Rarest animals seen in a zoo or aquarium

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
List the very rare animals you have seen in captivity - I mean animals that only one or a few facilities worldwide have. Not talking just rare in your area or continent, I mean rare in captivity worldwide. Ok to include subspecies (even if the species is common) and color morphs (even if the typical color is common). Let's keep it to captive animals - if you want to start a separate thread about rarities seen in the wild, feel free.

Also, please follow the species name with the location where you saw it. I will post a reply to start things off.
 
mammals
northern white rhino (San Diego Wild Animal Park)
sumatran rhino (Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Bronx Zoo)
black pampas cat (Cincinnati Zoo)
white serval (Big Cat Rescue)
northern cheetah (Chester Zoo)
jentinks duiker (Gladys Porter Zoo)
harnessed bushbuck (Gladys Porter Zoo)
mountain tapir (Los Angeles Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
white eurasian lynx (Nashville Zoo)
white faced and footed spectacled bear (Houston Zoo)
white crested porcupine (London Zoo)

reptiles
perentie monitor (Dallas Zoo)
patternless diamondback rattlesnake (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum)
 
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Certainly the Golden-bellied crowned monkey (Cercopithecus pogonias pogonias) at Twycross for me. Not only is Twycross the only zoo in the world to keep the species to my knowledge, Twycross only have the one. Hence, this individual is the last of his kind in captivity.

Other than that, I would say maybe Heck's macaque or Grizzled leaf monkey at Howletts?
 

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Greater Spear-nosed Bat (Omaha)
Greater Bulldog Bat (Omaha)
Giant Panda (D.C.)
Bush Dog (Saint Louis)
Spotted-necked Otter (Omaha)
Ratel (Omaha)
Tayra (Sedgwick County)
Okapi (Omaha, Sedgwick County)
Visayan Warty Pig (Saint Louis)
Chacoan Peccary (Saint Louis, Sedgwick County)
Baird's Tapir (Omaha, Sedgwick County)
Mountain Tapir (Cheyenne Mountain)
Aye-aye (Omaha)
Coquerel's Sifaka (Omaha, Saint Louis)
Azara's Night Monkey (Omaha)
Blue Monkey (Kansas City, Omaha)
Red-backed Bearded Saki (Omaha)
Red-bellied Titi (D.C.)
 
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Interesting topic.

Restricting myself to mammals, I’m sure I’ll think of more later, but a few that immediately spring to mind are:-

• Long-beaked echidna (London)
• Amazon river dolphin (Duisburg)
• Giant armadillo (London)
• Baikal seal (London; Twycross; East Berlin)
• Elephant seal (Antwerp; Duisburg; Stuttgart; West Berlin)
• Sumatran rhinoceros (Port Lympne; New York (Bronx); White Oak Conservation Centre)
• Northern white rhinoceros (London; San Diego; Antwerp; Dvur Kralove)
• Mountain tapir (Los Angeles; Stuttgart)
• Baird’s tapir (Los Angeles; Wuppertal)
• Jentink’s duiker (East Berlin)
• Zebra duiker (Frankfurt; Los Angeles)
• Saiga antelope (London; Cologne)
• Slender-horned gazelle (Planckendael)
• Four-horned antelope (Howletts; Paris(Vincennes))
• Marsh deer (West Berlin)
• Golden takin (Liberic)
• Mountain gorilla (London)
• Eastern lowland gorilla (Antwerp; Chester)
• Kloss’ gibbon (Twycross)
• Proboscis monkey (Twycross; Stuttgart; Cologne; New York (Bronx))
• Red uakari (London; Twycross; Los Angeles)
• Black-headed uakari (Cologne)
• White uakari (Cologne)
• Red-backed bearded saki (Colchester)
• White-nosed bearded saki (Cologne)
• Utah Hick’s bearded saki (Mulhouse)
• Tassel-eared marmoset (Kilverstone)
• Tarsier (Bristol; Frankfurt)
• Fork-marked lemur (Paris (Vincennes))
• African golden cat (Port Lympne)
• Marbled cat (Howletts)
 
