I find it odd people are surprised to see Cheetah so high on the list, once breeding was properly understood the population took off and spread through AZA and non-AZA alike. Population wise they continue to challenge the Lion for more populous felid in the AZA, and I believe they also rank in the top 5 most numerous carnivores in the AZA.
I might be misunderstanding your use of "odd", but there's only two comments of surprise and one is mine and I think I somewhat explained so. I only paid full attention to a smaller handful of zoos most of my time on ZooChat which happened to not include as many Cheetah, and never paid attention to the total country-wide numbers or populations at a lot of zoos I hadn't yet had the hope to visit. I've only been branching out in the last year or so and even then there are still plenty of facilities for me to learn about, a lot of which is probably old news to you and some of the senior zoochatters. Hope to be on that level someday.
It's great the breeding is better understood now as so many older sources still cite them as one of the hardest species to breed and requiring great effort and difficulty.
I only paid full attention to a smaller handful of zoos most of my time on ZooChat which happened to not include as many Cheetah, and never paid attention to the total country-wide numbers or populations at a lot of zoos I hadn't yet had the hope to visit.
Which is quite fair, and generally we all know the zoos closest to us best, and more often than not that includes some sort of species bias. I think of Grevy's Zebra first when it comes to zebras because that's what Sacramento has long held, despite only seeing Grevy's at one other zoo yet seen Plains at five.
It's great the breeding is better understood now as so many older sources still cite them as one of the hardest species to breed and requiring great effort and difficulty.
Indeed, they proved a tricky one to understand. They do remain complicated (particularly with fairly high neonate mortality), but the methods for higher success are now understood pretty well which has greatly decreased the actual difficulty. More things continue to be learned and successes gained.
#19/20* American Black Bear
47** AZA Accredited Institutions
Black Bear Studbook
*My pre-post counts of American black bears slightly underestimated their holders. A revised count has them sitting in the 19th/20th spot ahead of red ruffed lemurs.
** This count of AZA holders from Zootierliste is an undercount of actual AZA holders. The Baylor University Bear Habitat in Texas does not appear to be on Zootierliste, and there might be holding omissions from listed facilities.
Image by ZooChat Member Jogy
The American black bear is abundant in the wild, can be found in many non-accredited facilities in North America, and also has a lot of AZA accredited zoo holders. It's not the most charismatic bear species, but bears in general are very charismatic and popular animals. Greater availability is primarily responsible for the American black bear being the most commonly held bear species in AZA. American black bears are not bred in AZA institutions; however, they are commonly available as rescues from the wild or from other captive animal facilities. American black bears are popular choices for native species exhibit complexes in North America. You can find them in a range of these exhibits including, the Oregon Zoo's Great Northwest, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the Calgary Zoo's Wild Canada, and Zoo Miami's Florida: Mission Everglades. American black bears are Least Concern and increasing throughout much of their range. The increased likelihood of encountering black bears, because of their wide range and large population, makes these bears good animals to interpret human-animal interactions. American black bears are intelligent, powerful, excellent climbers, good swimmers, and can dig. Enclosures for them should be large and require substantial and durable barriers to keep them contained.
1 Aquarium/Biodome
Wonders of Wildlife, Mo.
4 Regional or National Specialists
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Ariz. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Wash. Western North Carolina Nature Center, N.C. ZOOAMERICA NA Wildlife Park, Pa.
5 Limited Collection Zoos
Buttonwood Park Zoo, Mass. Lake Superior Zoo, Minn. Museum of Life and Science, N.C. Sequoia Park Zoo, Calif. Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo, Mass.
34 Zoos
Audubon Zoo, La. Binder Park Zoo, Mich. Birmingham Zoo, Ala. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Caldwell Zoo, Texas Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Cape May County Park and Zoo, N.J. Central Florida Zoological Park, Fla. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas. Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. Lincoln Park Zoo, Ill. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Naples Zoo, Fla. North Carolina Zoo, N.C. Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo, Wis. Oakland Zoo, Calif. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Oregon Zoo, Ore. Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, Fla. San Antonio Zoological Society, Texas. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, Kan. Turtle Back Zoo, N.J. Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada Zoo Knoxville, Tenn. Zoo Miami, Fla. ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Fla.
3 Safari Parks
Africam Safari Park, Mexico Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari, Nebraska Wildlife Safari, Ore.
#21 Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra)
46 AZA Accredited Institutions + 1 Accredited Related Facility
Red Ruffed Lemur SSP
See my previous post.
#22 Southern Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) 46 AZA Accredited Institutions*
Southern Three-banded Armadillo SSP
* Likely an undercount because of under-reports of ambassador animals on Zootierliste
Image by ZooChat Member Ding Lingwei
The southern three-banded armadillo would be even higher on this list were it not for an undercount of holders on Zootierliste that keep these armadillos as ambassador animals. Armadillos are famous for their keratinous protective plates that give them a unique armored appearance and three-banded armadillos can roll into a ball; this makes them great animals to showcase animal defenses. Southern three-banded armadillos are small and easy to manage as ambassador animals. In addition to being popular ambassador animals, southern three-banded armadillos are sometimes exhibited in South American complexes, especially mixed-species displays. They are Near Threatened and face pressure from habitat destruction and hunting/harvesting. Southern three-banded armadillos are bred regularly by a few facilities. Their exhibit needs are very minimal compared to other mammal species held in zoos.
1 Aquarium
Adventure Aquarium, N.J.
2 Aquariums/Biodomes
Discovery Cove, Fla. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Utah
1 Taxa Specialist
National Aviary, Pa.
8 Small Collection Zoos
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Ohio Dakota Zoo, N.D. Lake Superior Zoo, Minn. Lincoln Children's Zoo, Nebraska Oglebay's Good Zoo, W.Va. Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, Fla. Staten Island Zoo, N.Y. ZooMontana, Mont.
