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

[snowleopard]

Final species lists for 16 CARNIVORA families: 130 total species

Ailuridae: 2 species (106 zoos with either Eastern Red Panda or Western Red Panda)

Canidae: 19 species (129 zoos with Grey Wolf, 75 Red Fox, 51 African Wild Dog, 49 Arctic Fox, 49 Coyote, 44 Fennec Fox, 38 Maned Wolf, 35 Northern Grey Fox, 25 Bat-eared Fox, 22 Red Wolf, 19 Swift Fox, 16 Bush Dog, 10 Dhole, 10 Raccoon Dog, 6 Corsac Fox, 6 Island Fox, 6 Kit Fox, 5 Black-backed Jackal, 2 Golden Jackal...AND bonus animals are 17 New Guinea Singing Dog, 5 Dingo)

Eupleridae: 3 species (25 zoos with Fossa, 3 Ring-tailed Vontsira, 1 Fanaloka)

Felidae: 28 species (195 zoos with Tiger, 179 Lion, 128 Bobcat, 118 Cougar, 98 Leopard, 76 Cheetah, 74 Snow Leopard, 73 Serval, 63 Jaguar, 50 Eurasian Lynx, 49 Ocelot, 45 Canada Lynx, 36 Clouded Leopard, 31 Caracal, 29 Pallas's Cat, 25 Fishing Cat, 16 Black-footed Cat, 15 Sand Cat, 15 'Wildcats' (2 species: African, European), 8 Geoffroy's Cat, 7 Margay, 5 Jaguarundi, 4 Asian Golden Cat, 3 Leopard Cat, 2 Jungle Cat, 2 Rusty-spotted Cat, 1 Southern Tigrina)

Herpestidae: 5 species (129 zoos with Meerkat, 29 Dwarf Mongoose, 22 Banded Mongoose, 9 Yellow Mongoose, 5 Common Kusimanse)

Hyaenidae: 3 species (44 zoos with Spotted Hyena, 14 Striped Hyena, 1 Southern Aardwolf)

Mephitidae: 3 species (51 zoos with Striped Skunks, 2 Western Spotted, 1 American Hog-nosed)

Mustelidae: 26 species (115 zoos with North American River Otter, 82 Small-clawed Otter, 31 American Badger, 15 Sea Otter, 15 Wolverine, 13 Fisher, 13 Giant Otter, 13 Tayra, 10 European Otter, 10 Spotted-necked Otter, 8 Yellow-throated Marten, 7 Black-footed Ferret, 6 European Mink, 5 American Mink, 5 European Badger, 5 Ratel, 4 Siberian Weasel, 3 American Marten, 2 European Pine Marten, 2 European Polecat, 2 Long-tailed Weasel, 1 African Clawless Otter, 1 African Striped Weasel, 1 Greater Grison, 1 Neotropical Otter, 1 Stone Marten)

Nandiniidae: 1 species (1 zoo with African Palm Civet)

Odobenidae: 1 species (8 zoos with Walrus)

Otariidae: 9 species (76 zoos with California Sea Lion, 10 Afro-Australian Fur Seal, 8 Northern Fur Seal, 5 Steller Sea Lion, 3 Australian Sea Lion, 2 South American Fur Seal, 2 South American Sea Lion, 1 Guadalupe Fur Seal, 1 New Zealand Fur Seal)

Phocidae: 6 species (71 zoos with Harbour Seal, 19 Grey Seal, 3 Northern Elephant Seal, 1 Baikal Seal, 1 Harp Seal, 1 Leopard Seal)

Prionodontidae: 0 species

Procyonidae: 7 species (117 zoos with Coati (South American & White-nosed), 94 Northern Raccoon, 28 Kinkajou, 21 Ringtail & Cacomistle, 2 Crab-eating Raccoon)

Ursidae: 8 species (100 zoos with American Black, 92 Brown, 47 Polar, 32 Andean, 27 Sun, 22 Sloth, 15 Asiatic Black, 8 Giant Panda)

Viverridae: 9 species (38 zoos with Binturong, 8 Cape Genet, 4 Common Genet, 4 Northern Palm Civet, 1 African Civet, 1 Banded Palm Civet, 1 Masked Palm Civet, 1 Philippine Palm Civet, 1 Rusty-spotted Genet)

The most common Carnivora species I've seen:

Tiger - 195 zoos
Lion - 179 zoos
Grey Wolf - 129 zoos
Meerkat - 129 zoos
Bobcat - 128 zoos
Cougar - 118 zoos
Coati (2 species) - 117 zoos
North American River Otter - 115 zoos
Red Panda (2 species) - 106 zoos
American Black Bear - 100 zoos
Leopard - 98 zoos
Northern Raccoon - 94 zoos
Brown Bear - 92 zoos

