It always kind of irks me when zoos exhibit domestic animals with wild animals. Especially when Llamas and Alpacas are exhibited with tapirs, capybaras, etc as in this case. As well, in this case the species don't even come from the same region or habitat! Alpacas and Llamas are from the high Andes and Pampas while the Baird's Tapirs are from the rainforests of Central America and Columbia! If they were exhibited with maras or something it would be a little better. It just doesn't seem right to me.
It the same with some zoos (Omaha, Montgomery) putting penguins and pygmy hippos in with giraffes and hoofstock. Just because they live on the same continent does NOT mean they live together!
Exactly! Those animals would never cross each others' paths in the wild. Not much educational value in my opinion. The exhibits aren't exactly bad and I'm sure the animals are all very well taken care of, it's just that the combinations don't make sense geographically!
It the same with some zoos (Omaha, Montgomery) putting penguins and pygmy hippos in with giraffes and hoofstock. Just because they live on the same continent does NOT mean they live together!
Regarding Omaha, I saw Pigmy Hippos inside the Lied Jungle but missed them in the exhibit for giraffes and black-footed penguins, i.e. if you are saying that they are kept there too.
@ snowleopard - Its a really great pic. I like how much there is going on in this exhibit. It truly got my attention. Tapir surfacing, and llamas drinking on the river bank. Amazing. Do you know where the king vultures are at in the exhibit?
It always kind of irks me when zoos exhibit domestic animals with wild animals. Especially when Llamas and Alpacas are exhibited with tapirs, capybaras, etc as in this case. As well, in this case the species don't even come from the same region or habitat! Alpacas and Llamas are from the high Andes and Pampas while the Baird's Tapirs are from the rainforests of Central America and Columbia! If they were exhibited with maras or something it would be a little better. It just doesn't seem right to me.
I couldn't agree more. Maybe if the alpacas were moved to either the farm area or a different zoo, then capybaras could return to the zoo (the last one died in 2007), and maybe even introduce giant anteaters to the exhibit.