33 Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Assiniboine Park Zoo, Canada BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ohio Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio El Paso Zoo, Texas. Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Mo. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas Little Rock Zoological Gardens, Arkansas Louisville Zoological Garden, Ky Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Oregon Zoo, Ore. Peoria Zoo, Ill. Pueblo Zoo, Colo. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Wash. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, S.C. San Antonio Zoological Society, Texas. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Virginia Zoological Park, Va. Zoo Boise, Idaho
The only thing keeping tigers from appearing even higher on this list was the decision to split up the species like AZA animal programs do. Some researchers have recently argued that there is not enough significant evidence to warrant separating tigers into nine subspecies (six living), and instead advocate for two subspecies, an Asian mainland subspecies and a Sunda island subspecies. Under that classification the Amur and Malayan tiger programs in the AZA would not even constitute two unique wild subspecies of tigers. Subsequent whole-genome sequencing analyses have suggested six living tiger subspecies. The thing I take away from this is that tigers are so commonly held in AZA zoos that: they can be broken down into debatable subspecies; several of those subspecies can be managed as separate populations; and those individual subspecies will still be some of the most commonly held mammals in AZA institutions. Amur tigers are more commonly held in AZA than Malayan tigers or Sumatran tigers. All three are SSP programs. What helps make the Amur tiger more common is that they are the more temperate tiger, and spots for more tropical tigers can be taken by either the Malayan or Sumatran tiger. Amur tigers are very common in northern AZA zoos, but do not appear in southern AZA zoos. Their adaptability to cold climates means that these northern zoos do not have to provide extensive heated winter shelters. Tigers as a species are Endangered and there are only a few hundred wild Amur tigers. They are often used as a flagship species for conservation of Asian ecosystems and wildlife. Tigers have been kept in captivity for centuries and their husbandry is very well known. Amur tigers have exceptionally large territories and are intelligent. This can make it challenging to provide Amur tigers with sufficient enrichment in spatially limited zoo exhibits.
4 Small Collection Zoos
Dakota Zoo, N.D. Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, Idaho Lake Superior Zoo, Minn. ZooMontana, Mont.
41 AZA Zoos
Assiniboine Park Zoo, Canada Blank Park Zoo, Iowa Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Ill. Buffalo Zoo, N.Y. Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Minn. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Detroit Zoological Park, Mich. Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., Ind. John Ball Zoo, Mich Louisville Zoological Garden, Ky Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Oregon Zoo, Ore. Peoria Zoo, Ill. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, Pa. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Potter Park Zoological Gardens, Mich. Racine Zoo, Wis. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, S.C. Rolling Hills Zoo, Kan. Roosevelt Park Zoo, N.D. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, N.Y. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Seneca Park Zoo, N.Y. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Toledo Zoological Gardens, Ohio Toronto Zoo, Canada. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada Zoo Boise, Idaho Zoo de Granby, Canada
#23/24 Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)
45 AZA Accredited Institutions
Southern White Rhinoceros SSP
Image by ZooChat Member Valentinoamor
The southern white rhinoceros powers into the upper top twenty of AZA holders on the strength of big-name zoos and presence at all AZA Safari Parks that are not North American focused. No northern white rhinoceros animals are currently kept at AZA institutions. Rhinoceros are one of the largest living terrestrial megaherbivores. Their horns have made them a victim of poaching, but also make them iconic and popular animals. Some AZA zoos, including the Nashville Zoo, have brought in rhinoceros to fill their vacated elephant exhibits. White rhinoceros, listed as Near Threatened, are currently the least endangered of all the species of rhinoceros, although there are only 2 female northern white rhinoceros (subspecies of white rhinoceros) left. All species and subspecies of rhinoceros make compelling examples of the threats of poaching to wild animal populations. There are significant challenges in the captive husbandry of all the rhino species. Historically, it has been easier to feed white rhinoceros than black rhinoceros because the former are grazers and the latter are browsers. Successful and reliable breeding of white rhinoceros has been limited to only a few AZA facilities. White rhinoceros are semi-social and facilities holding larger groups have had more breeding success. Their power and size demands that white rhinoceros be held in relatively large exhibits with durable containment barriers.
36 Zoos
Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Audubon Zoo, La. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Detroit Zoological Park, Mich. Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Calif. Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., Ind. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. Louisville Zoological Garden, Ky Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Nashville Zoo, Tenn. North Carolina Zoo, N.C. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Peoria Zoo, Ill. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Reid Park Zoo, Ariz. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, S.C. Rolling Hills Zoo, Kan. Sacramento Zoo, Calif. San Antonio Zoological Society, Texas Seneca Park Zoo, N.Y. Toronto Zoo, Canada. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Virginia Zoological Park, Va. Zoo Atlanta, Ga. Zoo de Granby, Canada Zoo Knoxville, Tenn. ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Fla.
9 Safari Parks
Africam Safari Park, Mexico Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Fla Disney's Animal Kingdom, Fla. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Texas Lion Country Safari, Fla. Longneck Manor, Texas San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Calif. Wildlife Safari, Ore. Wilds, The, Ohio
#25 Domestic Horse (Equus ferus f. caballus)
44* AZA Accredited Institutions + 1 Accredited Related Facility
No AZA animal management program
*This is likely an underestimate of holders caused by omitted listings on Zootierliste because of uncertainty over forms kept
Image by ZooChat Member Pleistohorse
Domestic horses have a long and storied history with humans, which has helped them become one of the most commonly held mammals in AZA institutions. Domesticated forms of horse are held by considerably more facilities than the wild Endangered Przewalski's horse which was not counted with the domestic horse and does not have enough holders to appear separately on this list. Smaller forms of domestic horse can include both ponies and horses. Both smaller horses and ponies are popular in farm and interactive exhibits in AZA zoos. Larger horse forms are also held. Domestic horses are easy to care for and readily available outside of AZA. Their exhibits are usually quite basic.
1 Accredited Related Facility
Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center, Colo.
11 Small Collection Zoos
Buttonwood Park Zoo, Mass. Cosley Zoo, Ill. Dakota Zoo, N.D. Hutchinson Zoo, Kan. Lehigh Valley Zoo, Penn. Prospect Park Zoo, N.Y. Queens Zoo, N.Y. Red River Zoo, N.D. Saginaw Children's Zoo, Mich. Sequoia Park Zoo, Calif. Staten Island Zoo, N.Y.