 

[snowleopard]

Final species lists for 16 PRIMATE families: 141 total species

Cheirogaleeidae: 3 species (6 zoos with Grey Mouse Lemur, 3 Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur, 1 Goodman's Mouse Lemur)

Lepilemuridae: 0 species

Lemuridae: 14 species (184 zoos with Ring-tailed Lemur, 76 Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, 75 Red Ruffed Lemur, 14 Black Lemur, 12 Mongoose Lemur, 10 Crowned Lemur, 10 Red-fronted Brown Lemur, 9 Blue-eyed Black Lemur, 9 Brown Lemur, 9 Red-collared Brown Lemur, 7 Red-bellied Lemur, 6 White-fronted Brown Lemur, 4 Lac Alaotra Bamboo Lemur, 1 Greater Bamboo Lemur)

Indriidae: 2 species (9 zoos with Coquerel's Sifaka, 1 Crowned Sifaka)

Daubentoniidae: 1 species (5 zoos with Aye-aye)

Galagidae: 2 species (15 zoos with 'Galago' - "Greater", "Lesser", probably more species)

Lorisidae: 4 species (17 zoos with Pygmy Slow Loris, 5 "Slow Loris", 3 Gray Slender Loris, 3 "Potto")

Tarsiidae: 0 species

Callitrichidae: 20 species (88 zoos with Cotton-top Tamarin, 62 Golden Lion Tamarin, 39 Pygmy Marmoset, 38 Goeldi's Monkey, 34 Common Marmoset, 23 Emperor Tamarin, 21 Golden-headed Lion Tamarin, 19 Geoffrey's Tufted-ear Marmoset, 14 Midas Tamarin, 9 Pied Bare-faced Tamarin, 5 Geoffroy’s Tamarin, 5 White-lipped Tamarin, 4 Silvery Marmoset, 3 Black-tufted-ear Marmoset, 2 Wied's Marmoset, 1 Black Lion Tamarin, 1 Black-mantled Tamarin, 1 Brown-mantled Tamarin, 1 Moustached Tamarin, 1 Weddell’s Saddle-back Tamarin)

Aotidae: 5 species (22 zoos with "Night Monkeys" - Grey-legged Night Monkey, Humboldt's Night Monkey, Ma's Night Monkey, Southern Bolivian Night Monkey, Three-striped Night Monkey)

Cebidae: 9 species (78 zoos with "Squirrel Monkeys" - 2 species, 44 Brown/Tufted Capuchin, 19 White-faced Capuchin, 9 Yellow-breasted Capuchin, 5 White-fronted Capuchin, 2 Crested Capuchin, 1 Guianan Weeper Capuchin, 1 Hooded Capuchin)

Pitheciidae: 6 species (56 zoos with White-faced Saki, 11 White-eared Titi, 7 Coppery Titi, 2 Bearded Saki, 1 Bald Uakari, 1 Red-bellied Titi)

Atelidae: 8 species (91 zoos with "Spider Monkeys" - 5 species, 34 Black-and-gold Howler Monkey, 6 Red Howler Monkey, 2 Common Woolly Monkey)

Cercopithecidae: 52 species (72 zoos with "Colobus Monkeys" - 3 species = Angolan, Guereza, King, 41 Mandrill, 31 Hamadryas Baboon, 28 De Brazza's Monkey, 25 Lion-tailed Macaque, 23 Japanese Macaque, 20 Patas Monkey, 17 zoos with "Chlorocebus Monkeys" - 3 species = Green, Grivet, Vervet, 17 Francois' Langur, 16 Barbary Macaque, 15 Diana Monkey, 13 Sulawesi Crested Macaque, 12 Wolf's Mona Monkey, 11 Red-capped Mangabey, 10 Allen's Swamp Monkey, 10 Olive Baboon, 10 Pig-tailed Macaque, 10 Red-tailed Monkey, 9 Black Crested Mangabey, 9 Dusky Leaf Langur, 9 Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey, 9 Rhesus Macaque, 8 Drill, 8 East Javan Langur, 7 Crab-eating Macaque, 7 Mona Monkey, 6 Gelada, 6 Golden-bellied Mangabey, 6 Guinea Baboon, 6 Hanuman Langur, 6 Silvery Lutung, 5 Blue Monkey, 4 Bonnet Macaque, 4 Northern Talapoin Monkey, 3 White-naped Mangabey, 2 L'Hoest's Monkey, 2 Owl-faced Monkey, 2 Red-shanked Douc Langur, 2 Roloway Monkey, 2 Stump-tailed Macaque, 2 Sykes' Monkey, 2 Toque Macaque, 1 Booted Macaque, 1 Greater Spot-nosed Monkey, 1 Moustached Monkey, 1 Sooty Mangabey, 1 Tonkean Macaque, 1 Yellow Baboon)

