Snowleopard's Mammals: A Lifetime List of Species Mammalian and Non-Mammalian
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@turkeyfox Henry Vilas Zoo (USA) isn't missing from my list. I toured that mid-sized (and free!) zoo in 2014 and it was in 2015 that Somali Wild Asses were added to the collection.
As @MOG2012 pointed out, I didn't see Somali Wild Asses at Franklin Park Zoo (USA) because I was there in 2012 and the asses weren't added until probably a decade later.
On a side note, the geographical placement of my 'tapir sightings' is interesting:
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos (24 in North America, 18 in Asia, 4 in Europe, 3 in Australia)
South American Tapir - 35 zoos (21 in Europe, 9 in North America, 4 in Asia, 1 in Australia)
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos (20 in North America, 2 in Europe)
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos (2 in North America)
For me, personally, I found Southeast Asian zoos to be dominated by Malayan Tapirs and that makes sense. The zoos I toured in Western Europe were dominated by South American Tapirs, with many successful breeding programs. Baird's and Mountain Tapirs are almost exclusively to be found in American zoos, meaning that they are amazing, zoological treasures for zoo nerds from outside North America.
As @MOG2012 pointed out, I didn't see Somali Wild Asses at Franklin Park Zoo (USA) because I was there in 2012 and the asses weren't added until probably a decade later.
On a side note, the geographical placement of my 'tapir sightings' is interesting:
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos (24 in North America, 18 in Asia, 4 in Europe, 3 in Australia)
South American Tapir - 35 zoos (21 in Europe, 9 in North America, 4 in Asia, 1 in Australia)
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos (20 in North America, 2 in Europe)
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos (2 in North America)
For me, personally, I found Southeast Asian zoos to be dominated by Malayan Tapirs and that makes sense. The zoos I toured in Western Europe were dominated by South American Tapirs, with many successful breeding programs. Baird's and Mountain Tapirs are almost exclusively to be found in American zoos, meaning that they are amazing, zoological treasures for zoo nerds from outside North America.
I love rhinos. They are massive, lumbering tanks and by far the most common rhino species I've seen in captivity is the White Rhino. In fact, it is more than double the next species. Spending the first decade of my life in Edmonton, Alberta, meant having snow on the ground half the year, and yet the legendary Alberta Game Farm (Canada) had 90 species/subspecies of ungulates and that included a pair of White Rhinos that were captured from the wild in 1964. As a kid in the late 1970s and early 1980s I always marveled at seeing the huge 2-hectare/5-acre White Rhino paddock at that zoo. Later, the facility underwent a name change (it became Polar Park) and the rhinos were replaced by a handful of European Wild Boar, but the pigs looked slightly ridiculous in the vast expanse of land that previously was the reign of rhinos.
White Rhinos are known to be remarkably docile in captivity and they can be mixed with other species in a savanna setting. Looking at my list, I would estimate that at least 30 of the zoos have mixed White Rhinos with other species, particularly in Europe as that continent is famous for its bold mixing and matching of animals in captivity just as they would in the wild.
Which rhino species will be next on my list?
I've seen White Rhinos at 78 zoos:
2008 = 11 zoos
2010 = 13 zoos
2019 = 13 zoos
2024 = 11 zoos
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – White Rhino – 1975
2- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – White Rhino – 1998
3- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2006
4- Monarto Zoo (Australia) – White Rhino – 2007
5- Toledo Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
6- Detroit Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
7- Toronto Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
8- Indianapolis Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
9- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
10- Memphis Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
11- Zoo Knoxville (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
12- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
13- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
14- Jacksonville Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
15- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
16- Wildlife Safari (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
17- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
18- Louisville Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
19- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
20- Maryland Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
21- North Carolina Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
22- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
23- Audubon Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
24- Cameron Park Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
25- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
26- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
27- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
28- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
29- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2011
30- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2011
31- Erie Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
32- Virginia Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
33- Brevard Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
34- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
35- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
36- Jackson Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
37- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
38- Rolling Hills Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
39- Henry Vilas Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2014
40- Peoria Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2014
41- Arbuckle Wilderness Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
42- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
43- Bayou Wildlife Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
44- Houston Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
45- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
46- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
47- Out of Africa Wildlife Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
48- Safari West (USA) – White Rhino – 2017
49- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2017
50- Zoo Lille (France) – White Rhino – 2019
51- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – White Rhino – 2019
52- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – White Rhino – 2019
53- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
54- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
55- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
56- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
57- Safaripark Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
58- Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
59- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
60- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
61- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
62- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
63- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – White Rhino – 2022
64- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – White Rhino – 2022
65- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – White Rhino – 2022
66- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – White Rhino – 2022
67- Monterey Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2023
68- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
69- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
70- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
71- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
72- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
73- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
74- Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
75- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – White Rhino – 2024
76- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
77- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
78- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
In 2015, a 41 year-old Northern White Rhino named 'Nola' died at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) and it was a tragic day for conservationists. I saw Northern White Rhinos in 2006 and 2011 at the park...but alas those days are well and truly gone now.
@tigris115
Detroit Zoo (USA) famously sent away its remaining elephants in 2005 and critics were quick to denounce the decision and claim that the zoo would rapidly go downhill. Then, and I can't quite recall the exact details, but Detroit Zoo went on to break its attendance record in something like 7 out of 9 years and actually surged in popularity. White Rhinos have been in the old elephant space ever since.
There are three White Rhinos at the back of this exhibit and I took this photo in 2008 at Zoo Knoxville (USA). Back then, Knoxville was quite well known for its White Rhino breeding program and there had been around 30 births over the years, but since my visit the zoo shifted its rhinos to a different part of the zoo and now there is ongoing construction on the ex-elephant yard and it will house White Rhinos in the near future.
White Rhinos are enormous creatures, weighing thousands of pounds, and it's important for them to have loads of space to roam as they can be hard on their environment simply by walking around and flattening out the dirt in a small enclosure. Watani Grasslands is a complex at North Carolina Zoo (USA) that contains one of the largest African Savannas at any zoo in the world and it's perfect for rhinos.