28 AZA Zoos
Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Assiniboine Park Zoo, Canada Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, Tenn. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Conn. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas. Franklin Park Zoo, Mass Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Greensboro Science Center, N.C. Honolulu Zoo, Hawaii Little Rock Zoological Gardens, Arkansas Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Nashville Zoo, Tenn. Pueblo Zoo, Colo. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Potter Park Zoological Gardens, Mich. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Turtle Back Zoo, N.J. Zoo de Granby, Canada Zoo Miami, Fla. ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Fla.
5 Safari Parks
Africam Safari Park, Mexico Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Fla San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Calif. Wildlife Safari, Ore. Wilds, The, Ohio
#26 Lesser Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
44* AZA Accredited Institutions
Lesser Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec SSP
* Likely an undercount because of under-reports of ambassador animals on Zootierliste
Image by ZooChat Member geomorph
At one time I was confused how the lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec could have sufficient holders to qualify as an SSP. I didn't realize how popular they have become as an ambassador animal. Lesser hedgehog tenrecs are great showcases of the defensive adaptations of mammals and examples of convergent evolution with hedgehogs. Lesser hedgehog tenrecs can become desensitized to handling and can be transported very easily. Their rather limited motility makes them easy to manage out of their enclosure. They don't require a large holding enclosure, which makes them easy to house behind-the-scenes. Typically, they are not kept in exhibits viewable by the public, in part because of their nocturnal habits. Lesser hedgehog tenrecs are Least Concern, but can serve as ambassadors for more threatened wildlife from Madagascar. Most AZA holders do not regularly breed their lesser hedgehog tenrecs, which has limited their availability.
1 Aquarium
Adventure Aquarium, N.J.
3 Aquarium/Biodome
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Utah Tennessee Aquarium, Tenn. Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Va
7 Small Collection Zoos
Brandywine Zoo, Del. Cosley Zoo, Ill. CuriOdyssey, Calif. David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, Kan. Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, Idaho Queens Zoo, N.Y. Scovill Zoo, Ill.
33 A Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Birmingham Zoo, Ala. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Buffalo Zoo, N.Y. Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Central Florida Zoological Park, Fla. Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, Tenn. Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Dallas Zoo, Texas Greensboro Science Center, N.C. Greenville Zoo, S.C. Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas John Ball Zoo, Mich Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Oakland Zoo, Calif. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Racine Zoo, Wis. Roger Williams Park Zoo, R.I. Sacramento Zoo, Calif. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, Kan. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Virginia Zoological Park, Va. Zoo Atlanta, Ga. Zoo Boise, Idaho
#27 Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus)
43 AZA Accredited Institutions
Red Kangaroo SSP
Image by ZooChat Member Grizzly Hound
The most commonly held native Australian mammal in AZA isn't the Bennet's wallaby it's the red kangaroo, and by a good margin. Red kangaroos are more social and tend to be kept in larger mobs than Bennet's wallabies too. Red kangaroos are the largest living terrestrial mammal native to Australia and the largest living marsupial. Both sexes can be red-brown, although the females tend to be blueish grey. Red kangaroos are abundant and Least Concern. Red kangaroos can be interesting from an educational perspective because of their ability to delay the birth of their baby until the previous joey has left the pouch or environmental conditions are more favorable (embryonic diapause). They breed easily in captivity, and are easy to acquire. Red kangaroos are sometimes kept in walk-through exhibits, although their strength and size could be dangerous. Their exhibits tend to be large, but not elaborate or prohibitively expensive to construct.
5 Small Collection Zoos
Capron Park Zoo, Mass. Lake Superior Zoo, Minn. Lehigh Valley Zoo, Penn. Oglebay's Good Zoo, W.Va. Staten Island Zoo, N.Y.
35 Zoos
Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Assiniboine Park Zoo, Canada Binder Park Zoo, Mich. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Cape May County Park and Zoo, N.J. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ohio Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Detroit Zoological Park, Mich. Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas. Franklin Park Zoo, Mass Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Calif. Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., Ind. Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Mo. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas Lincoln Park Zoo, Ill. Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Nashville Zoo, Tenn. Pueblo Zoo, Colo. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, Pa. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Potter Park Zoological Gardens, Mich. Racine Zoo, Wis. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, S.C. Rolling Hills Zoo, Kan. Roosevelt Park Zoo, N.D. Sacramento Zoo, Calif. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. San Antonio Zoological Society, Texas. Tulsa Zoo, Okla.
3 Safari Parks
Africam Safari Park, Mexico Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Fla Disney's Animal Kingdom, Fla.
I've read that the jaguar was once considered for phase-out in AZA, so the former green designation of the Jaguar SSP and the large number of current AZA holders is notable. Jaguars have been and continue to be an iconic and revered animal to the peoples of North America and South America. They are flagship species for the large variety of habitats across the two continents that they inhabit. They have been extirpated from some of this historical range, but are listed as Near Threatened overall. Husbandry in zoos is generally good and the majority of jaguars now live to geriatric ages. However, detailed species level information on jaguars is less well known than for lions, tigers, and leopards. Jaguars are strong and agile and those capabilities need to be respected when holding them. The ability to climb and swim are very important for jaguars and enclosures should provide amble opportunities for jaguars to display those behaviors.
2 Limited Collection Zoos
Happy Hollow Zoo, Calif. Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo, Mass.
39 Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Akron Zoological Park, Ohio Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Audubon Zoo, La. Birmingham Zoo, Ala. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Caldwell Zoo, Texas Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, Tenn. El Paso Zoo, Texas Elmwood Park Zoo, Pa. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas Little Rock Zoological Gardens, Arkansas The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Calif. Los Angeles Zoo, Calif. Louisville Zoological Garden, Ky Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Oakland Zoo, Calif. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, Fla. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Reid Park Zoo, Ariz. Sacramento Zoo, Calif. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. San Antonio Zoological Society, Texas. San Diego Zoo, Calif. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Turtle Back Zoo, N.J. Woodland Park Zoo, Wash. Zoo de Granby, Canada Zoo Miami, Fla.