Hylobatidae: 9 species (64 zoos with White-handed Gibbon, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked Gibbon, 12 Yellow-cheeked Gibbon, 7 Southern Grey Gibbon, 5 Pileated Gibbon, 3 Silvery Gibbon, 2 Agile Gibbon, 1 Eastern Hoolock Gibbon)

Hominidae: 6 species (74 zoos with "Orangutans" - 2 species = Bornean, Sumatran, 74 Western Gorilla, 64 Chimpanzee, 14 Bonobo, 1 Eastern Gorilla)

The most common primate species I've seen:

Ring-tailed Lemur - 184 zoos
Spider Monkey (5 species) - 91 zoos
Cotton-top Tamarin - 88 zoos
Squirrel Monkey (2 species) - 78 zoos
Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur - 76 zoos
Red Ruffed Lemur - 75 zoos
Orangutan (2 species) - 74 zoos
Western Gorilla - 74 zoos
Colobus Monkey (3 species) - 72 zoos
Chimpanzee - 64 zoos
White-handed Gibbon - 64 zoos
Golden Lion Tamarin - 62 zoos
Siamang - 62 zoos

An interesting fact is that I provided a list of the most common carnivore species I've seen and only ONE primate species would qualify in terms of numbers. Only Ring-tailed Lemurs (184 zoos) would make it onto the 'Carnivora' list. There's FAR more carnivores in zoos I've visited in comparison to primates.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

I suspect that's at least in part due to a lot of primates being "interchangeable" in the eyes of the general public - really, who cares if you've got a squirrel monkey or red-tailed guenon or golden snub-nosed monkey so long as you've checked the box for a funny little monkey that runs around? But lions and tigers, those are both non-negotiable. Every zoo needs both of those.

 

[snowleopard]

I was surprised, when spending months compiling all this data, that I'd seen Echidnas in 22 zoos. For the vast majority of my zoo reviews I would refer to these animals as 'Echidnas', knowing that I was looking at the Short-beaked species. But, what are the odds of me having seen a Long-beaked Echidna at one of the 6 Australian zoos I toured in 2007? Maybe at Taronga? Other than perhaps that solitary exception, all of the animals I've ever seen below are Short-beaked Echidnas.

1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2006
2- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
3- Alice Springs Desert Park (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
4- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
5- Cleland Wildlife Park (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
6- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
7- Phillip Island Wildlife Park (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
8- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2008
9- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Echidna – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2008
11- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
12- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
13- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
14- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
15- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2015
16- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Echidna – 2018
17- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Echidna – 2019
18- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Echidna – 2019
19- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Echidna – 2019
20- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Echidna – 2019
21- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Echidna – 2019
22- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Echidna – 2023

@Hix

The very first time I ever saw an Echidna was at San Diego Zoo (USA) in 2006 and I recall leaning over and petting the animal while a keeper watched and allowed several visitors to touch the critter. My photo shows how small the exhibit was in the now overhauled Children's Zoo section of the park.

Taronga Zoo (Australia) had a Long-beaked Echidna back in 2010, but I have probably never seen this species before.

@Hix

Echidnas have often not required much in the way of an exhibit, other than a low wall for a barrier. I found that at times I saw them easily in zoos, although sometimes huddled in a corner and only a prickly-looking cacti instead of an active animal. Here's the exhibit I saw at Adelaide Zoo (Australia) in 2007:

@Baldur

Brookfield Zoo (USA) has maintained Echidnas in its Australia House for years, in a darkened environment, and Philadelphia Zoo (USA) also has had Echidnas in a nocturnal space. Los Angeles Zoo (USA) had Echidnas outdoors when I was first there in 2008, sharing an enclosure with Koalas and Tammar Wallabies.

@mstickmanp

Matschie's Tree Kangaroos shared an exhibit with Echidnas at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) in the past.

ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) had yet another darkened Echidna exhibit, this time inside an Echidna Cave.

Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) also had an Echidna in a tiny mock-rock 'cave' with three branches and some bark mulch on top of cement when I was there in 2015.

Tammar Wallabies and Echidnas have been kept together at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) in a nocturnal area.

@DesertTortoise

I then saw Echidnas 5 times in a month in Western Europe. Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) had the exhibit in the photo at that time but since my visit this area has been renovated. Another Belgian zoo, Pairi Daiza, also had Echidnas in 2019.

@Toddy

I saw two Echidnas at Frankfurt Zoo (Germany), inside the legendary Grzimek House.

Both photos via @Maguari

At Duisburg Zoo (Germany), Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos and Echidnas shared an exhibit.