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Mammals that spring to mind..;
- Weddels Tamarin (Overloon)
- Boto (Duisburg)
- Douc Langur (Cologne)
- Saiga (Cologne)
- Agile Mangabey (Epe)
- Martins' spot-nosed guenon (Barcelona)
- Northern white Rhino (Dvur Kralove)
- Kaama Hartebeest (Hannover, Arnhem)
- Hoolock gibbon (Delhi Zoo)
- Indian Antilope (Delhi Zoo)
- Indian Goral (Delhi Zoo)
- Northern prehensile-tailed porcupine (San José Zoo)
- Lesser Grison (San José Zoo)

The only fun "colormorph"
- King cheetah (Wuppertal Zoo)
 
Tim May said:
Interesting topic.

Restricting myself to mammals, I’m sure I’ll think of more later, but a few that immediately spring to mind are:-

• Long-beaked echidna (London)
• Amazon river dolphin (Duisburg)
• Giant armadillo (London)
• Baikal seal (London; Twycross; East Berlin)
• Elephant seal (Antwerp; Duisburg; Stuttgart; West Berlin)
• Sumatran rhinoceros (Port Lympne; New York (Bronx); White Oak Conservation Centre)
• Northern white rhinoceros (London; San Diego; Antwerp; Dvur Kralove)
• Mountain tapir (Los Angeles; Stuttgart)
• Baird’s tapir (Los Angeles; Wuppertal)
• Jentink’s duiker (East Berlin)
• Zebra duiker (Frankfurt; Los Angeles)
• Saiga antelope (London; Cologne)
• Slender-horned gazelle (Planckendael)
• Four-horned antelope (Howletts; Paris(Vincennes))
• Marsh deer (West Berlin)
• Golden takin (Liberic)
• Mountain gorilla (London)
• Eastern lowland gorilla (Antwerp; Chester)
• Kloss’ gibbon (Twycross)
• Proboscis monkey (Twycross; Stuttgart; Cologne; New York (Bronx))
• Red uakari (London; Twycross; Los Angeles)
• Black-headed uakari (Cologne)
• White uakari (Cologne)
• Red-backed bearded saki (Colchester)
• White-nosed bearded saki (Cologne)
• Utah Hick’s bearded saki (Mulhouse)
• Tassel-eared marmoset (Kilverstone)
• Tarsier (Bristol; Frankfurt)
• Fork-marked lemur (Paris (Vincennes))
• African golden cat (Port Lympne)
• Marbled cat (Howletts)
Click to expand...

I think I can almost match your list (except Kloss Gibbon and Marbled cat)

How about
- Kongoni (Hannover)
- Jacksons Hartebeest (Busch Gardens)
- Laysan Albatros (Sea Life Park Hawaii)
- Nilgiri Thar (San Diego & Colombo)
- Indian Gazelle (Colombo)
- Golden Snub Nosed Monkey (Los Angeles)
- Spix Macaw (Walsrode)
and one of my top personal highlights:
- Tahiti Blue Lori (San Diego)

Biggest personal miss/regret not to have seen:
Phillipine Eagle (just missed at Antwerp + Los Angeles ...)
 
Saro said:
I think I can almost match your list (except Kloss Gibbon and Marbled cat)

How about
- Kongoni (Hannover)
- Jacksons Hartebeest (Busch Gardens)
- Laysan Albatros (Sea Life Park Hawaii)
- Nilgiri Thar (San Diego & Colombo)
- Indian Gazelle (Colombo)
- Golden Snub Nosed Monkey (Los Angeles)
- Spix Macaw (Walsrode)
and one of my top personal highlights:
- Tahiti Blue Lori (San Diego)

Biggest personal miss/regret not to have seen:
Phillipine Eagle (just missed at Antwerp + Los Angeles ...)
Click to expand...

I never saw golden snub-nosed monkey in Los Angeles; I did see the species in San Diego, but forgot to include them on my initial list.

I really wish I had seen the Jackson's hartebeest at Busch Gardens.

I did see the Philippine eagle (Monkey-eating eagle as I always call them) in both Los Angeles and Antwerp - and many years ago in London too.
 