@Moebelle
I remember really appreciating the White Rhino exhibit at Reid Park Zoo (USA), with its spacious layout and at times there would be Speke's Gazelles, Marabou Storks and Kori Bustards in the mix.
The nicely landscaped White Rhino habitat at Brevard Zoo (USA), within the Expedition Africa loop, is another memorable one for me.
Rolling Hills Zoo (USA) had a huge Rhino House when I was there in 2012 and in the past this zoo has held White, Black and Indian Rhinos all at the same time. That's pretty impressive for a place that most European zoo nerds have probably never heard of. However, the outdoor paddocks are all very basic and the indoor stalls in the barn are small and with cement floors.
When I toured Out of Africa Wildlife Park (USA) in 2015, the zoo had a 2-hectare/5-acre exhibit for a single White Rhino named 'Jericho'. It's a typical, desert-like environment at an Arizona zoo.
My image from Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) shows a gorgeous African Savanna, including a White Rhino grazing and with an African Elephant habitat far in the background. It's all part of the $56 million African Adventure complex that opened in 2015. Stunning!
Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) has a multi-acre African Savanna with White Rhinos, Giraffes and an assortment of antelope, all surrounded by a Dutch forest.
@twilighter
Givskud Zoo (Denmark) has more than one African Savanna, but the multi-acre enclosure seen via the walking section holds at least a half-dozen White Rhinos along with several other ungulates. It's spectacular, but I wonder how much snow this region receives in the winter and how that affects the African mammals.
Yet another world-class White Rhino exhibit found in Europe is the one at Boras Zoo (Sweden) and when I toured that facility with @twilighter in 2022 we saw 4 White Rhinos and 5 Cheetahs all together. That's a mix that has been ongoing for 25 years!
When I headed off to Southeast Asia in August on a big zoo trek, I wasn't sure how much African megafauna would be in those Asian zoos. Rest assured, there's loads and that includes almost a dozen zoos with White Rhinos. Here's the large, shaded enclosure at Songkhla Zoo (Thailand):
There are two White Rhinos resting at the back of their exhibit at Taiping Zoo (Malaysia):
There are three White Rhinos (on the left) at Zoo Negara (Malaysia), surrounded by tall jungle trees and the occasional troop of wild monkeys.
I'm not sure if many Southeast Asian zoos even bring their White Rhinos into their barns each evening, as some of the accommodation is pretty sparse. Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) and other zoos are in a tropical region with warm weather and so maybe the rhinos are left with 24/7 access to their paddocks.
Surprisingly, the White Rhino exhibit at Singapore Zoo (Singapore) looks a bit tight on space, especially with 7 rhinos coexisting there.
Looking magnificent against a jungle backdrop, a White Rhino at Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) can be seen via the safari tour.
Perissodactyla: 12 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
White Rhino - 78 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
White Rhinos are known to be remarkably docile in captivity and they can be mixed with other species in a savanna setting. Looking at my list, I would estimate that at least 30 of the zoos have mixed White Rhinos with other species, particularly in Europe as that continent is famous for its bold mixing and matching of animals in captivity just as they would in the wild.
Which rhino species will be next on my list?
I've seen White Rhinos at 78 zoos:
2008 = 11 zoos
2010 = 13 zoos
2019 = 13 zoos
2024 = 11 zoos
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – White Rhino – 1975
2- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – White Rhino – 1998
3- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2006
4- Monarto Zoo (Australia) – White Rhino – 2007
5- Toledo Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
6- Detroit Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
7- Toronto Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
8- Indianapolis Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
9- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
10- Memphis Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
11- Zoo Knoxville (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
12- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
13- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
14- Jacksonville Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
15- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
16- Wildlife Safari (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
17- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
18- Louisville Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
19- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
20- Maryland Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
21- North Carolina Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
22- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
23- Audubon Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
24- Cameron Park Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
25- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
26- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
27- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
28- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
29- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2011
30- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2011
31- Erie Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
32- Virginia Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
33- Brevard Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
34- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
35- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
36- Jackson Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
37- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
38- Rolling Hills Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
39- Henry Vilas Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2014
40- Peoria Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2014
41- Arbuckle Wilderness Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
42- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
43- Bayou Wildlife Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
44- Houston Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
45- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
46- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
47- Out of Africa Wildlife Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
48- Safari West (USA) – White Rhino – 2017
49- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2017
50- Zoo Lille (France) – White Rhino – 2019
51- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – White Rhino – 2019
52- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – White Rhino – 2019
53- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
54- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
55- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
56- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
57- Safaripark Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
58- Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
59- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
60- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
61- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
62- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
63- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – White Rhino – 2022
64- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – White Rhino – 2022
65- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – White Rhino – 2022
66- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – White Rhino – 2022
67- Monterey Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2023
68- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
69- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
70- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
71- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
72- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
73- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
74- Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
75- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – White Rhino – 2024
76- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
77- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
78- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
In 2015, a 41 year-old Northern White Rhino named 'Nola' died at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) and it was a tragic day for conservationists. I saw Northern White Rhinos in 2006 and 2011 at the park...but alas those days are well and truly gone now.
@tigris115
Detroit Zoo (USA) famously sent away its remaining elephants in 2005 and critics were quick to denounce the decision and claim that the zoo would rapidly go downhill. Then, and I can't quite recall the exact details, but Detroit Zoo went on to break its attendance record in something like 7 out of 9 years and actually surged in popularity. White Rhinos have been in the old elephant space ever since.
There are three White Rhinos at the back of this exhibit and I took this photo in 2008 at Zoo Knoxville (USA). Back then, Knoxville was quite well known for its White Rhino breeding program and there had been around 30 births over the years, but since my visit the zoo shifted its rhinos to a different part of the zoo and now there is ongoing construction on the ex-elephant yard and it will house White Rhinos in the near future.
