They can. I've always been surprised they keep them in the same enclosure but never seen an obvious cross. Maybe it only happens if there is only one sex of one of the species. In the wild they have different ranges- I think they are 'sympatric' with each other (fill the same niche).
They can. I've always been surprised they keep them in the same enclosure but never seen an obvious cross. Maybe it only happens if there is only one sex of one of the species. In the wild they have different ranges- I think they are 'sympatric' with each other (fill the same niche).
If two species are sympatric it means they occupy the same geographic area - two species that occupy entirely separate ranges are described as allopatric. They could also be parapatric (occupying separate but adjoining areas).
Whipsnade also has Hog and Axis together in Passage Through Asia - similarly they don't seem to hybridise.
If two species are sympatric it means they occupy the same geographic area - two species that occupy entirely separate ranges are described as allopatric.
Whipsnade also has Hog and Axis together in Passage Through Asia - similarly they don't seem to hybridise.
I knew it was wrong when I said it. They must be allopatric then as as far as I know their natural ranges don't overlap and are discontinous (the right word?)
You are correct about the same situation occuring at Whipsnade but only since Asian plains was opened. I've never noticed them mixing very much- the Hog deer seem to be scattered about while the Axis are in a more tightly grouped herd. Again I don't know if they have ever hybridised there either but I've seen no evidence.
In her book “Mammalian Hybrids” (1972) Annie P. Gray refers to a female axis deer x hog deer hybrid, born at East Berlin Zoo in 1964. The hybrid was fertile and produced young when mated to an axis deer.
It does, though, seem unlikely that these two species would hybridise at either Whipsnade or Howletts as mates of their own species are present.
