding the primates crashing through the trees. The track in this photo is for the boat ride, which offers up slighter closer views of primates and elephants.

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@Mr Gharial

What I find interesting about Wildland's island is that they have one extremely lush island with little climbing structures (if we don't count the live trees and such) while the other island is mostly barren but has big climbing structures:
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An exhibit like Pairi Daiza's sounds like one that, while making no attempt at being aesthetically naturalistic, accounts for the behavior of orangutans to create one that is functionally naturalistic.


I think Paira Daiza's Orangutan temple is fine- it may be 'unnatural' but it works well for the animals as Snow Leopard commented, it has smooth marble-type surfaces so is good for their coats and it gets away from the large repressive brick or concrete walls that are typical of many Zoo Ape houses. Of course its really just a 'camouflage' for a typical ape house, but I see no harm in it at all. Compare it with the 2nd Sumatran Orangutan group across the way at Paira Daiza. They have a less fancy indoor enclosure- very dark and gloomy by comparison though also themed on a temple style but its nothing like as light and airy. Both of them have very good outside enclosures though.
 
Colobus Monkeys are another common primate, although it's interesting that at least 90% or more of all the zoos I've seen them at have been accredited institutions. It's not often that I've ever seen a Colobus in anything other than an AZA or EAZA zoological facility and for me they've been absent from roadside collections. In some cases, I have listed a more specific name that was on a zoo's sign, and I've seen Colobus Monkeys at 72 zoos. Their long, impressive tails are striking and their black-and-white markings are memorable.

1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 1996
2- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2006
3- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey, Angolan Colobus - 2006
4- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Kikuyu Colobus – 2006
5- Denver Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2006
6- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Colobus Monkey – 2007
7- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2007
8- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
9- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Angolan Colobus – 2008
10- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
11- Central Park Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
12- Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
13- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
14- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
15- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
16- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
17- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
18- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
19- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
20- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2008
21- Zoo Miami (USA) –Colobus Monkey – 2008
22- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
23- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
24- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
25- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
26- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
27- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
28- Binder Park Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
29- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
30- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
31- Maryland Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
32- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
33- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
34- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
35- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
36- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Angolan Colobus Monkey – 2010
37- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Angolan Colobus Monkey – 2010
38- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2010
39- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2011
40- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2011
41- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2011
42- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
43- Potawatomi Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
44- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
45- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Angolan Colobus – 2012
46- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
47- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
48- Sunset Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
49- Tautphaus Park Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
50- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Colobus Monkey – 2012
51- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2014
52- Minnesota Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2014
53- Lake Superior Zoo (USA) – Angolan Colobus Monkey – 2014
54- Henry Vilas Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2014
55- Niabi Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2014
56- Peoria Zoo (2014) – Colobus Monkey – 2014
57- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2014
58- Riverside Discovery Center (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2015
59- Austin Zoo (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2015
60- Abilene Zoo (USA) – Angolan Colobus Monkey – 2015
61- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) – Colobus Monkey – 2017
62- Maubeuge Zoo (France) – Colobus Monkey – 2019
63- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Colobus Monkey – 2019
64- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Colobus Monkey – 2019
65- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Colobus Monkey – 2019
66- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – King Colobus Monkey – 2019
67- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – King Colobus Monkey – 2019
68- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Kikuyu Colobus Monkey – 2019
69- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Colobus Monkey – 2019
70- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Colobus Monkey – 2019
71- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – Colobus Monkey – 2019
72- Skaerup Zoo (Denmark) – Colobus Monkey – 2022

A dream of mine has always been to see a Red Colobus, but unfortunately there's currently not a single specimen in captivity that I'm aware of.

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@Azubaa

The Angola (or Angolan) Colobus is a beautiful primate with its wavy hair:

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@Jakub

Each type of Colobus has a distinctive look:

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@MagpieGoose

I've always reminisced about the Colobus Monkey exhibit at Niabi Zoo (USA). It's a mesh structure seen via two levels, with stunning windows along the length of the upper section.

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Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) has a spacious walk-through exhibit for Colobus Monkeys. It's one of the highlights of this excellent zoo, although I've heard complaints that the enclosure is almost too big. The size probably limits any negative human-monkey interactions.

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Baby Colobus Monkeys have white hair for many months, before the black grows in:

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@TeamTapir

Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) has Colobus Monkeys together with Gorillas on a gorgeous island exhibit.

