Australian mammals in overseas zoos
- Thread starter Pygathrix
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I think you have hit the nail on the head Patrick,although I like the little grey furry things.
I disagree with you about platypus though, you could easily use the same argument about the importation of elephants to Australia (which of course some people did). Aside from a single transportation of platypuses to Bronx 50 years ago, (they didn't breed but lived for over ten years) there has never been intercontinental transportation of these animals; they might not be as delicate as all that.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@pat: Thanks, knew that-yet I forgot the Short-tail is a Monodelphis-member. You're correct about the Non-Australian zoo audience's lack of interest in small Australian marsupials-see Kowaris in Frankfurt & Poznan as a great example for that.
The problem (among others) with kangaroos (yet also in Australian zoos): necrobacillosis. And for most European visitors, bennetts fill the "kangaroo" niche perfectly and have adapted quite well to most climates. Most other kangaroo species couldn't establish themselves (see relict populations) due to various reasosns-which is a pity.
Australian bats/flying foxes: might be a bit difficult in terms of veterinary guidelines to several Australian bat-specific viruses with zoonosis character.
The tight regulations are one part of the problem-another is that in many non-Uastralian zoosthe people in charge think that most visitors are not too interested in Australian animals in comparison to f.e. African fauna and are happy with the few hardy Australian species already kept. Why wrestle with bureacracy and spend a lot of money if a kangaroo looks like another for most visitors?
The problem (among others) with kangaroos (yet also in Australian zoos): necrobacillosis. And for most European visitors, bennetts fill the "kangaroo" niche perfectly and have adapted quite well to most climates. Most other kangaroo species couldn't establish themselves (see relict populations) due to various reasosns-which is a pity.
Australian bats/flying foxes: might be a bit difficult in terms of veterinary guidelines to several Australian bat-specific viruses with zoonosis character.
The tight regulations are one part of the problem-another is that in many non-Uastralian zoosthe people in charge think that most visitors are not too interested in Australian animals in comparison to f.e. African fauna and are happy with the few hardy Australian species already kept. Why wrestle with bureacracy and spend a lot of money if a kangaroo looks like another for most visitors?
Wombats are nocturnal and rarely seen. I didn't see one yet. So not a popular zoo animal.
Australia for years forbade all export of wild animals. I think this resulted in zoos' disinterest in Australian animals. Various kangaroo species abroad are probably very inbred, too.
Australia for years forbade all export of wild animals. I think this resulted in zoos' disinterest in Australian animals. Various kangaroo species abroad are probably very inbred, too.
There is barely a single major North American zoo that doesn't have a number of kangaroos or wallabies bouncing around in a grassy paddock. Emus are also rather common, and are invariably tossed in with the roos to complete an "Australiasia" section of any zoo. But that is usually it. There are only about 9 zoos with koalas in N.A., and San Diego has of course sent koalas all over the world on loans and breeding adventures.
The lack of Aussie animals is startling, and when I was down under earlier this year I saw a whole range of wildlife that has barely ever seen the light of day up here in the northern hemisphere. Tight exporting conditions is probably the number one reason for the lack of marsupials, but the nocturnal aspect and need for a warm environment obviously also contribute to the dearth of Aussie imports up north.
The lack of Aussie animals is startling, and when I was down under earlier this year I saw a whole range of wildlife that has barely ever seen the light of day up here in the northern hemisphere. Tight exporting conditions is probably the number one reason for the lack of marsupials, but the nocturnal aspect and need for a warm environment obviously also contribute to the dearth of Aussie imports up north.
@Jurek7: this entire thread is about mammals. But I'll take up your suggestion here.
Speaking of lyrebirds, I was fortunate enough to see a 10-15 minute display from one while visiting Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia. Truly amazing and startlingly loud, but something that I'll never forget. Healesville was actually rather impressive, and they also had a number of baby Tassie Devils when I was there in June.
Speaking of lyrebirds, I was fortunate enough to see a 10-15 minute display from one while visiting Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia. Truly amazing and startlingly loud, but something that I'll never forget. Healesville was actually rather impressive, and they also had a number of baby Tassie Devils when I was there in June.