Four VERY special species which stick out in my mind:

Libyrian Mongoose (Toronto Zoo)
Leadbeater's possum (Toronto Zoo)
Black-footed Ferret (Toronto Zoo)
North Chinese Leopard (Toronto Zoo and Jungle Cat World)

Rare species contenders?

Tasmanian Devil (Toronto Zoo) (would they classify as a rare species, as few species outside Australia have them?)
Dall's Sheep (Toronto Zoo)
Cape Fur Seal (Toronto Zoo)
Canadian Moose (Toronto Zoo and Safari Niagara)
 
Arizona Docent said:
@ Tim May - London had mountain gorilla???
Click to expand...

Indeed, London Zoo acquired a mountain gorilla "Reuben" in 1960. Sadly he was a short-lived animal, but I saw him as a small child.

(He was a genuine mountain gorilla, not an Eastern lowland gorilla.)
 
@Tim May: Thinking about it, it was San Diego and not LA where I saw the Golden Snub Nosed Monkey (1987). I overlooked the Mountain Gorilla - I never saw those of course, only the Eastern Lowland at Antwerp!
@Meaghan Edwards: It is funny you mention North Chinese Leopard and Cape fur seal as they are quite common in Germany!

Thought of a few more:
- Savannah Buffalo (Antwerp) female "Vega" was the only one in captivity as far as I know
- Common Dolphin (San Diego)
- Pilot Whale (San Diego)
- Commerson Dolphin (Duisburg & San Diego)
- Harp Seal (Baltimore)
- Hawaiian Monk Seal (Sea Life Park)
- Northern Quoll (National Zoo)
- Hog Badger (Duisburg)
- Bush Pig (Duisburg - the other one, not Red River Hog)

I believe Borneo Elephant (Hannover) and Forest elephant (Duisburg + Paris) might qualify as well.
 
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Blackduiker

Saro said:
@Tim May: Thinking about it, it was San Diego and not LA where I saw the Golden Snub Nosed Monkey (1987)
@Meaghan Edwards: It is funny you mention North Chinese Leopard and Cape fur seal as they are quite common in Germany !

Thought of a few more:
- Common Dolphin (San Diego)
- Pilot Whale (San Diego)
- Commerson Dolphin (Duisburg & San Diego)
- Harp Seal (Baltimore)
- Hawaiian Monk Seal (Sea Life Park)
- Northern Quoll (National Zoo)
- Hog Badger (Duisburg)
- Bush Pig (Duisburg - the other one, not Red River Hog)

I believe Borneo Elephant (Hannover) and Forest elephant (Duisburg + Paris) might qualify as well.
Click to expand...

But yes, the Golden Snub Nosed Monkey was on display here in Los Angeles, and arrived not long after the Giant Pandas left, which were on loan here during the 1984 Summer Olympics. The LA Zoo's attendance increased by about 400,000 that summer. The Snub Nosed Monkeys were actually exhibited in the same enclosure used for the Pandas. The Giant Pandas also visited the San Francisco Zoo for several months before heading back home to China. The Los Angeles enclosure was known as the China Pavilion, and is now used to temporarily house the Red Uakaris. I believe the Snub Nosed Monkeys stayed in Los Angeles for about a year.

So a bit of trivia; the Los Angeles and San Francisco Zoos, actually displayed Giant Pandas well before San Diego ever did. Though only for several brief months each. :cool:
 
Saro said:
@Tim May: Thinking about it, it was San Diego and not LA where I saw the Golden Snub Nosed Monkey (1987). I overlooked the Mountain Gorilla - I never saw those of course, only the Eastern Lowland at Antwerp!
@Meaghan Edwards: It is funny you mention North Chinese Leopard and Cape fur seal as they are quite common in Germany!

Thought of a few more:
- Savannah Buffalo (Antwerp) female "Vega" was the only one in captivity as far as I know
- Common Dolphin (San Diego)
- Pilot Whale (San Diego)
- Commerson Dolphin (Duisburg & San Diego)
- Harp Seal (Baltimore)
- Hawaiian Monk Seal (Sea Life Park)
- Northern Quoll (National Zoo)
- Hog Badger (Duisburg)
- Bush Pig (Duisburg - the other one, not Red River Hog)

I believe Borneo Elephant (Hannover) and Forest elephant (Duisburg + Paris) might qualify as well.
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Yes, I keep thinking of a few more species to add to the list too.