@gulogulogulo

Inside Berlin Tierpark's (Germany) cavernous Pachyderm House, I saw an Echidna exhibit there in 2019.

@lintworm

Last year, enclosures for Echidnas and Bettongs greeted me at the new (2020) Australian Adventures area at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA).

@Coelacanth18

 

[Osedax]

I was surprised, when spending months compiling all this data, that I'd seen Echidnas in 22 zoos. For the vast majority of my zoo reviews I would refer to these animals as 'Echidnas', knowing that I was looking at the Short-beaked species. But, what are the odds of me having seen a Long-beaked Echidna at one of the 6 Australian zoos I toured in 2007? Maybe at Taronga? Other than perhaps that solitary exception, all of the animals I've ever seen below are Short-beaked Echidnas.

1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2006
2- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
3- Alice Springs Desert Park (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
4- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
5- Cleland Wildlife Park (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
6- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
7- Phillip Island Wildlife Park (Australia) – Echidna – 2007
8- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2008
9- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Echidna – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2008
11- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
12- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
13- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
14- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2010
15- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Echidna – 2015
16- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Echidna – 2018
17- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Echidna – 2019
18- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Echidna – 2019
19- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Echidna – 2019
20- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Echidna – 2019
21- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Echidna – 2019
22- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Echidna – 2023

@Hix

The very first time I ever saw an Echidna was at San Diego Zoo (USA) in 2006 and I recall leaning over and petting the animal while a keeper watched and allowed several visitors to touch the critter. My photo shows how small the exhibit was in the now overhauled Children's Zoo section of the park.

Taronga Zoo (Australia) had a Long-beaked Echidna back in 2010:

@Hix

Echidnas have often not required much in the way of an exhibit, other than a low wall for a barrier. I found that at times I saw them easily in zoos, although sometimes huddled in a corner and only a prickly-looking cacti instead of an active animal. Here's the exhibit I saw at Adelaide Zoo (Australia) in 2007:

@Baldur

Brookfield Zoo (USA) has maintained Echidnas in its Australia House for years, in a darkened environment, and Philadelphia Zoo (USA) also has had Echidnas in a nocturnal space. Los Angeles Zoo (USA) had Echidnas outdoors when I was first there in 2008, sharing an enclosure with Koalas and Tammar Wallabies.

@mstickmanp

Matschie's Tree Kangaroos shared an exhibit with Echidnas at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) in the past.

ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) had yet another darkened Echidna exhibit, this time inside an Echidna Cave.

Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) also had an Echidna in a tiny mock-rock 'cave' with three branches and some bark mulch on top of cement when I was there in 2015.

Tammar Wallabies and Echidnas have been kept together at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) in a nocturnal area.

@DesertTortoise

I then saw Echidnas 5 times in a month in Western Europe. Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) had the exhibit in the photo at that time but since my visit this area has been renovated. Another Belgian zoo, Pairi Daiza, also had Echidnas in 2019.

@Toddy

I saw two Echidnas at Frankfurt Zoo (Germany), inside the legendary Grzimek House.

Both photos via @Maguari

At Duisburg Zoo (Germany), Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos and Echidnas shared an exhibit.

@gulogulogulo

Inside Berlin Tierpark's (Germany) cavernous Pachyderm House, I saw an Echidna exhibit there in 2019.

@lintworm

Last year, enclosures for Echidnas and Bettongs greeted me at the new (2020) Australian Adventures area at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA).

@Coelacanth18

Taronga would have had two Barton's Long-beaked Echidnas in 2007 - JR and Sheila (Sheila died in 2015, but JR is still alive and well - I was working with him today in fact). If you went into the nocturnal house it is more than likely you saw at least one.

 

[snowleopard]

I've seen Platypus at 5 zoos, but who could have ever imagined that a zoo outside of Australia would showcase this species in the modern age? San Diego rocked the world when they debuted their Platypus exhibit in late 2019 and it will be fascinating to see if a European zoo will do the same in the future. Copenhagen? Planckendael? Zurich?

1- Sydney Aquarium (Australia) – Platypus – 2007
2- Taronga Zoo (Australia) - Platypus – 2007
3- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) - Platypus – 2007
4- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) - Platypus – 2007
5- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Platypus – 2023

A wild Platypus:

@WhistlingKite24

Before it became a Merlin Sea Life franchise, Sydney Aquarium (Australia) was an interesting place to visit for me in 2007. I saw some cool pinnipeds and even a Platypus, and this was before the Dugong era.

@Hix

Back then, the aquarium had some kind of weird water drop mascot called Splash and you can see him on the poster in this photo. Here was the entrance to the Platypus gallery.

@Baldur

This was the Platypus House when I was at Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 2007, with an outdoor Wombat exhibit on the left.

@Baldur

Other than a fresh lick of paint, the Platypus House exterior hasn't changed since then. Is there still a Wombat exhibit next door?