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@Mr Gharial

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@vogelcommando

When I toured Peoria Zoo (USA) in 2014, I saw Colobus Monkeys together with Red River Hogs. I'd be intrigued to know if that mix has been successful and if it still exists a decade down the road.

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Almost all Colobus Monkey exhibits are basic mesh or wire cages, which does allow the primates extra opportunities to climb in their enclosures. I think that it's only Munster with a walk-through exhibit that I've personally been to, although some zoo nerds have visited London Zoo's revamped 'aviary' and it has received mixed reviews here on ZooChat. Generally, I've seen Colobus Monkeys in many zoos and the enclosures often look like this one at Abilene Zoo (USA). Some zoos have more spacious accommodation (San Diego, Disney's Animal Kingdom), but it's the same basic premise each time. I'm not sure how famous Colobus Monkeys are for escapes, but I've seen them in very few island exhibits in comparison to other primates. They seem to almost always be within an enclosed space.

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My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos and 95 exhibits (5 species: Black-headed, Colombian Brown, Geoffroy's, Red-faced Black, White-bellied)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Colobus Monkeys - 72 zoos (3 species: Angolan, King, Mantled Guereza)

Gorillas - 74 (2 species: Western Lowland, plus 1 Eastern Lowland at Antwerp Zoo)

Orangutans - 74 (2 species: Bornean, Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6
 
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There are a few different species of Douroucouli/Night Monkey and I've seen this primate at 22 zoos. I'm guessing that I've seen at least 4 species: Grey-legged, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian and Three-striped. I would estimate that 11 of these zoos had the monkeys in a darkened, nocturnal setting, while the other 11 zoos kept them in typical, 'light' exhibits. Good quality photos of Douroucoulis can be difficult to come across, mainly due to their darkened exhibits in many zoos.

1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 1996
2- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
3- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
4- Zoo Miami (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
5- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
6- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
7- Houston Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
8- Dallas World Aquarium (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
9- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
10- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2011
11- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
12- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
13- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
14- Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) – Douroucouli – 2014
15- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
16- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Douroucouli – 2019
17- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) –Douroucouli – 2019
18- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Douroucouli – 2019
19- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
20- Dierenpark Amersfoort (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
21- Randers Regnskov (Denmark) – Douroucouli – 2022
22- Den Lille Dyrehage/The Small Zoo (Norway) – Douroucouli – 2022

Douroucoulis are inquisitive primates who often do well in a nocturnal environment, but many zoos still keep them in outdoor exhibits. Here's a striking photo:

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@Dianamonkey

It's been known for these primates to also be called 'Owl Monkeys', as was the case at Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) in 2014:

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Memphis Zoo (USA) has maintained Douroucoulis for many years in their nocturnal building.

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@Moebelle

I saw Douroucoulis at Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) in 2010, with blue lighting in the exhibit. There has been a little bit of controversy with zoos using either blue or red lighting in nocturnal houses, with a quick Google search revealing many negatives with the use of blue light. I'd be intrigued to know if Milwaukee still has the same setup, or if they've switched to a different colour of light.

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Amersfoort Zoo (Netherlands) has an excellent walk-through nocturnal zone, with Douroucoulis basically in the same space as humans.

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@Mr Gharial

Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) also has Douroucoulis in a walk-through exhibit. In fact, 5 out of the 8 European zoos I've been to with this species has the monkeys in walk-through enclosures. It's possible to get quite close to them in several European zoos, with no barriers.

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@AWP

Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) has a 'Forest House' and they had 10 free-ranging species when I was there in 2019. Here's the list: Grey-handed Night Monkey, White-faced Saki, Pygmy Marmoset, Grey Mouse Lemur, Northern Tree Shrew, Rodrigues Flying Fox, Seba’s Short-tailed Bat, Asian Water Dragon, Green Iguana and Tokay Gecko.