Duisburg is the only place where I’ve seen bush pig too. I’ve also seen the cetaceans you mentioned and I guess I should have included false killer whale at SeaWorld. And I’ve seen forest elephant at Whipsnade and in Paris.

By the Savannah buffalo at Antwerp, do you mean that specimen of the brachyceros sub-species, that was almost as big as a Cape buffalo, but the colour of the dwarf forest buffalo? That’s the only one I’ve ever seen and omitted it from my original list.

I really wish I’d seen the harp seal and the monk seal that you mention; I’ve never seen these.
 
The only 'truly' rare animals rare in captivity that are rare are:

-Leopard Seal (Taronga Zoo)
-Firodland Crested Penguin (Taronga Zoo)
-Platypus (Taronga Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Sydney Aquarium)
-Dugong (Sydney Aquarium)
 
Hmmm. Will do these in batches to give me time to think!

Will start (entirely arbitrarily!) with marine mammals. Off the top of the head, marine mammal-wise:

Orinoco River Dolphin (Duisburg)
Commerson's Dolphin (SeaWorld CA)
Guyanan Tucuxi (Munster)
Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin (ssp. ponticus - Valencia)
Short-finned Pilot Whale (SeaWorld CA)
Beluga (SeaWorld CA, Valencia)
Harbour Porpoise (Harderwijk - also wild but that's not within the range of the thread!)
Harp Seal (Albufeira, Oceanopolis)
Ringed Seal (Oceanopolis, Arnhem)
Baikal Seal (Twycross, Leipzig)
Northern Elephant Seal (SeaWorld CA - rescue animal)
Hooded Seal (Gweek - rescue animal)
Steller's Sea Lion (Harderwijk)
Florida Manatee (ssp. latirostris - SeaWorld CA)
 
Jabiru96 said:
The only 'truly' rare animals rare in captivity that are rare are:

-Leopard Seal (Taronga Zoo)
-Firodland Crested Penguin (Taronga Zoo)
-Platypus (Taronga Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Sydney Aquarium)
-Dugong (Sydney Aquarium)
Click to expand...

That may not be the longest list in this thread, but every one has me burning with envy! :D
 
Tim May said:
By the Savannah buffalo at Antwerp, do you mean that specimen of the brachyceros sub-species, that was almost as big as a Cape buffalo, but the colour of the dwarf forest buffalo? That’s the only one I’ve ever seen and omitted it from my original list.
Click to expand...

Yes, Syncerus caffer brachyceros (Sudanese or Savannah buffalo). I checked on ISIS, it is the only one they ever listed. Of course she died a long time ago.
 
I'll throw a few random names into the ring -

Shark Bay Sea-snake Aipysurus pooleorum AQWA (Perth)
Black Beaded Lizard Heloderma horridum alvarezi Atlanta Zoo
Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno Dallas World Aquarium
Western Bowerbird Chlamydera guttata Alice Springs Desert Park
Yapok Chironectes minimus Dallas World Aquarium
Proserpine Rock Wallaby Petrogale persephone Fleays Wildlife Park
Beira Antelope Dorcatragus megalotis Al Wabra
Kennion Gazelle Gazella bennettii fuscifrons Al Wabra
Yellow-striped Chevrotain Moschiola kathygre Singapore
 
MikeG said:
I'll throw a few random names into the ring -

Shark Bay Sea-snake Aipysurus pooleorum AQWA (Perth)
Black Beaded Lizard Heloderma horridum alvarezi Atlanta Zoo
Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno Dallas World Aquarium
Western Bowerbird Chlamydera guttata Alice Springs Desert Park
Yapok Chironectes minimus Dallas World Aquarium
Proserpine Rock Wallaby Petrogale persephone Fleays Wildlife Park
Beira Antelope Dorcatragus megalotis Al Wabra
Kennion Gazelle Gazella bennettii fuscifrons Al Wabra
Yellow-striped Chevrotain Moschiola kathygre Singapore
Click to expand...

*whimpers*



That's a fantastic bunch of species.
 
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