White Rhinos are enormous creatures, weighing thousands of pounds, and it's important for them to have loads of space to roam as they can be hard on their environment simply by walking around and flattening out the dirt in a small enclosure. Watani Grasslands is a complex at North Carolina Zoo (USA) that contains one of the largest African Savannas at any zoo in the world and it's perfect for rhinos.
@Moebelle
I remember really appreciating the White Rhino exhibit at Reid Park Zoo (USA), with its spacious layout and at times there would be Speke's Gazelles, Marabou Storks and Kori Bustards in the mix.
The nicely landscaped White Rhino habitat at Brevard Zoo (USA), within the Expedition Africa loop, is another memorable one for me.
Rolling Hills Zoo (USA) had a huge Rhino House when I was there in 2012 and in the past this zoo has held White, Black and Indian Rhinos all at the same time. That's pretty impressive for a place that most European zoo nerds have probably never heard of. However, the outdoor paddocks are all very basic and the indoor stalls in the barn are small and with cement floors.
When I toured Out of Africa Wildlife Park (USA) in 2015, the zoo had a 2-hectare/5-acre exhibit for a single White Rhino named 'Jericho'. It's a typical, desert-like environment at an Arizona zoo.
My image from Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) shows a gorgeous African Savanna, including a White Rhino grazing and with an African Elephant habitat far in the background. It's all part of the $56 million African Adventure complex that opened in 2015. Stunning!
Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) has a multi-acre African Savanna with White Rhinos, Giraffes and an assortment of antelope, all surrounded by a Dutch forest.
@twilighter
Givskud Zoo (Denmark) has more than one African Savanna, but the multi-acre enclosure seen via the walking section holds at least a half-dozen White Rhinos along with several other ungulates. It's spectacular, but I wonder how much snow this region receives in the winter and how that affects the African mammals.
Yet another world-class White Rhino exhibit found in Europe is the one at Boras Zoo (Sweden) and when I toured that facility with @twilighter in 2022 we saw 4 White Rhinos and 5 Cheetahs all together. That's a mix that has been ongoing for 25 years!
When I headed off to Southeast Asia in August on a big zoo trek, I wasn't sure how much African megafauna would be in those Asian zoos. Rest assured, there's loads and that includes almost a dozen zoos with White Rhinos. Here's the large, shaded enclosure at Songkhla Zoo (Thailand):
There are two White Rhinos resting at the back of their exhibit at Taiping Zoo (Malaysia):
There are three White Rhinos (on the left) at Zoo Negara (Malaysia), surrounded by tall jungle trees and the occasional troop of wild monkeys.
I'm not sure if many Southeast Asian zoos even bring their White Rhinos into their barns each evening, as some of the accommodation is pretty sparse. Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) and other zoos are in a tropical region with warm weather and so maybe the rhinos are left with 24/7 access to their paddocks.
Surprisingly, the White Rhino exhibit at Singapore Zoo (Singapore) looks a bit tight on space, especially with 7 rhinos coexisting there.
Looking magnificent against a jungle backdrop, a White Rhino at Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) can be seen via the safari tour.
Perissodactyla: 12 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
White Rhino - 78 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
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Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
You wouldn't have seen white rhinos at the San Diego Zoo in 2006, as they have not had the species since 1988. You might be confusing them with Indian Rhinos, which they did have at the time. However, you would have seen both Southern and the now-extinction pending Northern White Rhinos at the Safari Park though.
Given that you started with the white rhinoceros, I suspect that the next few posts will be arranged like this…
African Rhinos
• Black Rhino - (D. bicornis)
Asian Rhinos
• Indian / GOHR / Greater Asian Rhino - (R. unicornis)
• Sumatran Rhino - (D. sumatrensis)
• Javan / Lesser Asian Rhino - (R. sondaicus)
Of course, I could be completely mistaken and the assortment of rhino posts may be different; but to be honest, it all came down to having a fun guess with the question provided.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
I'd be shocked if he saw a Javan Rhino at any more than 1 place, likely even 0.
Surely, a passing mention could be the way to go; but hey, one can only guess 
.
.The way this thread is going, he probably saw 20-odd at the Alberta Game Farm…
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Don’t forget this man has been to zoos we probably don’t know exist… at least he probably hasn’t petted a Sumatran rhino oh wait…. Maybe we can’t stop him.The way this thread is going, he probably saw 20-odd at the Alberta Game Farm…
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Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
He probably did see 20 Javans there casually sharing an enclosure with a herd of 100 Kouprey.The way this thread is going, he probably saw 20-odd at the Alberta Game Farm…
Answering @snowleopard's posts about tapirs:
I have seen more Brazilian tapirs that I can count. However, I have yet to see another species.
One of the better tapir exhibits I have come across is at Animália Park. They are mixed with a multitude of birds and a few mammals (gray brocket, red-rumped agouti). Both deer and rodents have access to the walkthrough area, though for obvious reasons the tapirs do not.
Tapirs left my local zoo last year, when the male Sebastião passed away. A few employees want to bring the species back as soon as the giraffe situation is solved.
São Paulo is the only South American zoo to have held Malayan tapirs in recent times (the predecessor to BioParque do Rio also did, but that way over a hundred and ten years ago!). They left the collection around 1998, although someone with access to the ISB may have the correct answer. The only birth happened in 1982, but we unfortunately have not bred Tapirus indicus since.
Other than Brazilian and Malayan, São Paulo held Baird's tapirs for a very brief period (1975, perhaps misidentified).
I am saddened not have seen any other tapir species, especially when I live in the continent with the most taxa.
I have seen more Brazilian tapirs that I can count. However, I have yet to see another species.
One of the better tapir exhibits I have come across is at Animália Park. They are mixed with a multitude of birds and a few mammals (gray brocket, red-rumped agouti). Both deer and rodents have access to the walkthrough area, though for obvious reasons the tapirs do not.
Tapirs left my local zoo last year, when the male Sebastião passed away. A few employees want to bring the species back as soon as the giraffe situation is solved.
