Phase-In Species for the US?

[Spixii]

I think it would be great to see Asiatic lions in the US. The other subspecies that I think should be brought into captivity is the mountain gorilla. Even though the population is small, they are in a very unstable part of the world. It would also be nice if South China tigers could be brought in. I never knew that Amur leopards were all impure specimens in the US.

Mountain gorillas are benefiting from insitu conservation efforts and their population is actually growing. Considering the Western Lowland gorilla population is just now becoming sustainable in the U.S. there is no point in bringing in a new subspecies which will ultimately take the available holdings for any growth in the western lowland population in the AZA.

Surviving South China tigers are hybridized with Bengals. The entire recovery program if you could even call it that, should be far more intensive. Rather than one or two cubs every year or so.

 

[elefante]

I've seen platypus: I want to see a skunk.

That does seem strange that you haven't seen a skunk. I've seen lots of skunks although most have been roadkill. My dad's dog even got sprayed about two years ago. I suppose it's the same as a person in Australia not seeing a white-tailed deer even though here they are as numerous as kangaroos are there.

 

[Chlidonias]

Excellent, let's arrange a trade. We'll even send you three different species if you'd like.

if you'd said trade some kakapo for skunks I'd have said yes but I don't have access to platypus I'm afraid, so no deal.

 

[Ituri]

if you'd said trade some kakapo for skunks I'd have said yes but I don't have access to platypus I'm afraid, so no deal.

I have an alternate proposal, how about kokako for cacomistle?

 

[azcheetah2]

I'd perfer if Tasmanian Devils came to the Bronx Zoo.

Let us not forget about Dragons!!

That is a problem. Mabye one or two from a sanctuary in Malaysia or Sumatra that's not having success with breeding (which is actually all except that one).

The Phoenix Zoo already HAS dragons! hehe

Jaguarundi would be interesting. I think the Feline Conservation Center has one, don't they? And the Arizona-Senoran Desert Museum used to.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

The Phoenix Zoo already HAS dragons! hehe

I hope they give them enough flying room It must have been pretty expensive to build an exhibit big enough out of fire proof materials yet be strong enough to hold them in
Where'd they import them from? Europe? China? Tibet? Mongolia? South America? Disney's Animal Kingdom?

Anyone remember that book Dragonology?

Jaguarundi would be interesting. I think the Feline Conservation Center has one, don't they? And the Arizona-Senoran Desert Museum used to.

AZA is currently attempting to introduce a captive population of Jaguarundi in North American zoos. I few zoos currently have them but I'm not sure which ones but I'd imagine that if anyone had them, it'd be a feline breeding center. Are they just trying to breed the Gulf Coast Jaguarundi or is it multiple subspecies? Or mabye just the nominate subspecies?

 

[azcheetah2]

I hope they give them enough flying room It must have been pretty expensive to build an exhibit big enough out of fire proof materials yet be strong enough to hold them in
Where'd they import them from? Europe? China? Tibet? Mongolia? South America? Disney's Animal Kingdom?

Anyone remember that book Dragonology?

They came from the magical land of...Florida. I don't remember where in Florida, but Tampa Bay sounds right to me for some reason.

And because it gets so hot here during the summer, Phoenix Zoo didn't have to utilize any special materials in building their exhibit...the heat of the sun counter-acts with their fire breathing-ness.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

They came from the magical land of...Florida. I don't remember where in Florida, but Tampa Bay sounds right to me for some reason.

And because it gets so hot here during the summer, Phoenix Zoo didn't have to utilize any special materials in building their exhibit...the heat of the sun counter-acts with their fire breathing-ness.

Interesting. Which species of dragon (genus Dragonias) do they have and please make sure to add the common name as well. Does the AZA have a plan for these animals yet?

I believe the Bronx Zoo is planning on getting a Hydra (Dragonias Aquarnius) from Southeast Asia to add to their Asian Monorail. The species doesn't fly so they're just going to upgrade the Indian Elephant exhibit and keep it there since the exhibit is large enough and has a pool (the hydra is a very semi-aquatic species of dragon).

 

[jbnbsn99]

You do realize that Draco is a legit genus name.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

You do realize that Draco is a legit genus name.

I forgot about those gliding lizards!! I'll go correct that and make sure what I put isn't already real.

 

[Ituri]

You also realize that species names are never capitalized, just genus names, right?

 

[elefante]

How many zoos exhibit griffins? The vultures that is. That would be a neat species to see.

Also, on a slightly more serious note, are there no US zoos that exhibit Bengal tigers? I had heard that there weren't any outside of India which seemed strange as I thought that was the most common tiger subspecies.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

You also realize that species names are never capitalized, just genus names, right?

I do. I just missed it here. For years I did it wrong until recently discovering that you only capitalize the genus and not the species and subspecies names.

 

[6647]

I've seen platypus: I want to see a skunk.

Non Australian Zoochatters, I may add.

And my bad on the Tsavo lion situation. I must have mistaken it for the Transvaal Lion when I pulled that info back out of my memory.

 

[tschandler71]

How about Hirola as the first step to a hoofstock renaissance

 

[tschandler71]

How many zoos exhibit griffins? The vultures that is. That would be a neat species to see.

Also, on a slightly more serious note, are there no US zoos that exhibit Bengal tigers? I had heard that there weren't any outside of India which seemed strange as I thought that was the most common tiger subspecies.

We consider our bengals "generic"

 

[elefante]

We consider our bengals "generic"

I suppose as long as they aren't crossbreeds that isn't a problem. I just found it strange when I read that. So what other species need to make up a hoofstock renaissance?

 

[Chlidonias]

I suppose as long as they aren't crossbreeds that isn't a problem. I just found it strange when I read that. So what other species need to make up a hoofstock renaissance?

all "Bengal tigers" outside India are a mix of subspecies (Bengal, Siberian, Sumatran, etc). None of them are even close to pure. Hence the term "generic".

 

[elefante]

all "Bengal tigers" outside India are a mix of subspecies (Bengal, Siberian, Sumatran, etc). None of them are even close to pure. Hence the term "generic".

What is the AZA doing about this? Are they trying to phase these animals out? I had thought this problems was mostly with white tigers.

 

[Chlidonias]

I believe the AZA plan is phasing out generic tigers through natural attrition (i.e. not breeding them and letting the current animals die out from old age) but others can probably answer your question better than I. However there are many US zoos not in the AZA as well as private breeders, most of whom probably don't know or care.