Didn't Toronto have a pair of tassie devils or at they now gone??
Marwell Kowaris now all gone I think.....
Marwell does however have a Brush tailed Possum (which appaprantly turned up recently - through a cat flap in Southampton.......believe it or not!! (although not sure I do!).
Marwell also had Hairy Nosed Wombat, Walleroo & Euro in the 80s.
We used to get Thorny devils & Burrowing frogs in the garden when I was a kid in Perth suburbs, gorgeous creatures!
Marwell Kowaris now all gone I think.....
Marwell does however have a Brush tailed Possum (which appaprantly turned up recently - through a cat flap in Southampton.......believe it or not!! (although not sure I do!).
Marwell also had Hairy Nosed Wombat, Walleroo & Euro in the 80s.
We used to get Thorny devils & Burrowing frogs in the garden when I was a kid in Perth suburbs, gorgeous creatures!
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
Yet these numbers of kangaroos and wallabies in European and North American becomes more and more uniform and look alike-just like its presentation;
-Bennett's/ Red-necked Wallaby
-Parma Wallaby
-Red
-Woylie
-a few Greys (mostly Eastern)
-a dingo or two
...is about all You will come across. Add kokaburra, Emu and maybe Cape Barren Goose & Southern Cassowary, blend it with popular pet species like zebra finches, budgies, cockatiels, Gould's Finch, maybe galahs or another cockatoo, a Tawny Frogmouth or two, some Australian reptiles like Bearded Dragons, Blue-tongued skinks and Carpet Python-and voila, You have the exact version of 99% of all newer "Australiasian" sections in Non-Australian zoos-not counting the "Asia" part (which mostly consists of tigers, Gibbons and Asian Small-clawed Otter ...)
This has an advantage, though: if You visit an Australian zoo as a Non-"Aussie", You can be a 100% sure and excited that You will walk past at least one species there which You have never ever seen at Your local zoo-at least not in the last decades...
I agree Sun although not about Woylies, they are my favourite kangaroo. I went to Healesville and thought it was brilliant, much better for me than Melbourne/Taronga because of the native animals, and I'd seen tigers, elephants etc plenty of times elsewhere, (and hooves seem to be banned in Australia). You can't beat the climate though, although California comes close. On that note there ought to be some fantastic big zoos in the Mediterranean countries, but there aren't, presumably due to cultural differences.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
About the Mediterranean countries: I don't blame just cultural differences ( a lack of interest maybe?), but also diverse other factors, may it be political reasons (see Durrell's first misfortune plane to establish a zoo in Cyprus), drought, veterinary reasons (if animal epidemic plagues occur in Europe, You can often trace them back to said countries; some prominent diseases are even endemic in some areas, which makes establishing and maintaining a zoo quite difficult-especially if that country belongs to the EU...) etc.
Nevertheless, the idea of a good Mediterranean zoo..a very tempting thought.
Ok, enough dreaming-back to the topic. While "spare" the woylies? They're quite cute, but so are Grey Tree Kangaroos and Rock Wallabies-but does anyone keep them in Europe?-No sir; no mercy for woylies
.
Nevertheless, the idea of a good Mediterranean zoo..a very tempting thought.
Ok, enough dreaming-back to the topic. While "spare" the woylies? They're quite cute, but so are Grey Tree Kangaroos and Rock Wallabies-but does anyone keep them in Europe?-No sir; no mercy for woylies
.
Numbats at the Perth Zoo would definitely be something to see!!
@Pygathrix: Healesville pleasantly surprised me as well, and the exhibits were for the most part top notch. Any tourist visiting Melbourne should make the effort to take in the Healesville Sanctuary.
@Pygathrix: Healesville pleasantly surprised me as well, and the exhibits were for the most part top notch. Any tourist visiting Melbourne should make the effort to take in the Healesville Sanctuary.
Perth Zoo usually has a single numbat on display, with many more behind the scenes which breed every year. The young are used in reintroduction programmes organised by the conservation department. I don't know why other Australian zoos don't display them. I have also been lucky enough to see them in the wild - they are brilliant!