São Paulo is the only South American zoo to have held Malayan tapirs in recent times (the predecessor to BioParque do Rio also did, but that way over a hundred and ten years ago!). They left the collection around 1998, although someone with access to the ISB may have the correct answer. The only birth happened in 1982, but we unfortunately have not bred Tapirus indicus since.
Other than Brazilian and Malayan, São Paulo held Baird's tapirs for a very brief period (1975, perhaps misidentified).
I am saddened not have seen any other tapir species, especially when I live in the continent with the most taxa.
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As for white rhinos, I have seen them at six zoos.
My first time seing them was in São Paulo, thirteen years ago. I was five at the time and had never seen a rhinoceros before.
I saw the same two (1.1) rhinos last Friday. Their names are Adão and Eva (yes, the Portuguese translation for Adam and Eve).
I'm going to send this picture to Kees Rookmaaker so he can update his rhinoceros database.
The next place where I would see rhinos is Itatiba. Back in 2014, I saw five. At the time, it was the largest herd in Brazil (and in South America). Unfortunately, three of their white rhinoceroses passed away in 2020, so I only saw two the last time I visited the zoo.
(Gorda and Lama)
Itatiba also claims to have the largest tapir exhibit in the world, although I am quite skeptical about said claim.
In Belo Horizonte, I saw one of the longest-living rhinos in history: the legendary Luna!
The last two rhinos I have seen in Brazil are Congo and Garamba, in Sapucaia do Sul.
I also saw the species at both zoos I visited in Portugal six years ago.
My first time seing them was in São Paulo, thirteen years ago. I was five at the time and had never seen a rhinoceros before.
I saw the same two (1.1) rhinos last Friday. Their names are Adão and Eva (yes, the Portuguese translation for Adam and Eve).
I'm going to send this picture to Kees Rookmaaker so he can update his rhinoceros database.
The next place where I would see rhinos is Itatiba. Back in 2014, I saw five. At the time, it was the largest herd in Brazil (and in South America). Unfortunately, three of their white rhinoceroses passed away in 2020, so I only saw two the last time I visited the zoo.
(Gorda and Lama)
Itatiba also claims to have the largest tapir exhibit in the world, although I am quite skeptical about said claim.
In Belo Horizonte, I saw one of the longest-living rhinos in history: the legendary Luna!
The last two rhinos I have seen in Brazil are Congo and Garamba, in Sapucaia do Sul.
I also saw the species at both zoos I visited in Portugal six years ago.
Attachments
I love rhinos. They are massive, lumbering tanks and by far the most common rhino species I've seen in captivity is the White Rhino. In fact, it is more than double the next species. Spending the first decade of my life in Edmonton, Alberta, meant having snow on the ground half the year, and yet the legendary Alberta Game Farm (Canada) had 90 species/subspecies of ungulates and that included a pair of White Rhinos that were captured from the wild in 1964. As a kid in the late 1970s and early 1980s I always marveled at seeing the huge 2-hectare/5-acre White Rhino paddock at that zoo. Later, the facility underwent a name change (it became Polar Park) and the rhinos were replaced by a handful of European Wild Boar, but the pigs looked slightly ridiculous in the vast expanse of land that previously was the reign of rhinos.
White Rhinos are known to be remarkably docile in captivity and they can be mixed with other species in a savanna setting. Looking at my list, I would estimate that at least 30 of the zoos have mixed White Rhinos with other species, particularly in Europe as that continent is famous for its bold mixing and matching of animals in captivity just as they would in the wild.
Which rhino species will be next on my list?
I've seen White Rhinos at 78 zoos:
2008 = 11 zoos
2010 = 13 zoos
2019 = 13 zoos
2024 = 11 zoos
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – White Rhino – 1975
2- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – White Rhino – 1998
3- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2006
4- Monarto Zoo (Australia) – White Rhino – 2007
5- Toledo Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
6- Detroit Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
7- Toronto Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
8- Indianapolis Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
9- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
10- Memphis Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
11- Zoo Knoxville (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
12- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
13- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
14- Jacksonville Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
15- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – White Rhino – 2008
16- Wildlife Safari (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
17- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
18- Louisville Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
19- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
20- Maryland Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
21- North Carolina Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
22- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
23- Audubon Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
24- Cameron Park Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
25- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
26- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
27- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
28- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2010
29- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2011
30- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2011
31- Erie Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
32- Virginia Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
33- Brevard Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
34- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
35- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
36- Jackson Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
37- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
38- Rolling Hills Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2012
39- Henry Vilas Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2014
40- Peoria Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2014
41- Arbuckle Wilderness Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
42- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
43- Bayou Wildlife Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
44- Houston Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
45- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
46- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
47- Out of Africa Wildlife Park (USA) – White Rhino – 2015
48- Safari West (USA) – White Rhino – 2017
49- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2017
50- Zoo Lille (France) – White Rhino – 2019
51- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – White Rhino – 2019
52- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – White Rhino – 2019
53- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
54- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
55- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
56- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
57- Safaripark Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
58- Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
59- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
60- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
61- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – White Rhino – 2019
62- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – White Rhino – 2019
63- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – White Rhino – 2022
64- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – White Rhino – 2022
65- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – White Rhino – 2022
66- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – White Rhino – 2022
67- Monterey Zoo (USA) – White Rhino – 2023
68- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
69- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
70- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
71- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – White Rhino – 2024
72- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
73- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
74- Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) – White Rhino – 2024
75- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – White Rhino – 2024
76- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
77- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
78- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – White Rhino – 2024
In 2015, a 41 year-old Northern White Rhino named 'Nola' died at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) and it was a tragic day for conservationists. I saw Northern White Rhinos in 2006 and 2011 at the park...but alas those days are well and truly gone now.