1 Safari Park
Africam Safari Park, Mexico
#29/30/28 Red River Hog
42 AZA Accredited Institutions
Red River Hog SSP
Image by ZooChat Member Ituri
Warthogs may have the fame from Lion King, but red river hogs can boast of having more AZA holders. Red river hog popularity is certainly helped by being the most colorful wild pig species with orange to reddish brown fur, black furred legs, and a stripe of longer white fur running along their backs. If that wasn't enough, they have tasseled ears and the adorable babies are striped. Red river hogs are also displayed in a greater variety of African exhibits than warthogs are. Red river hogs are Least Concern, although they are hunted as bushmeat and they can help educate the public about that threat to African wildlife. Red river hogs are robust and breed readily in captivity. They are usually displayed in smaller exhibits than other species of African hoofstock. A variety of species have been exhibited with them, although some caution should be used because they are a wild pig. Red river hogs are smart, inquisitive, and active, and require good enrichment programs.
1 Small Collection Zoo
Oglebay's Good Zoo, W.Va.
39 Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Audubon Zoo, La. Binder Park Zoo, Mich. Blank Park Zoo, Iowa BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Ill. Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ohio Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. El Paso Zoo, Texas. Franklin Park Zoo, Mass Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Mo. Lincoln Park Zoo, Ill. Little Rock Zoological Gardens, Arkansas Los Angeles Zoo, Calif. Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Nashville Zoo, Tenn. North Carolina Zoo, N.C. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Peoria Zoo, Ill. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Roger Williams Park Zoo, R.I. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, N.Y. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. San Diego Zoo, Calif. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Toronto Zoo, Canada. Virginia Zoological Park, Va. Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada Zoo de Granby, Canada Zoo Miami, Fla. ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Fla.
2 Safari Parks
Disney's Animal Kingdom (Lodge), Fla. San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Calif.
If you browse through species lists of popular AZA zoos on ZooChat you have probably noticed white-faced saki monkeys pop up frequently as they have become one of the most commonly held monkeys in AZA facilities. The dramatic contrast of the faces of male white-faced saki monkeys with their black bodies is responsible for the species name and contributes significantly to their popularity. The smaller females have duller coloration. Pairs of white-faced saki monkeys make great examples of sexual dichromatism in mammals and sexual dimorphism. White-faced saki monkeys are Least Concern, although poorly studied. White-faced saki monkeys did not originally fare well in captivity, but an improved understanding of the importance of seeds and nuts to their diet and appropriate changes in their diet have greatly contributed to their increased success in captivity. High humidity is important for their coat and skin. White-faced saki monkeys are equatorial animals that are sensitive to the cold. These arboreal primates are popular in tropical South American rainforest and forest exhibits in AZA zoos, and can be housed successfully in a variety of mixed species exhibits.
2 Aquariums/Biodomes
Dallas World Aquarium, Texas Moody Gardens Rainforest and Aquarium, Texas
5 Small Collection Zoos
Brandywine Zoo, Del. Central Park Zoo, N.Y. Miller Park Zoo, Ill. Prospect Park Zoo, N.Y. Red River Zoo, N.D.
35 Zoos
Audubon Zoo, La. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Buffalo Zoo, N.Y. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ohio Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Minn. Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Conn. Dallas Zoo, Texas Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. Elmwood Park Zoo, Pa. Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Ind. Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas John Ball Zoo, Mich Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Mo. Lincoln Park Zoo, Ill. Little Rock Zoological Gardens, Arkansas Los Angeles Zoo, Calif. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, Pa. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, S.C. Roger Williams Park Zoo, R.I. Sacramento Zoo, Calif. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. Santa Barbara Zoo, Calif. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Toronto Zoo, Canada. Virginia Zoological Park, Va. Woodland Park Zoo, Wash. Zoo Miami, Fla.
This is where the difficulties of ZTL are really starting to show, as multiple species in this most recent post don't actually belong on the list yet. It's definitely trickier as numbers get closer together, but some of the stated statistics aren't even close.
There actually is a studbook for American black bears in AZA - there’s a difference between a studbook and an SSP, though we often use the terms interchangeably
There actually is a studbook for American black bears in AZA - there’s a difference between a studbook and an SSP, though we often use the terms interchangeably
I know there's a studbook program for them, but I'm not aware of any actual document published recently - at least none available on the database. Hence my confusion on what studbook is being referred to. The number of facilities is pretty much on point though, it was more a question of curiosity.
I'm trying not to resort to keep commenting whether this or that species is locally popular even though my mind keeps going there, haha.
I would be really curious how many zoos have lesser hedgehog tenrecs on public display. Always a point of curiosity for me with ambassador popular species. Their popularity as ambassador animals versus unpopularity as a display species fascinates me.
I do wonder if there are reasons husbandry-wise why red river hog are more popular than warthog? I wonder mostly as I know of multiple zoos that phased out the latter for the former.
Always a point of curiosity for me with ambassador popular species. Their popularity as ambassador animals versus unpopularity as a display species fascinates me.
There is an odd propensity for nocturnal animals that make poor exhibit animals to instead be used as ambassadors and make them actually viewable. Tamandua, tenrecs, armadillos, kinkajou, raccoon, owls, etc. Would be an interesting study to take a look at how these animals respond on exhibit vs ambassadors.
First off, there are three revisions to the list to be made. I do pre-counts ahead of making each grouping to try and avoid these revisions, but sometimes they are off by a few facilities. The third revision is a result of uncertainty about the taxonomy recorded on Zootierliste.
#27* Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
44 AZA Accredited Institutions
Bobcat Studbook
* My pre-post counts of bobcats undercounted the institutions holding them by a few. Bobcats should have been in the previous post. There are so many facilities holding bobcats that this revised count may still be an undercount.
