What a trend zoos seem to be following. In their current exhibit L.A. Zoo has Grevy's Zebras where there once were Grant's, and prior to that Damara. Are they starting to mirror one-another?
There has been an increased focus on keeping and breeding of the endangered Grevy's zebra as opposed to the more common plains zebra subspecies throughout AZA zoos. Grevy's zebras are an SSP species.
But while getting rid of Damaras and Grant's and now showing Grevy's, they also totally omitted a successful breeding group of Mountain Zebras. And unless there has been remarkable changes with their populations, Mountain Zebras are another subspecies in need of continued conservation. Not that I have any problem with Grevy's, I think they're one of the most beautiful. And the current group of LA's Grevy's is not their first time showing them by the way. They just haven't been very successful with breeding them; now or then. Unlike their years of conservation work with the Hartmann's Mountain subspecies. With the decision to no longer show Mountain Zebras, I can't think of the last time I saw a baby Zebra at the LA Zoo.
Surely with all the many US zoos, there's capacity for more than one zebra species?
In Europe, there are separately-managed populations of Grevy's, Hartmann's Mountain, Chapman's, Grant's, Damara and even Maneless (under the somewhat dubious subspecies borensis). They're not all in the same numbers as the most common forms (Chapman's and Grevy's) and the purity of the Plains Zebra subspecies is up for debate to some degree, but they're all doing OK.
The diversity of hoof-stock in the United States is terrible. It is quite hard to find a zoo that doesn't have the same species. Hopefully the Columbus Zoo will break away from this with its 70 acre African Savannah. Now the Cincinnati Zoo is pretty good hoof-stock wise. Wildlife Canyon is wonderful. Sichuan Takins, Slender-horn Gazelles, Przewalski's Horses, and Sumatran Rhinoceroses all share side-by-side yards. The only disappointing part of Wildlife Canyon is that they have a yard that is home to a single Domestic Bactrian Camel, that could be held by another rarer endangered species. It'd be great if they could move him to the children's zoo. He's really sweet and looks kinda lonely in the yard all by himself. He'd be a great addition to a yard in the renovated children's zoo, but no so much the rare animal yards. As well they have and extensive collection Red River Hogs. I love RRH's and all, but you see them every where. I'd really like to see the zoo get a rarer species of hog. Also, there is a yard for Bennett's Wallaby and Emus. This was the former Tufted Deer and before that Zebra Duiker yard. Flamingo Cove is home to Eastern Bongos, Yellow-backed Duikers, Okapis, and Grevy's Zebras, along with African waterfowl. Pretty basic species nowadays. Of course there is also Rhino Reserve with Black and Indian Rhinoceroses and Giraffe Ridge with Masai Giraffes. Their children's zoo has some interesting animals for a children's zoo. Besides the basic Nigerian Dwarf Goats, there are Dexter Cattle, Pot-bellied Pigs and Jacob's Sheep. In the next few years an African Savannah exhibit will be built and hopefully some new, interesting hoof-stock species will be joing the Giant Eland herd.
