I know Whipsnade Zoo had both Barren ground musk ox (Ovibos moschatus moschatus) and Greenland musk ox (Ovibos moschatus wardi), does anybody know which subspecies the ones in the photograph are ?
Just struck me strange that these 2 species would be exhibited next to each other at somewhere like Whipsnade, I take it they haven't always been great at zoo-geographic theming then?!
Just struck me strange that these 2 species would be exhibited next to each other at somewhere like Whipsnade, I take it they haven't always been great at zoo-geographic theming then?!
I don't think zoo-geographic theming was very common in UK zoos at this time, many, London being the prime example kept all similar species side by side, not geographically, though most zoos seem to have or be moving towards this since the 90s.
Whipsnade has certainly strived for the geographical theming in recent years and now (with perhaps the odd exception) has got it just about right.
I don't think zoo-geographic theming was very common in UK zoos at this time, many, London being the prime example kept all similar species side by side, not geographically, though most zoos seem to have or be moving towards this since the 90s.
Whipsnade has certainly strived for the geographical theming in recent years and now (with perhaps the odd exception) has got it just about right.
I quite like both aproaches to displaying animals but I do like a good taxonomic display if done properly, nowadays it seems that most zoos are going for the geographic set up.
Putting Musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) next to African forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) isn't even the most taxonomically accurate set up considering that Musk ox are in the subfamily Caprinae and African forest buffalo are in the subfamily Bovinae, the best thing to do if they want to have perfect or near perfect taxonomic organization is to put Musk ox next to Takins and Forest buffalo next to Cape buffalo