Image by ZooChat Member zoo_sipsik
The adaptable wide-ranging bobcat is easily held by more AZA facilities than any other species of "small cat", it even beats out two (jaguars and leopards) of the seven largest cat species for AZA holders. It is very common outside of AZA too with over 160 facilities in North America listed as holders on Zootierliste. Their cheek ruffs, tufted ears, and short bobbed tails help differentiate bobcats from familiar domestic cats. Bobcats are Least Concern, and can even be found in less developed or undeveloped urban areas. Bobcats can help educate AZA visitors about local wildlife and wild cat species. AZA facilities rarely breed their bobcats because they prioritize adopting rescues. Bobcats are easy to care for and can live long lives in captivity compared to wild bobcats. They require significantly less enclosure space than the seven largest species of cats.
5 Regional or National Specialists
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Ariz. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Wash. Virginia Living Museum, Va. Western North Carolina Nature Center, N.C. ZOOAMERICA NA Wildlife Park, Pa.
9 Limited Collection Zoos
Brandywine Zoo, Del. Buttonwood Park Zoo, Mass. CuriOdyssey, Calif. Dakota Zoo, N.D. David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, Kan. Lehigh Valley Zoo, Penn. Lincoln Children's Zoo, Nebraska Oglebay's Good Zoo, W.Va. Trevor Zoo, N.Y.
29 Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Audubon Zoo, La. Birmingham Zoo, Ala. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Caldwell Zoo, Texas Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Cape May County Park and Zoo, N.J. Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Conn. Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. Elmwood Park Zoo, Pa. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas. Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Mo. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Calif. Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. North Carolina Zoo, N.C. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Roosevelt Park Zoo, N.D. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Zoo Miami, Fla.
1 Safari Parks
Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari, Nebraska
#28/29 Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus)
43 AZA Accredited Institutions
Red Kangaroo SSP
Siamangs have the second most AZA holders of any species of ape, although their overall population in AZA is significantly less than the chimpanzee. They are smaller and less demanding to exhibit than the great ape species. However, siamangs are the largest living species of gibbon and can be almost double the size of other gibbon species. Their large gular sacs (throat pouches) produce booming calls that can be heard from the far end of most zoos. Of the twenty species of gibbon currently listed on the IUCN Red List, 1 is Vulnerable, 14 are endangered (including the Siamang), and 5 are Critically Endangered. Siamangs can have a long lifespan in captivity of up to 40 years. Siamangs are easy to breed provided that a strong pair bond has been developed. Exhibits should be of sufficient size and have complex climbing structures to allow siamangs to engage in brachiation. Enclosed and netted exhibits can provide good three dimensional space for siamangs. Island exhibits are also common because they minimize visual barriers.
1 Small Collection Zoo
Dakota Zoo, N.D.
40 AZA Zoos
Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Audubon Zoo, La. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Cape May County Park and Zoo, N.J. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. El Paso Zoo, Texas. Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Calif. Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas Greenville Zoo, S.C. Honolulu Zoo, Hawaii Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas Little Rock Zoological Gardens, Arkansas Los Angeles Zoo, Calif. Louisville Zoological Garden, Ky Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Naples Zoo, Fla. Nashville Zoo, Tenn. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, Fla. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, Pa. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Wash. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, S.C. Roosevelt Park Zoo, N.D. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, N.Y. San Diego Zoo, Calif. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Virginia Zoological Park, Va. Woodland Park Zoo, Wash. Zoo Miami, Fla. ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Fla.
2 Safari Parks
Disney's Animal Kingdom, Fla. Lion Country Safari, Fla.
#30* Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
42* AZA Accredited Institutions
* Some of the animals identified as Hystrix cristata on Zootierliste may actually by Hystrix africaeaustralis.
Cape Porcupine SSP
Image by ZooChat Member evilmonkey239
All the sharp quills of the Cape porcupine may deter predators, but they are not dangerous enough to deter many AZA institutions from displaying this spiny rodent. The appearance of their long bristly hairs, long sharp spines, quills, and long facial sensory hairs help make cape porcupines an attractive and popular display animal. Cape porcupines can add some diversity to African displays. They are one of the largest species of rodent too, which probably contributes to their popularity in AZA zoos. Cape porcupines are tolerant to some habitat modifications and Least Concern. Cape porcupines are not picky eaters and are easy to take care of. They are fairly easy to contain and are typically given far less space than African antelopes.
2 Small Collection Zoos
Oglebay's Good Zoo, W.Va. Staten Island Zoo, N.Y.
38 Zoos
Birmingham Zoo, Ala. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Ill. Cape May County Park and Zoo, N.J. Central Florida Zoological Park, Fla. Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ohio Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Dallas Zoo, Texas Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Ind. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas. Franklin Park Zoo, Mass Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas Greenville Zoo, S.C. Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., Ind. John Ball Zoo, Mich Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Mo. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Calif. Los Angeles Zoo, Calif. Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Nashville Zoo, Tenn. Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo, Wis. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, Fla. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Potter Park Zoological Gardens, Mich. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, N.Y. San Diego Zoo, Calif. Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, Kan. Toronto Zoo, Canada. Turtle Back Zoo, N.J. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Virginia Zoological Park, Va.
2 Safari Parks
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Fla Lion Country Safari, Fla.
#34 North American Bison (Bison bison)
42 AZA Accredited Institutions
North American Bison SAFE and American (Plains) Bison Studbook
Image by ZooChat Member Andrew_NZP
There is perhaps no animal more iconic of the North American wilderness than the bison, so it shouldn't be surprising to see them appear on a list of the most commonly held mammals in North American AZA facilities. Bison are the National Mammal of the United States of America. For thousands of years before this designation they have been a cultural keystone species for Indigenous peoples of North America. They are also integral to natural grasslands as both an ecosystem engineer and ecological keystone species. Their near extinction had a profound impact on North American landscapes and although they have partially recovered to Near Threatened they are Critically Depleted. Past reintroduction efforts have included American zoos. One of the problems facing North American bison conservation is lack of genetic diversity and cattle genes from hybridization. There is a push in AZA to expand genetically pure plains bison at the expense of bison with cattle genes. North American bison can handle weather extremes well and are very hardy. One of the biggest challenges for urban zoos exhibiting them is providing enough space to allow grass to grow under their heavy hoofs.
