Do you know where Toronto did get the Little Pied Cormorant from and do they have more then one ?
In Europe only 8 collections have them and they orginate from an import from 2005 when 24 birds came directly from Australia. These birds were placed in 3 zoos ( Tierpark Berlin, Frankfurt and Burgers Arnhem ) and already a year later the first breeding took place.
So I would be intrested to know if the Toronto bird(s) came from the European population or are the also import-birds from Australia.
Also I would like to know if the species is kept ( and/or bred ) in other North American collections ?
Do you know where Toronto did get the Little Pied Cormorant from and do they have more then one ?
In Europe only 8 collections have them and they orginate from an import from 2005 when 24 birds came directly from Australia. These birds were placed in 3 zoos ( Tierpark Berlin, Frankfurt and Burgers Arnhem ) and already a year later the first breeding took place.
So I would be intrested to know if the Toronto bird(s) came from the European population or are the also import-birds from Australia.
Also I would like to know if the species is kept ( and/or bred ) in other North American collections ?
Do you know where in Australia they came from? It seems like a rather unusual bird to import, not sure why it would be bothered with really, not amazingly unusual or rare, like the crowned pigeon for example.
It seems like a rather unusual bird to import, not sure why it would be bothered with really, not amazingly unusual or rare, like the crowned pigeon for example.
But in terms of European zoo collections, they are FAR more unusual and rare than a Victoria Crowned Pigeon (8 collections vs. 62!). (And to my mind, even more attractive!)
But in terms of European zoo collections, they are FAR more unusual and rare than a Victoria Crowned Pigeon (8 collections vs. 62!). (And to my mind, even more attractive!)
Well I suppose they are one of the more attractive cormorants (called shags here), but even so, shouldn't European zoos be trying to obtain endangered bird species so they can create breeding populations that may be useful in the future?
Australia is down to two male Victoria Crowned Pigeons now, wish our cormorants had been swapped for some more of those!
Well I suppose they are one of the more attractive cormorants (called shags here), but even so, shouldn't European zoos be trying to obtain endangered bird species so they can create breeding populations that may be useful in the future?
Yes they should, but I see no reason why they shouldn't obtain, keep and display non-endangered species as well. The whole m.o. of zoos is based on providing a fun day out looking at nice animals in order to raise funds for their other goals, so display values have to be a factor (the cormorants at Frankfurt in particular are a major feature of the Bird House there, with huge underwater viewing windows). Australian zoos seem to be liking their new Ring-tailed Coatis (IUCN: Least Concern) and New Zealand their Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys (IUCN: Least Concern) for precisely that reason. And apart from that, I don't begrudge zoos just keeping a species because they like them from time to time!
Bear in mind as well that although there are certainly a lot of hoops to jump through, importing birds to Europe is not necessarily as tricky as to Australia (particularly back in 2005 when the cormorant import took place; it would presumably have at least been planned in a pre-Avian Influenza Europe). This also wasn't a brand-new species to Europe; Frankfurt and Berlin had been keeping them for well over 20 years when the 2005 import took place (Zootierliste does not record a break in holding at either zoo), so this was a boost to a long-standing (small) population not starting a new one.
Do you know where in Australia they came from? It seems like a rather unusual bird to import, not sure why it would be bothered with really, not amazingly unusual or rare, like the crowned pigeon for example.
As I understand, the 24 new birds in 2oo5 came from different australian zoos. Even so, I still don´t know howmany Toronto is keeping and where they came from
Do you know where Toronto did get the Little Pied Cormorant from and do they have more then one ?
In Europe only 8 collections have them and they orginate from an import from 2005 when 24 birds came directly from Australia. These birds were placed in 3 zoos ( Tierpark Berlin, Frankfurt and Burgers Arnhem ) and already a year later the first breeding took place.
So I would be intrested to know if the Toronto bird(s) came from the European population or are the also import-birds from Australia.
Also I would like to know if the species is kept ( and/or bred ) in other North American collections ?
I'm not sure where the Toronto Zoo got its Little Pied Cormorants, but I'm guessing somewhere in Europe since I don't know of any other North American collection that has them. On my visit yesterday I only saw one but there are normally quite a few perched above the fly river turtle pool.
Yes they should, but I see no reason why they shouldn't obtain, keep and display non-endangered species as well. The whole m.o. of zoos is based on providing a fun day out looking at nice animals in order to raise funds for their other goals, so display values have to be a factor (the cormorants at Frankfurt in particular are a major feature of the Bird House there, with huge underwater viewing windows). Australian zoos seem to be liking their new Ring-tailed Coatis (IUCN: Least Concern) and New Zealand their Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys (IUCN: Least Concern) for precisely that reason. And apart from that, I don't begrudge zoos just keeping a species because they like them from time to time!
Bear in mind as well that although there are certainly a lot of hoops to jump through, importing birds to Europe is not necessarily as tricky as to Australia (particularly back in 2005 when the cormorant import took place; it would presumably have at least been planned in a pre-Avian Influenza Europe). This also wasn't a brand-new species to Europe; Frankfurt and Berlin had been keeping them for well over 20 years when the 2005 import took place (Zootierliste does not record a break in holding at either zoo), so this was a boost to a long-standing (small) population not starting a new one.
This is true, and I do agree with it all. I guess I was just surprised.
The Frankfurt exhibit sounds very cool, I thought the Berlin one was very average (although I was very surprised to see them there), but underwater viewing for this species would be a great display. I don't think they are displayed like that anywhere in Australasia.
The Frankfurt exhibit sounds very cool, I thought the Berlin one was very average (although I was very surprised to see them there), but underwater viewing for this species would be a great display. I don't think they are displayed like that anywhere in Australasia.
