I don't know what saddens me more - the fact that they're gone, or the fact that there's nobody in the UK today who I can imagine having the determination to import such an unspectacular animal.
The site of their enclosure is now occupied by a lemur walk-through. Much as I like lemurs, somehow that worries me in terms of what it suggests about the drive towards homogeneity in UK zoos...
I don't know what saddens me more - the fact that they're gone, or the fact that there's nobody in the UK today who I can imagine having the determination to import such an unspectacular animal.
The site of their enclosure is now occupied by a lemur walk-through. Much as I like lemurs, somehow that worries me in terms of what it suggests about the drive towards homogeneity in UK zoos...
There seems to be a worldwide trend in paring down species collections to maintain room for sustainable populations of species. This seems like responsible zookeeping and the right thing to do, but looking at the pictures of spectacular species that were once in zoos (giant armadillos, anwgantibos, etc.) hopefully there will still be room for introducing new species to people also.
I know you're right, David. But unless I go to India (possible, but not imminently likely), I doubt if I'll see Chousingha again, and somehow that makes me sad.
Whether Chousingha as a species can cope with not encountering me again I wouldn't care to speculate upon.
I know you're right, David. But unless I go to India (possible, but not imminently likely), I doubt if I'll see Chousingha again, and somehow that makes me sad.
Whether Chousingha as a species can cope with not encountering me again I wouldn't care to speculate upon.
It turns out that it was not 1909, Bronx Zoo received three specimens in 1905, followed by another specimen in 1906, as of 1964 those are the only Four horned antelopes that have been imported into the United States, one of the specimens at Bronx Zoo lived for 3 years, 1 month and 17 days. Besides India, Europe and the United States, they also had them at the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa, the specimen in Pretoria lived for 10 years
and about the 1909 thing, sorry for getting 9 and 6 mixed up
and also thanks for posting this GREAT photo Gentle lemur !!!
I found some more information on Four horned antelopes in the United States while I was reading through the International Zoo Yearbooks, it turns out that Catskill Game Farm had them in 1968.
Here is another piece of info I found on Four horned antelopes in captivity outside of Europe and India, I was reading through the Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity by Lee S Crandall and it turns out that the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa had them around a similar time as Bronx Zoo