@WhistlingKite24

@Hix

Current Platypus outdoor exhibit at Taronga:

@WhistlingKite24

I remember spending a long time watching a Platypus at Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) in 2007, swimming around within the iconic "Platypusary" exhibit. It was my first, and remains my only time ever seeing the species outdoors. I adore the architecture and the colour is difficult to describe: a kind of gold/orange/beige combination.

@Simon Hampel

Unlike the many zoos called 'sanctuaries' in the U.S., which are predominantly third-world quality institutions, Healesville Sanctuary is a phenomenal zoo and one that everyone should visit in the Melbourne area. Here's their indoor area for Platypus and other critters, called World of the Platypus when I was there in 2007.

@Simon Hampel

At Melbourne Zoo (Australia), the entrance to the Platypus House has seemingly never changed in a very long time.

2008 photo:

@Baldur

2023 photo:

@Zoofan15

@Zoofan15

After being fortunate enough to have seen 4 Platypus exhibits in the space of 6 weeks in 2007, and desperately failing to find any in the wild at Warrawong Sanctuary that same month, I figured I was done with Platypus forever.

Then, after many rumours and just before the Covid-era began, San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) opened its Platypus exhibit on November 22nd, 2019. It had been around 60 years since a Platypus had been seen on American shores and this was a monumental day in the life of zoo nerds across the globe. It's almost as if the zoo forgot the actual name of the animal, because this photo was taken in December 2019 and still had 'Duck-Billed' on it! (A new sign was put up in 2021 and 'Duck-Billed' had been erased from history )

@Julio C Castro

There’s a deep pool on the left, a smaller pool in the middle, and a little waterfall into a third pool on the right. It’s a great setup and once one’s eyes become adjusted to the darkness, then it’s possible to have clear views of these extraordinary animals. I went into the building twice last year and I saw both Platypus actively swimming around the whole time.

Two photos via @Ding Lingwei

Tachyglossidae: 1 species (22 zoos with Short-beaked Echidna)

Ornithorhynchidae: 1 species (5 zoos with Platypus)

 

[Chlidonias]

Taronga would have had two Barton's Long-beaked Echidnas in 2007 - JR and Sheila (Sheila died in 2015, but JR is still alive and well - I was working with him today in fact). If you went into the nocturnal house it is more than likely you saw at least one.

Tachyglossidae: 2 species (22 zoos with Short-beaked Echidna, 1 Eastern Long-beaked Echidna)

No. Just because someone says an animal was kept at a zoo does not mean that you automatically saw that animal because you visited that zoo.

The Long-beaked Echidnas did not go on display in the Nocturnal House until late 2010. Before that they were kept more-or-less off-display in an unsigned outside enclosure, where they only emerged after nightfall. Typically the only people who saw them were keepers when they had to check up on them.

 

[snowleopard]

No. Just because someone says an animal was kept at a zoo does not mean that you automatically saw that animal because you visited that zoo.

The Long-beaked Echidnas did not go on display in the Nocturnal House until late 2010. Before that they were kept more-or-less off-display in an unsigned outside enclosure, where they only emerged after nightfall. Typically the only people who saw them were keepers when they had to check up on them.

That all makes perfect sense. I edited both my Echidna and Platypus posts to reflect this information. It's still great to know that Taronga had Eastern Long-beaked Echidnas many years ago, as that's a very rare species in captivity. But, honestly, since I've never been a species hunter before it doesn't bother me that I've never seen them. Perhaps they will pop up in San Diego one day...you never know!

 

[oflory]

I've seen Platypus at 5 zoos, but who could have ever imagined that a zoo outside of Australia would showcase this species in the modern age? San Diego rocked the world when they debuted their Platypus exhibit in late 2019 and it will be fascinating to see if a European zoo will do the same in the future. Copenhagen? Planckendael? Zurich?

1- Sydney Aquarium (Australia) – Platypus – 2007
2- Taronga Zoo (Australia) - Platypus – 2007
3- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) - Platypus – 2007
4- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) - Platypus – 2007
5- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Platypus – 2023

A wild Platypus:

@WhistlingKite24

Before it became a Merlin Sea Life franchise, Sydney Aquarium (Australia) was an interesting place to visit for me in 2007. I saw some cool pinnipeds and even a Platypus, and this was before the Dugong era.

@Hix

Back then, the aquarium had some kind of weird water drop mascot called Splash and you can see him on the poster in this photo. Here was the entrance to the Platypus gallery.

@Baldur

This was the Platypus House when I was at Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 2007, with an outdoor Wombat exhibit on the left.

@Baldur

Other than a fresh lick of paint, the Platypus House exterior hasn't changed since then. Is there still a Wombat exhibit next door?