@tigris115
Detroit Zoo (USA) famously sent away its remaining elephants in 2005 and critics were quick to denounce the decision and claim that the zoo would rapidly go downhill. Then, and I can't quite recall the exact details, but Detroit Zoo went on to break its attendance record in something like 7 out of 9 years and actually surged in popularity. White Rhinos have been in the old elephant space ever since.
There are three White Rhinos at the back of this exhibit and I took this photo in 2008 at Zoo Knoxville (USA). Back then, Knoxville was quite well known for its White Rhino breeding program and there had been around 30 births over the years, but since my visit the zoo shifted its rhinos to a different part of the zoo and now there is ongoing construction on the ex-elephant yard and it will house White Rhinos in the near future.
White Rhinos are enormous creatures, weighing thousands of pounds, and it's important for them to have loads of space to roam as they can be hard on their environment simply by walking around and flattening out the dirt in a small enclosure. Watani Grasslands is a complex at North Carolina Zoo (USA) that contains one of the largest African Savannas at any zoo in the world and it's perfect for rhinos.
@Moebelle
I remember really appreciating the White Rhino exhibit at Reid Park Zoo (USA), with its spacious layout and at times there would be Speke's Gazelles, Marabou Storks and Kori Bustards in the mix.
The nicely landscaped White Rhino habitat at Brevard Zoo (USA), within the Expedition Africa loop, is another memorable one for me.
Rolling Hills Zoo (USA) had a huge Rhino House when I was there in 2012 and in the past this zoo has held White, Black and Indian Rhinos all at the same time. That's pretty impressive for a place that most European zoo nerds have probably never heard of. However, the outdoor paddocks are all very basic and the indoor stalls in the barn are small and with cement floors.
When I toured Out of Africa Wildlife Park (USA) in 2015, the zoo had a 2-hectare/5-acre exhibit for a single White Rhino named 'Jericho'. It's a typical, desert-like environment at an Arizona zoo.
My image from Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) shows a gorgeous African Savanna, including a White Rhino grazing and with an African Elephant habitat far in the background. It's all part of the $56 million African Adventure complex that opened in 2015. Stunning!
Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) has a multi-acre African Savanna with White Rhinos, Giraffes and an assortment of antelope, all surrounded by a Dutch forest.
@twilighter
Givskud Zoo (Denmark) has more than one African Savanna, but the multi-acre enclosure seen via the walking section holds at least a half-dozen White Rhinos along with several other ungulates. It's spectacular, but I wonder how much snow this region receives in the winter and how that affects the African mammals.
Yet another world-class White Rhino exhibit found in Europe is the one at Boras Zoo (Sweden) and when I toured that facility with @twilighter in 2022 we saw 4 White Rhinos and 5 Cheetahs all together. That's a mix that has been ongoing for 25 years!
When I headed off to Southeast Asia in August on a big zoo trek, I wasn't sure how much African megafauna would be in those Asian zoos. Rest assured, there's loads and that includes almost a dozen zoos with White Rhinos. Here's the large, shaded enclosure at Songkhla Zoo (Thailand):
There are two White Rhinos resting at the back of their exhibit at Taiping Zoo (Malaysia):
There are three White Rhinos (on the left) at Zoo Negara (Malaysia), surrounded by tall jungle trees and the occasional troop of wild monkeys.
I'm not sure if many Southeast Asian zoos even bring their White Rhinos into their barns each evening, as some of the accommodation is pretty sparse. Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) and other zoos are in a tropical region with warm weather and so maybe the rhinos are left with 24/7 access to their paddocks.
Surprisingly, the White Rhino exhibit at Singapore Zoo (Singapore) looks a bit tight on space, especially with 7 rhinos coexisting there.
Looking magnificent against a jungle backdrop, a White Rhino at Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) can be seen via the safari tour.
Perissodactyla: 12 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
White Rhino - 78 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
In the case of Malaysia...
Zoo Taiping>>>Always keeps in barns overnight
Zoo Melaka / Zoo Negara>>>Depends on weather and health condition, usually does not keep in barns overnight
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
For the Order Perissodactyla, I've seen these species.
Family Rhinocerotidae
Family Rhinocerotidae
- Black Rhinoceros (D. bicornis)
- Indian Rhinoceros (R. unicornis)
- White Rhinoceros (C. simum)
- African Wild Ass (E. africanus)
- Domestic Donkey (E. asinus)
- Grevy’s Zebra (E. grevyi’
- Horse (E. ferus)
- Mountain Zebra (E. zebra)
- Plains Zebra (E. quagga)
- Baird’s Tapir (T. bairdii)
- South American Tapir (T. terrestris)
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Basing it off that, I have seen all of those plus Malayan tapir, Sumatran Rhino and Onager.
I doubt if snowleopard has seen a captive Javan rhino
I can add mountain and Baird's tapirs and kiangs to your list
There's been all this sudden talk about me seeing a Javan Rhino and someone messaged me yesterday asking how many I'd come across in my travels! Well, I must admit that I did travel with @twilighter to Southeast Asia on a 23-day zoo trip in August...we did visit Indonesia for 10 days...we carried our backpacks all the way across Java from the east coast to the west coast...we did have some special behind-the-scenes tours...it makes sense that we might have seen a Javan Rhinoceros at some point in our journey...but the truth is that I have NEVER seen a Javan Rhino and likely never will. Yes, I have petted a Sumatran Rhino, but that's for the next day's post!
Yesterday I discussed White Rhinos (78 zoos) and Black Rhinos are next for me, but found in less than half of the zoos of their white peers. This species is solitary and can be aggressive, so mixing them in big savanna exhibits is not something often seen in zoos. Perhaps due to the fact that this type of rhino is kept separate from other species, has resulted in a number of enclosures that aren't very significant. Here's a rare situation, based solely on my personal visits, where the North American exhibit quality definitely outshines the European exhibits.
