No longer kept/rarely kept species in North American zoos?

Meaghan Edwards

Meaghan Edwards

Well-Known Member
The thread about rare or "extinct" (as in no longer kept) species that are no longer kept in the UK made me curious about the state of some species in US and Canada.

As I understand from this that Brown hyenas are "extinct" in North America and the Striped Hyenas aren't very common either. I think as a whole, hyenas are uncommon in N.A zoos or maybe it's just my luck and need to expand my zoo list; of all the zoos I've visited only Toronto and Buffalo had Spotted Hyenas.

Are there no zoos that exhibit South China Tigers? I recall hearing this somewhere.

I am aware that many Australian species have strict importation laws.
 
Hunters Antelopes are another species, The last I think were at Brownsville ?
 
Vicuna have never really been established in North America apart from Winnipeg, why is this is it due to the ban on the export of their wool?
 
Over the past decade or so, there have been quite a number of species which have disappeared from North American collections, or at least accreditted facilities. Here is a quick list of some mammal species that are either gone (from accreditted collections - I know there may be some in private hands), or very rare:

"Extinct"
Grizzled grey tree kangaroo
Tasmanian devil
Ground cuscus
Mountain paca
Tarsiers
Proboscis monkey
Eastern lowland gorilla
Yellow-throated marten
Amazon river dolphin
Lesser Malayan chevrotain
Bawean deer
Black muntjac
Pampas deer
Hunter's hartebeest
White-tailed gnu
Oribi
Russian saiga
Zebra duiker
Nilgiri tahr
Snow sheep

Very rare:
Tiger quoll
Leadbeater's possum
Paca
Pacarana
Crowned guenon
Douc langur
Javan gibbon
Temminck's golden cat
Jaguarundi
Rusty-spotted cat
Dhole
Raccoon dog
South African fur seal
Kiang
Northern white rhino
Bushpig
(Giant forest hog)
Vicuna
Siberian musk deer
Persian fallow deer
Javan rusa deer
Red brocket
Topi
Red-fronted gazelle
Suni antelope
Wisent
Bushbuck
Maxwell's duiker
Jentink's duiker
Common (grey) duiker
Chamois
East Caucasian tur
Spanish ibex
Siberian ibex
Blue sheep
 
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Great idea Meaghan, and a great list Ungulate! Having already posted a review on the "Mountain View Conservation Centre" thread, I realize that I've recently seen some of the animals that are extremely rare in North American zoos. The male Temminick's Golden Cat at that centre might very well be the only one of its kind on the continent, and I saw a small herd of 3-4 vicuna there as well. Also, a solitary rusty-spotted cat and a pair of mountain tapir can also be found at the centre, and the rusty-spotted cat looked just like a regular house cat from its position at the back of the exhibit.

The Denver Zoo has done well with spotted hyenas at the fairly new, rotating exhibit "Predator Ridge", and as of this week have 2 month old pups finally on display.
 
Yup. I'm Googling to check to see what other types of animals that are "extinct" or really rare in North American collections. I believe Kiwi are rarely exhibited.

I think jackals can be added to the list of rarely kept animals. ISIS lists only Caldwell Zoo, San Diego (having only one listed) and Kansas City as having Black-backed Jackal, and no Golden or Side-striped Jackals.
 
AFAIK , and I can be mistaken here , but San Diego is the only zoo in the US that has a pair of kiwis .

I remember going in to the kiwihouse there and listening to some of the comments people were making .

"Wah sure I know what a kiwi is -- its a brand of boot polish !"

"I dont see no kiwis in here but there are a couple of stupid looking birds with long beaks running along the back "

PS do any US Zoo display keas ?
 
Kiwis can also be found at the National Zoo in DC and Cincinnati Zoo.
Woodland Park has a kea.
 
I should have mentioned my criteria for "very rare" in the list ... I was trying to balance both number of institutions and number of animals. Most of the species listed are found at fewer than three zoos (although some, e.g., red-fronted gazelle, are held in relatively large numbers - 10+ - at a single institution). There are also a few "very rare" species which are actually starting to increase their population, or are just getting (re)established, which I also omitted from the list.

The rarest of the rare in North America include:
Leadbeater's possum (0.1 at Toronto)
Paca (1.0 at Omaha)
Temminck's golden cat (1.0 at Langley)
"Western forest hog" (0.1 at San Diego)
Jentink's duiker (1.0 at Brownsville)
 
Hippopotamus said:
White-tailed gnus are actually seen in Six Flags wildlife park in New Jersey and San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Click to expand...

Very interesting - thanks for the note about Six Flags (I did qualify the "extinct" list with the accredited facility modifier ...). I believe there are also some on private ranches in Texas.

The San Diego WAP has not held white-tailed gnus for about five years now.
 
Ungulate said:
Very interesting - thanks for the note about Six Flags (I did qualify the "extinct" list with the accredited facility modifier ...). I believe there are also some on private ranches in Texas.

The San Diego WAP has not held white-tailed gnus for about five years now.
Click to expand...

They did form a herd of them when the SD WAP first opened
 
I have been searching for black wildebeest for some time. Can you tell me which texas ranch would have this animal?

Also on the list for birds:

Greater Adjutant Stork
White Headed Vulture
Indian Red Headed Vulture
White Rumped Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Greater Yellow Headed Vulture

Don't know why so few of them. I guess people don't like ugly birds. But I found them incredibly interesting.
 
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