@WhistlingKite24

@Hix

Current Platypus outdoor exhibit at Taronga:

@WhistlingKite24

I remember spending a long time watching a Platypus at Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) in 2007, swimming around within the iconic "Platypusary" exhibit. It was my first, and remains my only time ever seeing the species outdoors. I adore the architecture and the colour is difficult to describe: a kind of gold/orange/beige combination.

@Simon Hampel

Unlike the many zoos called 'sanctuaries' in the U.S., which are predominantly third-world quality institutions, Healesville Sanctuary is a phenomenal zoo and one that everyone should visit in the Melbourne area. Here's their indoor area for Platypus and other critters, called World of the Platypus when I was there in 2007.

@Simon Hampel

At Melbourne Zoo (Australia), the entrance to the Platypus House has seemingly never changed in a very long time.

2008 photo:

@Baldur

2023 photo:

@Zoofan15

@Zoofan15

After being fortunate enough to have seen 4 Platypus exhibits in the space of 6 weeks in 2007, and desperately failing to find any in the wild at Warrawong Sanctuary that same month, I figured I was done with Platypus forever.

Then, after many rumours and just before the Covid-era began, San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) opened its Platypus exhibit on November 22nd, 2019. It had been around 60 years since a Platypus had been seen on American shores and this was a monumental day in the life of zoo nerds across the globe. It's almost as if the zoo forgot the actual name of the animal, because this photo was taken in December 2019 and still had 'Duck-Billed' on it! (A new sign was put up in 2021 and 'Duck-Billed' had been erased from history )

@Julio C Castro

There’s a deep pool on the left, a smaller pool in the middle, and a little waterfall into a third pool on the right. It’s a great setup and once one’s eyes become adjusted to the darkness, then it’s possible to have clear views of these extraordinary animals. I went into the building twice last year and I saw both Platypus actively swimming around the whole time.

Two photos via @Ding Lingwei

Tachyglossidae: 1 species (22 zoos with Short-beaked Echidna)

Ornithorhynchidae: 1 species (5 zoos with Platypus)

I'd put a bet on Stuttgart or Copenhagen, if platypus or long beaked echidna ever came to Europe again.

 

[Hix]

Other than a fresh lick of paint, the Platypus House exterior hasn't changed since then. Is there still a Wombat exhibit next door?

@WhistlingKite24

That building and enclosure was demolished recently to make way for the new Nura Diya precinct.



Hix

 

[Osedax]

This was the Platypus House when I was at Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 2007, with an outdoor Wombat exhibit on the left.

@Baldur

Other than a fresh lick of paint, the Platypus House exterior hasn't changed since then. Is there still a Wombat exhibit next door?

@WhistlingKite24

@Hix

Current Platypus outdoor exhibit at Taronga:

@WhistlingKite24

That building and enclosure was demolished recently to make way for the new Nura Diya precinct.



Hix

@Hix is correct. Where the Platypus House was is now a dingo exhibit. That outdoor platypus exhibit you showed no longer holds platypus, only Short-necked Turtles and Smooth Yabbies that used to be mixed with the Platypus. The platy in question, a male named Mackenzie, moved to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo earlier this year.

The only outdoor platypus exhibit currently at Taronga is one in the Blue Mountains Bushwalk aviary (which presumably would have been there when you went in 2007, although the aviary would have been called either “Creatures of the Wollemi” or “Platypus Pools”) mixed with Short-necked Turtle, Smooth Yabby and a whole lot of species with free range over the entire massive walkthrough aviary - a bunch of bird species plus Eastern Water Dragon, Cunningham Skink, Eastern Blue-tongue (it is signed but I have never seen it anywhere in the aviary) and Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby. There may also have been Short-beaked Echidnas in there in 2007. I have seen the platypus twice in that exhibit over almost a hundred visits.

Elsewhere in the Nura Diya Australia precinct, there is a young rescued female platypus named Matilda on display in the Nguwing Nura nocturnal house.

 

[snowleopard]

Continuing my trend of looking at Aussie critters, I have seen Koalas at 25 zoos. These guys are super popular to the point where there are 'rent-a-Koala' summers at many American zoos. Nothing like lining up for 45 minutes just to see a non-active clump of grey fur. On the very rare occasion when I've seen a Koala scaling a tree or scampering across the ground, it's magical, but other than that these guys are arguably duds for zoo nerds simply because they hardly move at all.

1- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2006
2- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2006
3- Sydney Wildlife World (Australia) – Koala – 2007
4- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Koala – 2007
5- Kuranda’s RainForeStation (Australia) – Koala – 2007
6- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Koala – 2007
7- Cleland Wildlife Park (Australia) – Koala – 2007
8- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) – Koala – 2007
9- Phillip Island Wildlife Park (Australia) – Koala – 2007
10- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Koala – 2007
11- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Koala – 2008
12- Indianapolis Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2008
13- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2008
14- Zoo Miami (USA) – Koala – 2008
15- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2010
16- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (USA) – Koala – 2010
17- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2010
18- Palm Beach Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2012
19- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Koala – 2012
20- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2015
21- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Koala – 2018
22- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Koala – 2019
23- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Koala – 2019
24- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Koala – 2019
25- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Koala – 2019

@Daubentoniidae

San Francisco Zoo (USA) had a Koala or two back in 2006 and even though there was an outdoor area, I remember seeing a Koala in this little glass box. It's kind of astonishing to see how small the space is. Koala Crossing was in the central portion of the zoo and very popular with visitors.

@Zebraduiker

Everyone knows that San Diego Zoo (USA) is world-famous for Koalas, quite often in the past having so many Koalas that they would have more at one time than every other zoo in North America combined. That might even still be the case. San Diego rents out Koalas to other zoos on a consistent basis, and there's multiple exhibits full of Koalas in the Outback zone of the park. Here's an example of one of the enclosures:

Almost all the Australian zoos where I once saw Koalas have renovated or built new Koala exhibits since my Oz tour. This was Koala Walkabout at Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 2007:

@Baldur

Indianapolis Zoo (USA) had a 'rent-a-Koala' summer in 2008 when I first visited the zoo and the Koalas were kept inside this small glass enclosure. Funnily enough, this photo was taken in 2015 and so the zoo has rented Koalas at least twice in their recent history. The exact same exhibit has held Red Ruffed Lemurs, Fruit Bats, a variety of Macaws, etc.

@Moebelle

Cleveland Zoo (USA) has had a lot of success breeding Koalas ever since Australian Adventure opened in 2000. Gumleaf Hideout is the Koala House:

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (USA) had a very bare bones indoor space for Koalas in 2010, complete with a cement floor. The small outdoor yard was a bit more lush with foliage.

ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) had a pair of Koala exhibits when I was there in 2010, which were actually of a decent size for being indoors.

There was a 'Wallaby Walkabout' and a Koala exhibit in the Australian children's zone at ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) in 2012.

Somewhat hidden away in the northern section of the top half of the zoo was a nondescript Koala House at Dallas Zoo (USA) when I was there in 2015. My photo shows a rather boring exterior:

And the interior was a couple of glass-fronted enclosures:

@geomorph

Inside the historical Bird House building (1937) known as the Aviary at Toledo Zoo (USA), I saw Koalas in 2018.

@Moebelle

I visited 4 Western European zoos with Koalas in 2019 and 3 of them were in Belgium! The Marsupial House at Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) apparently dates back to 1898, and had Koalas and Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos (separately) when I was there in 2019.

@KevinB

Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) has a long walkway where visitors can be shielded from the elements while they look at Koalas.

@KevinB

And of course Pairi Daiza (Belgium) had Koalas in a series of exhibits when I was there, because this is a zoo that has most everything to satisfy its 2+ million annual visitors.

@KevinB

The remaining European zoo where I saw Koalas was Duisburg Zoo (Germany).

@Maguari

And here's an extraordinary sight at Duisburg! Apparently the keepers sometimes carry the Koalas to their outdoor exhibit one at a time, which seems bizarre in so many ways.

@RonBurrgundy

Non-primate or carnivore mammals:

Koalas - 25 zoos
Short-beaked Echidnas - 22 zoos
Platypuses - 5 zoos

 

[aardvark250]

For me, it always seems like koala all have the same exhibit, i mean, what even is the point of making a lush and beautiful exhibit when they are almost always sleeping on that one single tree? Most koalas i've been are in their indoor box sleeping, although that one time i've seen a "hyperactive" koala in Chimelong is a real highlight.

 

[Komodo Dragon]

Ah, koalas. The tree sloths of the marsupials.

 

[turkeyfox]

For me, it always seems like koala all have the same exhibit, i mean, what even is the point of making a lush and beautiful exhibit when they are almost always sleeping on that one single tree? Most koalas i've been are in their indoor box sleeping, although that one time i've seen a "hyperactive" koala in Chimelong is a real highlight.

That's why they're able to have a lush and beautiful exhibit! They stay in their tree and don't touch anything else. They don't root around in the dirt, they don't burrow, they don't pick things up and move them, they don't do anything to any of the props or plants or other objects. They're the perfect candidates for a lush and beautiful exhibit.

 

[Hix]

Almost all the Australian zoos where I once saw Koalas have renovated or built new Koala exhibits since my Oz tour. This was Koala Walkabout at Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 2007:

This building is still standing and displaying Koalas, as it has since the 70's.

