They were very difficult to find in European zoos until a few years ago as well - then there seemed to be a sudden explosion of interest. Now they're found in over thirty zoos, with half-a-dozen UK zoos among those.
(that's still less than 10% of the total zoos keeping rheas in Europe, but they're spreading fast - particularly among the bigger zoos)
They were very difficult to find in European zoos until a few years ago as well - then there seemed to be a sudden explosion of interest. Now they're found in over thirty zoos, with half-a-dozen UK zoos among those.
(that's still less than 10% of the total zoos keeping rheas in Europe, but they're spreading fast - particularly among the bigger zoos)
I would not be surprised if the reason for the apparent surge in interest is that someone or other has mandated a phase-in of the Darwin's Rhea and a phase-out of the Greater Rhea, although this is merely a guess.
That would be cool. I wish more US zoos would exhibit both species, it's a great educational opportunity. Greater rheas are almost always exhibited with guanaco, llama, capybara, tapir, anteater, and mara, but this really does not represent any true South American ecosystem. Lesser rheas could represent the Andean mountains, an under-represented environment in American collections.
That would be cool. I wish more US zoos would exhibit both species, it's a great educational opportunity. Greater rheas are almost always exhibited with guanaco, llama, capybara, tapir, anteater, and mara, but this really does not represent any true South American ecosystem. Lesser rheas could represent the Andean mountains, an under-represented environment in American collections.
Darwin's Rhea is a phase in species for EAZA collections,while Greater Rhea is a phase out species for EAZA collections,I believe this is a result of an agreement between Europe and the USA,in that Europe will concentrate on Darwins and the USA on Greaters!
Darwin's Rhea is a phase in species for EAZA collections,while Greater Rhea is a phase out species for EAZA collections,I believe this is a result of an agreement between Europe and the USA,in that Europe will concentrate on Darwins and the USA on Greaters!
I would agree. I don't think there are any Darwin's left in any AZA institution and maybe only 2 or 3 in private collections. I do know Beardsley once planned to get Darwin's for an Andean exhibit but then the project was canceled and they've since gotten Greaters from Smithsonian for their new Pampas Plains exhibit.
@OhSnapItsKirby- Greater Rheas, Capybara, Brazilian Tapir, and Giant Anteater could all be placed in a Pampas Plains exhibit if you take the meaning of where the Pampas are loosely. Beardsley is placing the first and last species there in their new Pampas Plains exhibit and the others are a possibility to come. Maned Wolves and Chacoan Peccaries will also be in that exhibit even though not all the species on the species list live in the Pampas.