Rookeyper
Well-Known Member
Australian mammals are enormously popular in the United States. At Fort Wayne we currently have 20 Eastern grey kangaroos, andd historically have had well over 100. We also house striped possums--2 births, dingoes, parma wallabies, and echidnas. We have had 11 Tasmanian devils over the years and find them to be marvelous animals. In the past we've also had wombats, water rats, Tammar wallabies, yellow-footed rock wallabies, kowari, tiger quoll, Matschie's tree kangaroos and still house Bennett's wallabies. We are on track to receive bilbys in the next year or so. Tasmanian devils are a difficult issue. Due to the facial tumor disease none are currently being exported. The Australian wildlife folks are requiring that before they will allow them to go to any institution a course must be completed at Trowunna to learn proper methods of care for the animals. We sent a keeper there in October as did other institutions. The former head of the Monotremes and Marsupial TAG from ARAZPA attended a meeting of the AZA M&M TAG last March in Denver; this year we're coming to Sydney. We work together to try to do the best for all of the animals. I've been working with Australian fauna for over 20 years and love every minute of it!
@Rookeyper: Indiana's Fort Wayne's Children's Zoo certainly has more Aussie mammals than the vast majority of U.S. zoos. That is an amazing number of eastern grey kangaroos that you've had.
One of the many problems with Tasmanian Devils is that they simply don't live very long. Between their longevity and the facial disease the outlook appears bleak, but with many zoological institutions willing to attempt to begin breeding then hopefully they can be saved from the threat of extinction.
One of the many problems with Tasmanian Devils is that they simply don't live very long. Between their longevity and the facial disease the outlook appears bleak, but with many zoological institutions willing to attempt to begin breeding then hopefully they can be saved from the threat of extinction.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
Oh, are they? Never noticed that apart from a few bottlefed bennetts & sugargliders kept as pets.
Unfortunately, beside of the Greys & Bennett's (see my previous remark on that) mentioned, many if not most of the other critters You listed are indeed only of "historical" importance, as the chance of them re-appearing in Non-Australian zoo collections is pretty slim (not counting singular examples like Omaha's quolls or Danish royal marriages...). If You can get Bilbies-fine to hear that, but please make sure that You can actually establish a stable population and that it doesn't end in "We HAVE HAD" like in the case of so many Australian species in European & American zoos.
I personally would be happy if just one (!) more kangaroo species aside from the ones mentioned above could establish itself in sufficient numbers(not those tiny relict populations) in Non-Australian zoos: I'd enjoy watching Bridled Nail-tail Wallabies & more Tree kangaroos in my local zoos, but any other would do, too.
Or give us wombats, echidnas or even quolls...
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Rookeyper
Well-Known Member
The importation of bilbies is a co-operative effort with several North American institutions. The initial number being considered is 50 animals. These are surplus to any re-introduction programs in Australia.
The tree kangaroo issue is somewhat more complicated. Housing is an issue--males should not be housed with females with pouch young due to predation. Housing them with birds is not a good plan as they are susceptible to avian TB. Outdoor housing isn't recommended in areas with hot, humid conditions as they are prone to heat stress. The numbers in captivity in general are declining. The tree kangaroo SSP folks are working with vets, and all of the institutions housing these animals in North America to try to identify the problem.
Other issues include strict export laws from Australia, retroviruses, and the stress of a long trip. The TAG folks continue to work to solve some of these problems.
The tree kangaroo issue is somewhat more complicated. Housing is an issue--males should not be housed with females with pouch young due to predation. Housing them with birds is not a good plan as they are susceptible to avian TB. Outdoor housing isn't recommended in areas with hot, humid conditions as they are prone to heat stress. The numbers in captivity in general are declining. The tree kangaroo SSP folks are working with vets, and all of the institutions housing these animals in North America to try to identify the problem.
Other issues include strict export laws from Australia, retroviruses, and the stress of a long trip. The TAG folks continue to work to solve some of these problems.