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@twilighter

Quite often, due to the darkness in zoo exhibits, it's difficult to notice just how long the tails of Douroucoulis can be. Here's a photo from Frankfurt Zoo (Germany):

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@Maguari

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos and 95 exhibits (5 species: Black-headed, Colombian Brown, Geoffroy's, Red-faced Black, White-bellied)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Colobus Monkeys - 72 zoos (3 species: Angolan, King, Mantled Guereza)

Gorillas - 74 (2 species: Western Lowland, plus 1 Eastern Lowland at Antwerp Zoo)

Orangutans - 74 (2 species: Bornean, Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Douroucoulis - 22 zoos (5 species: Grey-legged, Humboldt's, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian, Three-striped)
Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6
 
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I saw Douroucoulis at Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) in 2010, with blue lighting in the exhibit. There has been a little bit of controversy with zoos using either blue or red lighting in nocturnal houses, with a quick Google search revealing many negatives with the use of blue light. I'd be intrigued to know if Milwaukee still has the same setup, or if they've switched to a different colour of light.
Milwaukee switched to red lightning many years ago, although I last remember seeing a douroucouli in the diurnal portion of the building before they left the collection.
 
Milwaukee switched to red lightning many years ago, although I last remember seeing a douroucouli in the diurnal portion of the building before they left the collection.

Thanks for the information. A lot of zoos made the switch from blue to red lighting after a series of reports criticized the use of blue lights. I think that it's probably more common for zoos to have neither blue or red lighting these days, so as to not disturb the sleep rhythms of the inhabitants. Most nocturnal houses have no lighting at all, or perhaps faint white lights in the visitor walkways.
 
There are a few different species of Douroucouli/Night Monkey and I've seen this primate at 22 zoos. I'm guessing that I've seen Grey-legged, Nancy Ma's and Southern Bolivian.

1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 1996
2- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
3- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
4- Zoo Miami (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
5- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
6- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
7- Houston Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
8- Dallas World Aquarium (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
9- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
10- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2011
11- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
12- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
13- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
14- Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) – Douroucouli – 2014
15- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
16- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Douroucouli – 2019
17- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) –Douroucouli – 2019
18- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Douroucouli – 2019
19- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
20- Dierenpark Amersfoort (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
21- Randers Regnskov (Denmark) – Douroucouli – 2022
22- Den Lille Dyrehage/The Small Zoo (Norway) – Douroucouli – 2022

Zootierliste indicates that the species you saw include:
Grey-handed night monkey (Aotus lemurinus griseimembra): 15,17,18,19,20,22
Humboldt's night monkey (A trivirgatus): 1,16
 
Zootierliste indicates that the species you saw include:
Grey-handed night monkey (Aotus lemurinus griseimembra): 15,17,18,19,20,22
Humboldt's night monkey (A trivirgatus): 1,16

Ztl is not reliable for USA zoos currently, especially for these species since most are nearly identical and are rarely signed beyond "night monkey".
 
Ztl is not reliable for USA zoos currently, especially for these species since most are nearly identical and are rarely signed beyond "night monkey".

As far as those species are concerned in European collections, it *is* accurate to the best of my knowledge, so SL has definitely seen both of those species. I definitely agree that given the inaccuracies on ZTL for USA collections, and the similarities between Aotus taxa, the possibility/probability of the other taxa SL cited having been seen is pretty high.
 
As far as those species are concerned in European collections, it *is* accurate to the best of my knowledge, so SL has definitely seen both of those species. I definitely agree that given the inaccuracies on ZTL for USA collections, and the similarities between Aotus taxa, the possibility/probability of the other taxa SL cited having been seen is pretty high.

I didn't say anything about Europe. I said for USA zoos.
 
There are a few different species of Douroucouli/Night Monkey and I've seen this primate at 22 zoos. I'm guessing that I've seen at least 4 species: Grey-legged, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian and Three-striped. I would estimate that 11 of these zoos had the monkeys in a darkened, nocturnal setting, while the other 11 zoos kept them in typical, 'light' exhibits. Good quality photos of Douroucoulis can be difficult to come across, mainly due to their darkened exhibits in many zoos.

1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 1996
2- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
3- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
4- Zoo Miami (USA) – Douroucouli – 2008
5- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
6- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
7- Houston Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
8- Dallas World Aquarium (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
9- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2010
10- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2011
11- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
12- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
13- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Douroucouli – 2012
14- Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) – Douroucouli – 2014
15- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
16- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Douroucouli – 2019
17- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) –Douroucouli – 2019
18- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Douroucouli – 2019
19- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
20- Dierenpark Amersfoort (Netherlands) – Douroucouli – 2019
21- Randers Regnskov (Denmark) – Douroucouli – 2022
22- Den Lille Dyrehage/The Small Zoo (Norway) – Douroucouli – 2022

Douroucoulis are inquisitive primates who often do well in a nocturnal environment, but many zoos still keep them in outdoor exhibits. Here's a striking photo:

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@Dianamonkey

It's been known for these primates to also be called 'Owl Monkeys', as was the case at Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) in 2014:

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Memphis Zoo (USA) has maintained Douroucoulis for many years in their nocturnal building.

