When I lived nearby I was at the zoo every couple of weeks and now that I live a bit farther away I go there every month or so. I have never seen a beaver.
Animals that are difficult to see in your zoo
- Thread starter Père Damian's Deer
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When I lived nearby I was at the zoo every couple of weeks and now that I live a bit farther away I go there every month or so. I have never seen a beaver.
North Carolina Zoo
- Assuming they still even have them, my last 4 visits have seen their Baja Blue Rock Lizard and Desert Box Turtle completely evade me. The former is a (relatively) new addition, but I haven't seen it since it was added. The Zoo has had Desert Box Turtles in the past, but they seem to just disappear and then come back.
- Echoing @OkapiFan, their Bongos as well. I may have seen them from the footpaths a grand total of once, and that was many years ago. Otherwise, they are pretty much impossible to see without a Zoofari ride, and even that is far from a guarantee.
- Hellbenders. Haven't seen them once since their new exhibit opened back in 2016. Although their exhibit gives them far more spots to hide in out of view than most.
- Their River Cooter has become this, assuming they still have one (it's still signed). Used to see it consistently, but haven't on the past several visits.
- Their Fossa has become this, although I did get lucky earlier this year (but not without spending the whole day at the facility and repeatedly looping back to the exhibit).
- I must be extremely unlucky, but even their Okapi are becoming this. Oddly enough, the only time I saw them this year was during their Winter Wonderlights event a few weeks ago.
- Their Asian Small-Clawed Otters. I have no idea how many they have, but I barely see them anymore.
- In their Mountain Cove exhibit, they have a few species of Salamander that I haven't seen despite multiple visits per year. That said, they do have plenty of places to hide.
- In the same gallery, their Bog Turtle, although I have seen it far more often, but it's still essentially a coin toss regarding if I see it or not on any given visit.
Short-Giraffe
Active Member
I've been lucky with their Desert Box Turtle recently in seeing one individual active (for a turtle) in their exhibit. I've never seen the Baja Blue Rock Lizard.
Maybe I've been lucky, but my past few visits have had good sightings of their fossa, particularly around closing.
I would consider that unlucky, I don't think I've missed their Okapi once. He does seem to go back and forth between his indoor and outdoor holdings rather frequently.
During my last visit, I saw two curled up inside a log. It must have taken me five minutes searching that e
I haven’t see the Canada Lynx at the Alaska Zoo in at least two years despite half a dozen or more visits.
kermodei
Well-Known Member
You'd be forgiven for thinking the Greater Vancouver Zoo doesn't actually have a dromedary camel. Most of this is due to the individual himself being aged and usually indoors (which of course no fault to him for that) but even when he is out, there is no actual viewing area that doesn't have you looking through/across other enclosures.
The pumas, black bears (in their new enclosure), sika deer and senior grizzly are also all fairly secretive and at times quite hard to spot.
The pumas, black bears (in their new enclosure), sika deer and senior grizzly are also all fairly secretive and at times quite hard to spot.
Velas
Well-Known Member
Most of the animals that are more active at night in BH Zoo, such as the Maned wolf, Giant anteater and Azara's night monkey are almost always a no-show, since they spent most of their time sleeping or hidden on their hides.
But by far the most difficult animal to see there is the Lowland paca. In more than 15 visits to the institution, I was only able to see them for my first time on my last visit, and it was a single individual way in the back of their exhibit.
But by far the most difficult animal to see there is the Lowland paca. In more than 15 visits to the institution, I was only able to see them for my first time on my last visit, and it was a single individual way in the back of their exhibit.
The volunteer must be mistaken or at least not telling the whole story, as I’ve seen them in the afternoon on multiple occasions.
I second the beavers. The only times I’ve seen them in over a decade of visiting since they were added to the zoo have both been during Wild Lights, after it had gotten dark.
Conor McGarry
Well-Known Member
My local zoo is Seneca Park Zoo,
it is always so difficult to find the Canadian lynx, there always hiding in the back of their enclosure
it is always so difficult to find the Canadian lynx, there always hiding in the back of their enclosure
I’ve never once seen the northern white-cheeked gibbons in Bronx Zoo’s Jungleworld. Apparently one of the females even has a habit of hanging out by the guest viewing window, so maybe I’ve just had really poor luck.
The Pink-tongued Skink at Cairns Aquarium. It's housed alongside multiple Boyd's Forest Dragons, but is so secretive that I've only seen it twice in the multiple years it has been on display, despite visiting very regularly!