Wood Bison
2 Zoos
Toronto Zoo, Canada. Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada
Plains and No Subspecies Status North American Bison
1 Regional or National Specialist
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Wash.
7 Limited Collection Zoos
Buttonwood Park Zoo, Mass. Dakota Zoo, N.D. David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, Kan. Hutchinson Zoo, Kan. Lehigh Valley Zoo, Penn. Queens Zoo, N.Y. Red River Zoo, N.D.
27 Zoos
Assiniboine Park Zoo, Canada Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Ill. Buffalo Zoo, N.Y. Caldwell Zoo, Texas Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Cape May County Park and Zoo, N.J. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Minn. Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Conn. Detroit Zoological Park, Mich. Elmwood Park Zoo, Pa. Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. North Carolina Zoo, N.C. Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo, Wis. Oakland Zoo, Calif. Pueblo Zoo, Colo. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Roger Williams Park Zoo, R.I. Roosevelt Park Zoo, N.D. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Turtle Back Zoo, N.J. Virginia Zoological Park, Va.
5 Safari Parks
Africam Safari Park, Mexico Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Texas Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari, Nebraska Wildlife Safari, Ore. Wilds, The, Ohio
#35 Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
41 Accredited Institutions
No AZA Animal Management Program
Image by ZooChat Member geomorph
It's a poetic coincidence that the black-tailed prairie dog follows the North American bison on this list; the two have coevolved for thousands of years on the North American grasslands. Like bison, black-tailed prairie dogs are also a keystone species and ecosystem engineer. Black-footed ferrets, one of the greatest conservation success stories for North American zoos, are almost totally dependent on black-tailed prairie dogs for their survival in the wild. Conservation of the Least Concern black-tailed prairie dog is important to support other animals, especially black-footed ferrets. Mexican prairie dogs and Utah prairie dogs are both Endangered. Mexican prairie dogs can be found in several Mexican zoological facilities, including the AZA accredited Africam Safari. Utah prairie dogs were once held by Utah's Hogle Zoo, but don't appear to have any current holders. Prairie dogs have complex social behaviors and assume an upright bipedal posting posture. Their cute faces also make them popular exhibit animals. A common special feature of prairie dog exhibits are tunnels for visitors with pop-up viewing windows in the animal's space. Good underground barriers are required to contain burrowing prairie dogs; otherwise, their exhibit needs are easy to meet. Prairie dogs can be used as an ambassador animal too, but it can be hard to manage them when they're underground.
2 Regional or National Specialists
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Ariz. ZOOAMERICA NA Wildlife Park, Pa.
8 Limited Collection Zoos
Dakota Zoo, N.D. David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, Kan. Hutchinson Zoo, Kan. Lake Superior Zoo, Minn. Prospect Park Zoo, N.Y. Red River Zoo, N.D. Saginaw Children's Zoo, Mich. Scovill Zoo, ill.
30 Zoos
Binder Park Zoo, Mich. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, Tenn. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Conn. El Paso Zoo, Texas Elmwood Park Zoo, Pa. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas Franklin Park Zoo, Mass The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Calif. Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo, Wis. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Pueblo Zoo, Colo. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Rolling Hills Zoo, Kan. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. San Diego Zoo, Calif. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Sunset Zoological Park, Kan. Turtle Back Zoo, N.J. Zoo Boise, Idaho
1 Safari Park
Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari, Nebraska
#36 Black and White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata)
40 AZA Accredited Institutions +1 Accredited Related Facility
Black and White Ruffed Lemur SSP
Image by ZooChat Member SaritaWolf
The black and white ruffed lemurs do not trail far behind the red ruffed lemurs for total North American AZA holders. Ruffed lemurs were once classified as a single species. Much of what can be said about one species of ruffed lemur also applies to the other. The most notable difference between the two is their color. Black and white ruffed lemurs live up to their name with striking contrasts of black and white color. One of the rarest primate species, black and white ruffed lemurs are Critically Endangered. If ruffed lemurs became extinct in the wild we would lose their vital role as rainforest seed dispersers. Black and white ruffed lemurs have also been called the world's largest species of pollinator. Among the most frugivorous of lemurs, ruffed lemurs are easy to feed and care for in captivity. Ruffed lemurs are very agile and acrobatic and require numerous climbing structures. They are often housed in island or netted exhibits.
1 Accredited Related Facility
Duke University Lemur Center, N.C.
9 Small Collection Zoos
Brandywine Zoo, Del. Capron Park Zoo, Mass. Central Park Zoo, N.Y. David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, Kan. Happy Hollow Zoo, Calif. Oglebay's Good Zoo, W.Va. St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Fla. Staten Island Zoo, N.Y. Trevor Zoo, N.Y.
30 Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Audubon Zoo, La. Binder Park Zoo, Mich. Blank Park Zoo, Iowa Dallas Zoo, Texas Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas Greenville Zoo, S.C. Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. Lee Richardson Zoo, Kansas Little Rock Zoological Gardens, Arkansas Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Wash. Reid Park Zoo, Ariz. Rolling Hills Zoo, Kan. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, N.Y. Sacramento Zoo, Calif. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. San Antonio Zoological Society, Texas. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada Zoo Atlanta, Ga. Zoo Miami, Fla.
1 Safari Parks
Africam Safari Park, Mexico
#37 North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
40* AZA Accredited Institutions
North American Porcupine SSP
* This may be an undercount because ambassador animals will not always appear on Zootierliste
North American porcupines are the third species of "porcupine" to appear on this list and be comfortably in the top 50, although porcupines are not a monophyletic group of animals. The tens of thousands of quills, large size for a rodent, and cute faces of North American porcupines help endear them to zoo visitors. Widespread and common, North American porcupines are Least Concern. They are the most cold-adapted porcupine species and also have impressive physiological tolerance to heat. Occasionally available as rescues, North American porcupines are also bred in AZA facilities to help meet the demand for these popular rodents. In addition to being popular as display animals, North American porcupines are sometimes used as ambassador animals. These stout-bodied porcupines are competent climbers and should be provided with ample opportunities to use these skills in their exhibits.