I've seen Black Rhinos at 39 zoos:
1- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Black Rhino – 2003
2- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2005
3- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
4- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
5- Denver Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
6- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Black Rhino – 2007
7- Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
8- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
9- Pittsburgh Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
10- Columbus Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
11- Zoo Atlanta (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
12- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
13- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
14- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
15- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
16- Zoo Miami (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
17- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
18- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
19- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
20- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
21- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
22- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
23- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino - 2010
24- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
25- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
26- Potter Park Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
27- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
28- Racine Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
29- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
30- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
31- Abilene Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2015
32- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Black Rhino – 2019
33- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
34- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
35- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
36- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
37- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
38- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Black Rhino – 2022
39 - Living Desert Zoo (USA) - Black Rhino - 2023
The very first time I ever saw a Black Rhino was at Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) and the animal in question followed me as I strolled past the exhibit. It was a tad unnerving to have a rhino stomp its feet in the dust, put its head down and mock charge and I've never forgotten that incident. These days, I think that whole rhino area in Zurich is an Australian zone.
San Francisco Zoo (USA) has a generic, dusty old Black Rhino enclosure in a part of the zoo that's fairly rundown as nearby are structures such as the Lion House and Penguin Island and neither are up to modern standards.
Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) is still hanging onto a few larger mammal species, including breeding Black Rhinos.
@pachyderm pro
Between my two visits to Fort Worth Zoo (USA), in 2008 and 2015, I saw White, Indian and Black Rhinos. Since then, the zoo has built a large African section that includes a new Black Rhino habitat.
@GiornoPizza
My 2008 photo, taken at Zoo Miami (USA), shows a couple of Black Rhinos who are actually in separate exhibits. Perhaps no other zoo on the planet has as many dry moated enclosures as Miami.
With multiple vantage points, a lush, shady environment, and Sacred Ibis as fellow species, the Black Rhino exhibit in River's Edge at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has long been regarded as one of the very best rhino exhibits in America. One flaw is the rustic, basic signage in the area.
When I toured Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) in 2010, I was quite harsh in my review as so much of the zoo was a product of the 1960s. Since my visit, the zoo has opened a few more mediocre enclosures (an ape metal cage in the woods, elephants, hippos) and there are plans for a new Black Rhino exhibit. But this is Milwaukee, so I wouldn't get too excited. The more zoos I visit, the worse this place looks and even 3-4 months of the year has snow on the ground!
Here was the Black Rhino enclosure in 2010:
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) has had a lot of breeding success with Black Rhinos over the years and the exhibit has been doubled in size since I was there in 2010. There are two yards now and if I'm not mistaken the zoo bulldozed its old Monkey Island to make more room for rhinos.
@CMZman
I recall, years ago, seeing a lot of praise for Caldwell Zoo (USA) and its Black Rhino setup, with at least two outdoor yards and 5 indoor stalls. It's still adequate, but clearly time has moved on a little as the outdoor paddocks aren't very large and the indoor stalls are a bit tight on space and with cement floors. Once you see a few European zoos with indoor rhino areas (for other species) of larger sizes, and thick natural substrate on the floors, and even sometimes pools, then suddenly Caldwell's aging setup isn't as great as it once was. It does still work though.
A gem of an exhibit, Rare Rhinos of Africa, can be found for Black Rhinos at Great Plains Zoo (USA). It's arguably that facility's most notable attraction.
@Dhole dude
Here's a great sign at the zoo:
In 2013, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) opened Encounter Africa, which included a new Black Rhino exhibit. One of the neat quirks was that a rhino statue could shoot water out of its butt (!!) towards visitors on the path.
Here's my photo shortly after the exhibit opened:
@MGolka
Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands) is a great zoo and one I thoroughly enjoyed visiting, but the outdated Black Rhino exhibit with its weird columns in the paddock is a bit of an eyesore. Here's two rhinos and two columns!
Another zoo with an outdated Black Rhino enclosure is Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) and I photographed this old specimen in 2019. Later on, I was told by @Maguari that this particular rhino was famous for being the very last South-central Black Rhino in all of Europe.
Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) recently unveiled a grandiose master-plan and from my understanding a lot of the area near the ancient Pachyderm House is ripe for redevelopment.
A saw an extraordinary Black Rhino exhibit at Cologne Zoo (Germany), because a rhino lumbered past me behind glass!
Berlin Zoo (Germany) had Black Rhinos when I was there in 2019.
An okay, but not great, Black Rhino exhibit is found at Hannover Zoo (USA) in that zoo's extensive African area.
My slightly blurry, but significant photo from Ree Park Safari (Denmark), is of the spacious African Savanna and it's a real highlight of the zoo, if one can ignore the annoying jeeps. There’s a lot of space, many vantage points along the track, and large herds of Rothschild’s Giraffes, Impala (at least 20), Common Eland, Blue Wildebeest (20), Waterbuck (20), Plains Zebras, several Ostriches and most shocking of all is that I saw a Black Rhino lumbering amongst the crowd. It's the only time I've seen a Black Rhino in a savanna exhibit.
Perissodactyla: 13 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
White Rhino - 78 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
Black Rhino - 39 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
Yesterday I discussed White Rhinos (78 zoos) and Black Rhinos are next for me, but found in less than half of the zoos of their white peers. This species is solitary and can be aggressive, so mixing them in big savanna exhibits is not something often seen in zoos. Perhaps due to the fact that this type of rhino is kept separate from other species, has resulted in a number of enclosures that aren't very significant. Here's a rare situation, based solely on my personal visits, where the North American exhibit quality definitely outshines the European exhibits.
I've seen Black Rhinos at 39 zoos:
1- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Black Rhino – 2003
2- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2005
3- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
4- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
5- Denver Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
6- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Black Rhino – 2007
7- Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
8- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
9- Pittsburgh Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
10- Columbus Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
11- Zoo Atlanta (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
12- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
13- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
14- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
15- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
16- Zoo Miami (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
17- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
18- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
19- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
20- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
21- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
22- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
23- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino - 2010
24- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
25- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
26- Potter Park Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
27- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
28- Racine Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
29- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
30- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
31- Abilene Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2015
32- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Black Rhino – 2019
33- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
34- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
35- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
36- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
37- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
38- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Black Rhino – 2022
39 - Living Desert Zoo (USA) - Black Rhino - 2023
The very first time I ever saw a Black Rhino was at Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) and the animal in question followed me as I strolled past the exhibit. It was a tad unnerving to have a rhino stomp its feet in the dust, put its head down and mock charge and I've never forgotten that incident. These days, I think that whole rhino area in Zurich is an Australian zone.