Apparently the keepers sometimes carry the Koalas to their outdoor exhibit one at a time, which seems bizarre in so many ways.

If the koala is comfortable around its keepers, then this is the easiest and quickest way to move them. Provided you can handle the claws.



Hix

 

[snowleopard]

I've seen Tasmanian Devils at 10 zoos. There's been some memorable sightings, from a feeding session at Cleland Wildlife Park to my first time seeing them in North America at San Diego Zoo, to some top-notch European exhibits.

1- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Tasmanian Devil – 2007
2- Cleland Wildlife Park (Australia) – Tasmanian Devil – 2007
3- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) – Tasmanian Devil – 2007
4- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Tasmanian Devil – 2017
5- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Tasmanian Devil – 2017
6- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Tasmanian Devil – 2018
7- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Tasmanian Devil – 2019
8- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Tasmanian Devil – 2019
9- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Tasmanian Devil – 2019
10- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Tasmanian Devil – 2022

@Hix

This 2007 photo shows the Tasmanian Devil exhibit at Taronga Zoo (Australia):

@Baldur

A 'Tassie Devil' looking very devilish in the rain at Cleland Wildlife Park (Australia) in 2007:

I saw Tasmanian Devils at Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) in this exhibit:

@Baldur

Interestingly enough, neither Adelaide Zoo nor Melbourne Zoo had Tasmanian Devils when I was there in 2007. Looking back through old photos and zoo maps, neither zoo seems to have had the species during that year.

San Diego Zoo (USA) was my first non-Oz zoo with Tasmanian Devils:

@Arizona Docent

I saw a very active Tasmanian Devil at Los Angeles Zoo (USA) in 2017:

@Julio C Castro

My photo shows an exhibit that was able to be split in two if necessary:

Here is where I saw a Tasmanian Devil at Toledo Zoo (USA) in 2018. Check out the potted plants on the wall...a weird touch. This exhibit is in the Tembo Trail area, which is a poor hodgepodge of geographically wacky exhibits, but since then the zoo has built Tasmanian Devil enclosures elsewhere.

@Moebelle

Newer devil enclosures:

@USZOOfan42

Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) had Tasmanian Devils when I was there in 2019. This is a fantastic zoo for many animals, but particularly Australian ones. Here's a great image:

@Sicarius

My photo of the exhibit shows an extensive glass viewing area:

Did Pairi Daiza (Belgium) have Tassie Devils in 2019? Of course! It is quite a unique looking exhibit:

Another great European zoo for Aussie fauna is Duisburg Zoo (Germany) and they had Tasmanian Devils when I was there on my month-long Euro trek in 2019.

@twilighter

Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) has a spectacular, very large Tasmanian Devil exhibit. This zoo, with its Australian connections, would be an excellent candidate to add Platypus if that species ever makes it to Europe in the future. I had a great time here watching a super active devil roam all over the enclosure.

This last photo by @Javan Rhino

Non-primate or carnivore mammals:

Koalas - 25 zoos
Short-beaked Echidnas - 22 zoos
Tasmanian Devils - 10 zoos
Platypuses - 5 zoos

* On the top of page 60, I have my final lists for Carnivora (130 species) and Primates (141 species) = 271 species at the 551 different zoos/aquariums I've visited.

 

[Smaggledagle]

Non-primate or carnivore mammals:

Koalas - 25 zoos
Short-beaked Echidnas - 22 zoos
Tasmanian Devils - 10 zoos
Platypuses - 5 zoos

* On the top of page 60, I have my final lists for Carnivora (130 species) and Primates (141 species) = 271 species at the 551 different zoos/aquariums I've visited.

Shouldn't you include the elephants in this list?

 

[15399]

Here is where I saw a Tasmanian Devil at Toledo Zoo (USA) in 2018. Check out the potted plants on the wall...a weird touch. This exhibit is in the Tembo Trail area, which is a poor hodgepodge of geographically wacky exhibits, but since then the zoo has built Tasmanian Devil enclosures elsewhere.

@Moebelle

Newer devil enclosures:

@USZOOfan42

Interesting, I didn't realize Toledo had new T-devil exhibits. I visited this zoo for the first (and only) time in October, and at that point I saw a devil in the Tembo Trail exhibit.

 

[USZOOfan42]

Here is where I saw a Tasmanian Devil at Toledo Zoo (USA) in 2018. Check out the potted plants on the wall...a weird touch. This exhibit is in the Tembo Trail area, which is a poor hodgepodge of geographically wacky exhibits, but since then the zoo has built Tasmanian Devil enclosures elsewhere.

@Moebelle

Newer devil enclosures:

@USZOOfan42

The new enclosures seem to be used for devil transfers but the two previous devils still reside in tembo trail and it seems they won’t be moving to the new enclosures.