1 Aquarium/Biodome
Montreal Biodome, Canada
3 Regional or National Specialists
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Ariz. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Wash. ZOOAMERICA NA Wildlife Park, Pa.
12 Limited Collection Zoos
Brandywine Zoo, Del. Cosley Zoo, Ill. CuriOdyssey, Calif. Dakota Zoo, N.D. Hutchinson Zoo, Kan. Lake Superior Zoo, Minn. Lehigh Valley Zoo, Penn. Prospect Park Zoo, N.Y. Red River Zoo, N.D. Staten Island Zoo, N.Y. Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo, Mass. ZooMontana, Mont.
24 Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Elmwood Park Zoo, Pa. Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. John Ball Zoo, Mich The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Calif. Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. North Carolina Zoo, N.C. Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo, Wis. Pueblo Zoo, Colo. Phoenix Zoo, The, Ariz. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, N.Y. San Diego Zoo, Calif. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, D.C. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada Woodland Park Zoo, Wash. Zoo Boise, Idaho
Being large and having the distinction of being the world's largest living species of rodent has helped the capybara become a commonly exhibited mammal in AZA. Recently, capybara have become incredibly popular on social media and there are even articles in the New Yorker (How the Capybara Won My Heart—and Almost Everyone Else’s | The New Yorker) discussing this phenomenon. Capybara have a large total population and wide range, making them Least Concern. Once capybara have successfully paired they breed readily and produce litters. Capybaras can help show the diversity of rodents and adaptations for life in the water. They only mate in water. Access to bathing water is a necessity for captive capybara health. Without this access capybara skin can become seriously infected. Capybara are large animals that will foul their water quickly. Regular cleaning of their bathing water is required. Providing a clean body of water for capybaras is one of the greatest challenges of caring and housing them successfully. Capybaras are social and intraspecific interactions are very important to them. Introducing new individuals is challenging and can result in significant conflicts. Capybara are surprisingly agile and can jump well, although they can still be contained relatively easily.
1 Aquarium/Biodome
Montreal Biodome, Canada
3 Limited Collection Zoos
Brandywine Zoo, Del. Happy Hollow Zoo, Calif. Staten Island Zoo, N.Y.
35 Zoos
Abilene Zoological Gardens, Texas Albuquerque Biological Park, N.M. Audubon Zoo, La. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Brevard Zoo, Fla. Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Ill. Buffalo Zoo, N.Y. Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Cape May County Park and Zoo, N.J. Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, Tenn. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. Houston Zoo, Inc. Texas Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., Ind. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. John Ball Zoo, Mich Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Mo. Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Naples Zoo, Fla. Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, Fla. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Reid Park Zoo, Ariz. Rolling Hills Zoo, Kan. Sacramento Zoo, Calif. San Antonio Zoological Society, Texas. San Diego Zoo, Calif. Santa Barbara Zoo, Calif. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Toronto Zoo, Canada. Zoo Boise, Idaho
Were it not for the guereza colobus the Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) might not appear at all on this list of the 100 most commonly held mammals in North American AZA facilities! Guereza colobus have long fringes of white hair along their sides, a large white tail tuft, and white hair surrounding their faces, which contrasts dramatically with their otherwise black color. They may be visually striking, but colobus are a bit lethargic for primates, as can be expected from their predominantly leaf-eating diet. The guereza appears to have greater dietary variety and flexibility than the other colobus (Angolan colobus also have dietary variety), while also being a bit more tolerant of cooler temperatures. Of the six species of Colobus (the genus), only the guereza is Least Concern; all the other species are Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. Guereza colobus monkeys breed well in zoos. Guereza colobus monkeys are highly arboreal with impressive leaping abilities. They will make use of all the three-dimensional space of an exhibit. Higher elevation areas help colobus avoid stressors.
3 Small Collection Zoos
Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, Idaho Lincoln Children's Zoo, Nebraska Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo, Mass.
37 Zoos
Audubon Zoo, La. Binder Park Zoo, Mich. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, La. Caldwell Zoo, Texas Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Dallas Zoo, Texas Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Dickerson Park Zoo, Mo. Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Ind. Fort Worth Zoo, Texas. Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Calif. Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Fla. Lincoln Park Zoo, Ill. Los Angeles Zoo, Calif. Louisville Zoological Garden, Ky Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Inc., Ind. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. Naples Zoo, Fla. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Neb. Peoria Zoo, Ill. Philadelphia Zoo, Pa. Potawatomi Zoo, Ind. Rolling Hills Zoo, Kan. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, N.Y. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Sunset Zoological Park, Kan. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada Woodland Park Zoo, Wash. Zoo de Granby, Canada
#40/41 Brown Bear
38 AZA Accredited Institutions
No AZA Animal Management Program
Image by ZooChat Member savethelephant
The brown bear is the second bear species to appear on this list and has more holders than polar bears or the five species of bears not native to North America. Brown bears are larger and usually considered to be more charismatic than North American black bears. Compared to North American black bears, brown bears are much less commonly held by non-accredited zoos in North America and a higher proportion of their holders are high-attendance zoos. AZA zoos purposefully do not breed their brown bears so that spaces can be reserved for rescues. Brown bears as a species are Least Concern, like the American black bear. All the other six species of bear are Vulnerable. In the 48 contiguous states they are currently protected as a threatened species. The Mexican grizzly bear subspecies is extinct. Brown bears have long average lifespans in captivity, but there are some concerns about their welfare in captivity. Old-style bear grottos with minimal non-themed barriers have been criticized for their barrenness and lack of natural substrates. Replacing these grottos with larger, more complex, and species appropriate exhibits, that offer good viewing opportunities for visitors has required substantial investments from AZA zoos and other facilities.
2 Regional or National Specialists
Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, Mont. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Wash.
4 Limited Collection Zoos
Central Park Zoo, N.Y. Dakota Zoo, N.D. Lake Superior Zoo, Minn. ZooMontana, Mont.