San Francisco Zoo (USA) has a generic, dusty old Black Rhino enclosure in a part of the zoo that's fairly rundown as nearby are structures such as the Lion House and Penguin Island and neither are up to modern standards.
Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) is still hanging onto a few larger mammal species, including breeding Black Rhinos.
@pachyderm pro
Between my two visits to Fort Worth Zoo (USA), in 2008 and 2015, I saw White, Indian and Black Rhinos. Since then, the zoo has built a large African section that includes a new Black Rhino habitat.
@GiornoPizza
My 2008 photo, taken at Zoo Miami (USA), shows a couple of Black Rhinos who are actually in separate exhibits. Perhaps no other zoo on the planet has as many dry moated enclosures as Miami.
With multiple vantage points, a lush, shady environment, and Sacred Ibis as fellow species, the Black Rhino exhibit in River's Edge at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has long been regarded as one of the very best rhino exhibits in America. One flaw is the rustic, basic signage in the area.
When I toured Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) in 2010, I was quite harsh in my review as so much of the zoo was a product of the 1960s. Since my visit, the zoo has opened a few more mediocre enclosures (an ape metal cage in the woods, elephants, hippos) and there are plans for a new Black Rhino exhibit. But this is Milwaukee, so I wouldn't get too excited. The more zoos I visit, the worse this place looks and even 3-4 months of the year has snow on the ground!
Here was the Black Rhino enclosure in 2010:
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) has had a lot of breeding success with Black Rhinos over the years and the exhibit has been doubled in size since I was there in 2010. There are two yards now and if I'm not mistaken the zoo bulldozed its old Monkey Island to make more room for rhinos.
@CMZman
I recall, years ago, seeing a lot of praise for Caldwell Zoo (USA) and its Black Rhino setup, with at least two outdoor yards and 5 indoor stalls. It's still adequate, but clearly time has moved on a little as the outdoor paddocks aren't very large and the indoor stalls are a bit tight on space and with cement floors. Once you see a few European zoos with indoor rhino areas (for other species) of larger sizes, and thick natural substrate on the floors, and even sometimes pools, then suddenly Caldwell's aging setup isn't as great as it once was. It does still work though.
A gem of an exhibit, Rare Rhinos of Africa, can be found for Black Rhinos at Great Plains Zoo (USA). It's arguably that facility's most notable attraction.
@Dhole dude
Here's a great sign at the zoo:
In 2013, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) opened Encounter Africa, which included a new Black Rhino exhibit. One of the neat quirks was that a rhino statue could shoot water out of its butt (!!) towards visitors on the path.
Here's my photo shortly after the exhibit opened:
@MGolka
Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands) is a great zoo and one I thoroughly enjoyed visiting, but the outdated Black Rhino exhibit with its weird columns in the paddock is a bit of an eyesore. Here's two rhinos and two columns!
Another zoo with an outdated Black Rhino enclosure is Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) and I photographed this old specimen in 2019. Later on, I was told by @Maguari that this particular rhino was famous for being the very last South-central Black Rhino in all of Europe.
Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) recently unveiled a grandiose master-plan and from my understanding a lot of the area near the ancient Pachyderm House is ripe for redevelopment.
A saw an extraordinary Black Rhino exhibit at Cologne Zoo (Germany), because a rhino lumbered past me behind glass!
Berlin Zoo (Germany) had Black Rhinos when I was there in 2019.
An okay, but not great, Black Rhino exhibit is found at Hannover Zoo (USA) in that zoo's extensive African area.
My slightly blurry, but significant photo from Ree Park Safari (Denmark), is of the spacious African Savanna and it's a real highlight of the zoo, if one can ignore the annoying jeeps. There’s a lot of space, many vantage points along the track, and large herds of Rothschild’s Giraffes, Impala (at least 20), Common Eland, Blue Wildebeest (20), Waterbuck (20), Plains Zebras, several Ostriches and most shocking of all is that I saw a Black Rhino lumbering amongst the crowd. It's the only time I've seen a Black Rhino in a savanna exhibit.
Perissodactyla: 13 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
White Rhino - 78 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
Black Rhino - 39 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
Last edited:
I have never seen a black rhinocerosThere's been all this sudden talk about me seeing a Javan Rhino and someone messaged me yesterday asking how many I'd come across in my travels! Well, I must admit that I did travel with @twilighter to Southeast Asia on a 23-day zoo trip in August...we did visit Indonesia for 10 days...we carried our backpacks all the way across Java from the east coast to the west coast...we did have some special behind-the-scenes tours...it makes sense that we might have seen a Javan Rhinoceros at some point in our journey...but the truth is that I have NEVER seen a Javan Rhino and likely never will. Yes, I have petted a Sumatran Rhino, but that's for the next day's post!
Yesterday I discussed White Rhinos (78 zoos) and Black Rhinos are next for me, but found in less than half of the zoos of their white peers. This species is solitary and can be aggressive, so mixing them in big savanna exhibits is not something often seen in zoos. Perhaps due to the fact that this type of rhino is kept separate from other species, has resulted in a number of enclosures that aren't very significant. Here's a rare situation, based solely on my personal visits, where the North American exhibit quality definitely outshines the European exhibits.