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@Moebelle

I saw Douroucoulis at Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) in 2010, with blue lighting in the exhibit. There has been a little bit of controversy with zoos using either blue or red lighting in nocturnal houses, with a quick Google search revealing many negatives with the use of blue light. I'd be intrigued to know if Milwaukee still has the same setup, or if they've switched to a different colour of light.

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Amersfoort Zoo (Netherlands) has an excellent walk-through nocturnal zone, with Douroucoulis basically in the same space as humans.

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@Mr Gharial

Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) also has Douroucoulis in a walk-through exhibit. In fact, 5 out of the 8 European zoos I've been to with this species has the monkeys in walk-through enclosures. It's possible to get quite close to them in several European zoos, with no barriers.

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@AWP

Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) has a 'Forest House' and they had 10 free-ranging species when I was there in 2019. Here's the list: Grey-handed Night Monkey, White-faced Saki, Pygmy Marmoset, Grey Mouse Lemur, Northern Tree Shrew, Rodrigues Flying Fox, Seba’s Short-tailed Bat, Asian Water Dragon, Green Iguana and Tokay Gecko.

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@twilighter

Quite often, due to the darkness in zoo exhibits, it's difficult to notice just how long the tails of Douroucoulis can be. Here's a photo from Frankfurt Zoo (Germany):

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@Maguari

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos and 95 exhibits (5 species: Black-headed, Colombian Brown, Geoffroy's, Red-faced Black, White-bellied)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Colobus Monkeys - 72 zoos (3 species: Angolan, King, Mantled Guereza)

Gorillas - 74 (2 species: Western Lowland, plus 1 Eastern Lowland at Antwerp Zoo)

Orangutans - 74 (2 species: Bornean, Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Douroucoulis - 22 zoos (5 species: Grey-legged, Humboldt's, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian, Three-striped)
Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6
The most recent AZA document on Aotids was a studbook from 2013... which lists individuals of five different species present, in addition to hybrids and ones of an unknown species. Granted, I'd be very surprised if all five species are still around today. The only species I am 100% certain is still around is Nancy Ma's, as Monkey Jungle in Florida has a large colony and has sent some individuals to a number of other facilities (including AZA zoos). There are definitely individuals other than Nancy Ma's out there, though I don't know what species and/or if they even are a pure species.

Of course, everything is more complicated by the fact Aotus taxonomy is still highly contested- in the 1980's only a single species was recognized, and now depending on who you talk to there are approximately eleven! This can be a bit of a textbook genus when it comes to debates about splitting vs. lumping. Just like a number of the other New World monkeys, groups that have been subject to recent splits are some of the most complicated in figuring out what zoo holdings are.

I've seen zoo signs that say 'Black-handed', 'Black-headed', 'Black-armed', 'Colombian Black' or just 'Black' when referencing Spider Monkeys, and the same goes for all the 'Brown' names. There's been a lot of 'Geoffroy's Spider Monkeys' as well, plus a few others thrown into the mix.
Spider monkey naming is certainly confusing! For what it is worth, some of these names are synonymous with each other. Black-handed spider monkey and Geoffroy's spider monkeys both refer to the same species, for instance (Ateles geoffroyi). "Black-headed", "Black", and "Colombian Black" likely all refer to Ateles fusciceps (in many cases ssp rufiventris, which the AZA manages). "Brown Headed" could possibly refer to fusciceps too, and in the case of Cleveland that is likely the species they are referring to as it's the species they currently keep. Some of the older holdings of "Brown" spider monkey are possibly A. hybridus, a species which uses that common name and that I'm not aware of any current holders of, although Philadelphia housed them in recent years. It's possible that Philadelphia's "white-bellied" refers to this same species, as that is a morphological characteristic of them.
 
I didn't say anything about Europe. I said for USA zoos.

I know - my point was that even though ZTL is very inaccurate for the USA, SL can be confident that the two species mentioned by @Dassie rat have been seen by him, as both are present within European collections he has visited :)
 
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