32 Zoos
Akron Zoological Park, Ohio Bronx Zoo/WCS, N.Y. Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Ill. Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colo. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Ohio Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Colo. Detroit Zoological Park, Mich. Great Plains Zoo, S.D. Henry Vilas Zoo, Wis. Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., Ind. Louisville Zoological Garden, Ky Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Md. Memphis Zoological Garden and Aquarium, Tenn. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Wis. Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minn. North Carolina Zoo, N.C. Oakland Zoo, Calif. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Okla. Reid Park Zoo, Ariz. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, S.C. Roosevelt Park Zoo, N.D. Saint Louis Zoo, Mo. San Diego Zoo, Calif. San Francisco Zoological Gardens, Calif. Sedgwick County Zoo, Kan. Toledo Zoological Gardens, Ohio Toronto Zoo, Canada. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Utah's Hogle Zoo, Utah Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Canada Woodland Park Zoo, Wash.
27* Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
44 AZA Accredited Institutions
Bobcat Studbook
* My pre-post counts of bobcats undercounted the institutions holding them by a few. Bobcats should have been in the previous post. There are so many facilities holding bobcats that this revised count may still be an undercount.
30* Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
42* AZA Accredited Institutions
* Some of the animals identified as Hystrix cristata on Zootierliste may actually by Hystrix africaeaustralis.
Should be 58 facilities.
The comment on misidentification is quite correct, the majority of listings for cristata are either incorrect or unclear. To my understanding only 6 AZA currently have *cristata* - ZTL only has a couple more AZA than that listed, however only one of the entries in question actually has cristata but anyways.
#37 North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
40* AZA Accredited Institutions
North American Porcupine SSP
* This may be an undercount because ambassador animals will not always appear on Zootierliste
Should be 58 facilities.
The comment on misidentification is quite correct, the majority of listings for cristata are either incorrect or unclear. To my understanding only 6 AZA currently have *cristata* - ZTL only has a couple more AZA than that listed, however only one of the entries in question actually has cristata but anyways.
"Amur Tiger: Small Collection Zoos - ZooMontana, Montana."
This is also incorrect.
While ZooMontana does refer to it's tigers as being Amur tigers on their website... They aren't actually purebred Amurs. ZooMontana's "Amur" tigers (A pair of sisters) originated from Dade City's Wild Things.
An absolutely horrid unaccredited facility that was thankfully shut down years ago thanks to a successful lawsuit from PETA. Dade City's Wild Things was basically a tiger mill, they constantly churned out cubs so that they always had some on hand for paying customers to pet and even go swimming with!
Given Dade City's Wild Things history of producing white and other color morph tigers, no tigers that were rehomed from that facility should be assumed to be purebreds. Ergo, Sofi and Jasmine are almost certainly Bengal/Siberian crosses (As that mixture was the favorite of the unaccredited crowd), ZooMontana is just presumably loath to publicly admit that.
Hopefully, once Sofi and Jasmine pass on, they'll get actual Amur tigers.
Should be Columbus, Denver (has both), Honolulu, Landry's Downtown Aquarium Denver, Puebla African Safari, and Turtle Back. Far as known cristata outside the AZA, Austin and Hemker at least did very recently.
There are over 1,300 institutions that provide data on their ex situ populations to ZIMS. This includes some institutions in North America that are not AZA accredited. There are also a lot of institutions that are not AZA accredited and that do not report information to ZIMS. Ex situ ZIMS population data on IUCN's website is not broken down by institution.
There are only a few species in North American institutions that are entirely limited to AZA facilities, and for which IUCN's website Species360 data would be the same as AZA population data. Some species, particularly those native to North America, appear to have many more total North American holders on IUCN's website database than AZA holders off of Zootierliste's database. On IUCN's page (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) for northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) the ex situ data from Species360 lists 46(USA)+5(Canada)+5(Mexico) institutions that hold this species. Zootierliste lists even more institutions in North America holding northern raccoons, of which less than 20 are AZA accredited. I would not be surprised if Zootierliste listings missed some raccoons that were behind the scenes at AZA facilities, although I doubt that a few dozen facilities were missed. IUCN's webpage (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) for capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) lists 44(USA)+3(Canada)+6(Mexico) institutions holding this species, which isn't too far off my count of 37(USA)+2(Canada)+1(Mexico) AZA institutions holding this species. Zootierliste lists 114 total institutions just in the USA that hold capybara. If I was developing the lists in this thread just off of the Species360 data on IUCN's website then northern raccoon would appear before capybara for number of holding institutions, which would be accurate for North American institutions reporting data to ZIMS, but I doubt paints a very accurate picture of the relative number of AZA institutions holding these two species.
Later on I would like to compare the lists I've developed off of the data on Zootierliste with a list developed off of the Species360 data from IUCN's website.
As ZooChat Member Wisp O' Mist pointed out, my previous comments about purebred bison are out of date and do not reflect current understanding that all American bison, both wild and captive, have some domestic cattle introgression. More about this finding can be read here, Genomic evaluation of hybridization in historic and modern North American Bison (Bison bison) | Scientific Reports. Now I wonder if I had actually heard about this over 2 years ago, and somewhat repressed it. It is a sobering thought that purebred bison are no longer with us.
Regarding earlier comments about nocturnal animals being used as ambassador animals, I would add that I have some concerns about this practice. I wonder how much being used as ambassadors forcibly alters the activity patterns of animals that are not normally active during the day and if these changes are detrimental to their wellbeing. Some animal species that are commonly used as ambassador animals also have highly developed senses and I worry about them being sensitive to things like bright lights and loud noises. I believe that good zoo professionals are aware of these concerns and take them into account. Even so, that does not eliminate my concerns.
Many tenrecs were being brought in from the private trade for awhile and less focus was being put on breeding. The AZA population has been reproducing consistently for decades, however the number of young produced per year has varied. The SSP has pushed to increase breeding the last couple years, which has been successful and the species is not as limited in availability as implied. The tenrec is in fact a Signature (formerly green) SSP and is held at roughly 70 facilities.