I've seen Black Rhinos at 38 zoos:
1- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Black Rhino – 2003
2- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2005
3- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
4- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
5- Denver Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2006
6- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Black Rhino – 2007
7- Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
8- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
9- Pittsburgh Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
10- Columbus Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
11- Zoo Atlanta (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
12- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
13- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
14- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
15- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
16- Zoo Miami (USA) – Black Rhino – 2008
17- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
18- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
19- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
20- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
21- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
22- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
23- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino - 2010
24- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2010
25- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
26- Potter Park Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
27- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2012
28- Racine Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
29- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
30- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2014
31- Abilene Zoo (USA) – Black Rhino – 2015
32- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Black Rhino – 2019
33- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
34- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
35- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
36- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
37- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Black Rhino – 2019
38- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Black Rhino – 2022
The very first time I ever saw a Black Rhino was at Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) and the animal in question followed me as I strolled past the exhibit. It was a tad unnerving to have a rhino stomp its feet in the dust, put its head down and mock charge and I've never forgotten that incident. These days, I think that whole rhino area in Zurich is an Australian zone.
San Francisco Zoo (USA) has a generic, dusty old Black Rhino enclosure in a part of the zoo that's fairly rundown as nearby are structures such as the Lion House and Penguin Island and neither are up to modern standards.
Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) is still hanging onto a few larger mammal species, including breeding Black Rhinos.
@pachyderm pro
Between my two visits to Fort Worth Zoo (USA), in 2008 and 2015, I saw White, Indian and Black Rhinos. Since then, the zoo has built a large African section that includes a new Black Rhino habitat.
@GiornoPizza
My 2008 photo, taken at Zoo Miami (USA), shows a couple of Black Rhinos who are actually in separate exhibits. Perhaps no other zoo on the planet has as many dry moated enclosures as Miami.
With multiple vantage points, a lush, shady environment, and Sacred Ibis as fellow species, the Black Rhino exhibit in River's Edge at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has long been regarded as one of the very best rhino exhibits in America. One flaw is the rustic, basic signage in the area.
When I toured Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) in 2010, I was quite harsh in my review as so much of the zoo was a product of the 1960s. Since my visit, the zoo has opened a few more mediocre enclosures (an ape metal cage in the woods, elephants, hippos) and there are plans for a new Black Rhino exhibit. But this is Milwaukee, so I wouldn't get too excited. The more zoos I visit, the worse this place looks and even 3-4 months of the year has snow on the ground!
Here was the Black Rhino enclosure in 2010:
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) has had a lot of breeding success with Black Rhinos over the years and the exhibit has been doubled in size since I was there in 2010. There are two yards now and if I'm not mistaken the zoo bulldozed its old Monkey Island to make more room for rhinos.
@CMZman
I recall, years ago, seeing a lot of praise for Caldwell Zoo (USA) and its Black Rhino setup, with at least two outdoor yards and 5 indoor stalls. It's still adequate, but clearly time has moved on a little as the outdoor paddocks aren't very large and the indoor stalls are a bit tight on space and with cement floors. Once you see a few European zoos with indoor rhino areas (for other species) of larger sizes, and thick natural substrate on the floors, and even sometimes pools, then suddenly Caldwell's aging setup isn't as great as it once was. It does still work though.
A gem of an exhibit, Rare Rhinos of Africa, can be found for Black Rhinos at Great Plains Zoo (USA). It's arguably that facility's most notable attraction.
@Dhole dude
Here's a great sign at the zoo:
In 2013, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) opened Encounter Africa, which included a new Black Rhino exhibit. One of the neat quirks was that a rhino statue could shoot water out of its butt (!!) towards visitors on the path.
Here's my photo shortly after the exhibit opened:
@MGolka
Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands) is a great zoo and one I thoroughly enjoyed visiting, but the outdated Black Rhino exhibit with its weird columns in the paddock is a bit of an eyesore. Here's two rhinos and two columns!
Another zoo with an outdated Black Rhino enclosure is Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) and I photographed this old specimen in 2019. Later on, I was told by @Maguari that this particular rhino was famous for being the very last South-central Black Rhino in all of Europe.
Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) recently unveiled a grandiose master-plan and from my understanding a lot of the area near the ancient Pachyderm House is ripe for redevelopment.
A saw an extraordinary Black Rhino exhibit at Cologne Zoo (Germany), because a rhino lumbered past me behind glass!
Berlin Zoo (Germany) had Black Rhinos when I was there in 2019.
An okay, but not great, Black Rhino exhibit is found at Hannover Zoo (USA) in that zoo's extensive African area.
My slightly blurry, but significant photo from Ree Park Safari (Denmark), is of the spacious African Savanna and it's a real highlight of the zoo, if one can ignore the annoying jeeps. There’s a lot of space, many vantage points along the track, and large herds of Rothschild’s Giraffes, Impala (at least 20), Common Eland, Blue Wildebeest (20), Waterbuck (20), Plains Zebras, several Ostriches and most shocking of all is that I saw a Black Rhino lumbering amongst the crowd. It's the only time I've seen a Black Rhino in a savanna exhibit.
Perissodactyla: 13 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
White Rhino - 78 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
Black Rhino - 38 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
.The species left Brazil in the early 1990s. Three collections kept them: BioParque do Rio (then just known as the Rio de Janeiro zoo), FPZSP (Zoo SP) and FZBRS (a.k.a. Parque Zoológico de Sapucaia do Sul).
According to The Rhinoceros in Captivity, my local zoo was the second in the world to breed black rhinos, only behind Brookfield.
Three calves were born between 1954 and 1958, all to a pair imported from Kenta in 1949.
The firstborn was a female, named Cacareco. She was loaned to São Paulo in 1958, for its grand opening. She (then believed to be a "he") became so popular a journalist decided to launch her candidacy for concilour. Amongst all candidates, Cacareco received the most votes.
She was returned to Rio before the 1959 elections (her stay had been extended becaused she gained the affection of the Paulistas). In 1962 she was loaned again, this time to FZBRS, once again for an inauguration. She was returned to Rio and passed away the same year.
Both São Paulo and FZBRS held three more black rhinos each.