Jambi
Well-Known Member
My second nearest (and personal favourite) zoo, the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, has a single tokay gecko that often hides behind a hollow log in its enclosure. It's always either completely hidden or if you're lucky you might be able to see its tail or a foot poking out, and I've only seen the gecko in full about three times since I started regularly visiting this zoo in late 2021.
Up until recently the Oasis also had a single Gambian pouched rat named Jayne, who was often hard to spot because she was often asleep in her nest box during the day. I've been visiting this zoo around two or three times a year since late 2021, and in that time I only ever saw Jayne once. On my most recent visit this month, Jayne's enclosure had a sign up saying "No one home right now, this enclosure is being re-developed for a new species", so I took that to mean she's either died (I don't know how old she was) or been re-homed.
Up until recently the Oasis also had a single Gambian pouched rat named Jayne, who was often hard to spot because she was often asleep in her nest box during the day. I've been visiting this zoo around two or three times a year since late 2021, and in that time I only ever saw Jayne once. On my most recent visit this month, Jayne's enclosure had a sign up saying "No one home right now, this enclosure is being re-developed for a new species", so I took that to mean she's either died (I don't know how old she was) or been re-homed.
merlin
Well-Known Member
I used to visit the Jihlava zoo pretty often, since I went to school at the town, but it actually took me a few years to spot the Siberian flying squirrels. But I was so happy to finally see them - I was just randomly passing by their cage in the late afternoon...!
Also, I saw the lowland paca only once. It usually can be seen only when it's feeding time, which is at 9:30 AM or so, and that's when I'm usually watching the bush dogs, since they're one of my favorites in Jihlava and they aren't as much active at the rest of the day...
People say it is very tricky to see the blue duikers there, but I don't really understand it...? I think people are kind of overreacting and just don't have the right timing or enough patience. They're very shy animals that like to hide, but I don't think they're that hard to spot, especially in winter, when there are no leaves on the trees.
When it comes to Prague zoo - I've never spotted the binturong in the Indonesian pavillion! Not even once! And I know I'm not the only one, which is the only thing keeping me calm - 'cause I love binturongs and I think their enclosure is actually pretty nice!
Speaking of Prague, I don't think I've ever seen the capybaras there and if so, it was only once, shortly after they arrived. Not like I mind it though.
And I've never actually seen Prague's boat-billed heron... Which makes me sad, because I haven't seen it in Zlín either.
Of course I've never seen Zlín's aardwolves...
And one last thing - I think it is pretty hard to spot the little owl in most czech zoos. Or maybe I'm just unlucky.
Also, I saw the lowland paca only once. It usually can be seen only when it's feeding time, which is at 9:30 AM or so, and that's when I'm usually watching the bush dogs, since they're one of my favorites in Jihlava and they aren't as much active at the rest of the day...
People say it is very tricky to see the blue duikers there, but I don't really understand it...? I think people are kind of overreacting and just don't have the right timing or enough patience. They're very shy animals that like to hide, but I don't think they're that hard to spot, especially in winter, when there are no leaves on the trees.
When it comes to Prague zoo - I've never spotted the binturong in the Indonesian pavillion! Not even once! And I know I'm not the only one, which is the only thing keeping me calm - 'cause I love binturongs and I think their enclosure is actually pretty nice!
Speaking of Prague, I don't think I've ever seen the capybaras there and if so, it was only once, shortly after they arrived. Not like I mind it though.
And I've never actually seen Prague's boat-billed heron... Which makes me sad, because I haven't seen it in Zlín either.
Of course I've never seen Zlín's aardwolves...
And one last thing - I think it is pretty hard to spot the little owl in most czech zoos. Or maybe I'm just unlucky.
Well, make that three times. Saw it today!
filovirus
Well-Known Member
I have downright miserable luck with the orangutans at Como Zoo but I don't know if this is a me thing or a general thing. Historically this is something I've struggled with when it comes to orangutans, at least relative to gorillas.
At the Minnesota Zoo prior to her death I always had a tricky time spotting Min, the red panda. But I expect this of the species, so no harm no foul lol. As far as current animals, I'm not the only person in this thread who has struggled to see their local zoo's binturong.
At the Minnesota Zoo prior to her death I always had a tricky time spotting Min, the red panda. But I expect this of the species, so no harm no foul lol. As far as current animals, I'm not the only person in this thread who has struggled to see their local zoo's binturong.
Brayden Delashmutt
Well-Known Member
The ocelot and echidna at Omaha have always been nearly impossible for me. Real shame since the ocelot/peccary exhibit is great in concept