An Analysis of Animals in Speculative Zoos in the United State

Gray Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis domestica

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@Jakub
  • Extremely Rare in AZA
  • Extremely Rare in Non-Accredited
  • Rare as a Whole
It’s monotypic, and is often used as a research model in laboratories. Breeding is common and easy but it must be managed carefully. During the precopulatory phase, partners often fight, which is why they should only be together briefly. On average, they live for 2-6 years in captivity with solitary individuals required.

They should only be kept indoors due to their poor cold tolerance. They are also nocturnal so reversed lighting would be best if exhibiting.

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@gulogulogulo

My recommended enclosure requirements are:
  • Enclosure Sizes: 1.0-1.5 sq. m with a height of 1-2 m
  • Enclosure Type: Fully enclosed is necessary as these opossums climb and squeeze. A glass-fronted terrarium/vivarium or a fine-mesh enclosure that’s completely enclosed can work but the glass-fronted is recommended
  • Climbing Structures: branches, vines, shelves, etc.
  • Hiding Spots: 1+ secure nesting box. Ideally have a ground-level hide and an elevated hide
  • Plants: Pothos could work but the opossums might nip or uproot the plants

Overall, they are Somewhat Plausible as they are accessible in the pet trade, “science world”, and in several zoological facilities but aren’t specifically sought out for. In my opinion, it’s Not Recommended as there aren't many educational values.

Gray Four-eyed Opossum Philander opossum species complex

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@RatioTile
  • Not Present in AZA
  • Extremely Rare in Non-Accredited
  • Extremely Rare as a Whole
There was a recent split of this species into Common Four-eyed Opossum (Philander canus), Dark Four-eyed Opossum (Philander melanurus), Gray Four-eyed Opossum (Philander opossum), and Northern Four-eyed Opossum (Philander vossi). They tend to live for 2-4 years in captivity with low breeding success. Group sizes wise, they are also strictly solitary, only briefly meeting for mating.


They also typically have indoor enclosures but outdoor enclosures in Californian Mediterranean (night enclosures), and the Southeast could work. If inside, reversed lighting would be needed to maximize viewing.

My recommended enclosure requirements are:
  • Enclosure Sizes: 5 sq. m - 10+ sq. m with a height of 2-3+ m
  • Enclosure Type: Fully enclosed is necessary as these opossums climb and squeeze. A glass-fronted terrarium/vivarium or a fine-mesh enclosure if outside
  • Climbing Structures: branches, perches, platforms, trees, etc.
  • Hiding Spots: 1+ secure nesting box with one at ground level and one up high
  • Water Feature: A shallow water feature such as a small pool or large shallow water dish would be needed (they occasionally swim)
  • Plants: Ficus trees, philodendrons, and hardy shrubs would work. Opossums can uproot and climb over the plants so they shouldn’t be delicate.

Overall, they are Barely Plausible as they are found in the pet trade and a couple facilities but aren’t really sustainable. It’s Not Recommended for the same reasons.

Species of Interest:
  • Andean White-eared Opossum Didelphis pernigra [At Temaiken which is an AZA-accredited facility]
  • Elegant Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum Thylamys elegans [Recently at Omaha]
  • Linnaeus’s Mouse Opossum Marmosa murina [In private trade]
  • Water Opossum Chironectes minimus [Recently in private trade and at DWA]
  • White-eared Opossum Didelphis albiventris [In private trade]
Recommended Species Doc: Recommended Mammals

Next one is probably Dasyurids. What do you think so far? Please identify any mistakes, errors, feedback, etc.
 
Tasmanian Devil Sarcophilus harrisii
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@WhistlingKite24
  • Extremely Rare in AZA
  • Not Present in Non-Accredited
  • Extremely Rare as a Whole

Most captive devils live for about 7-8 years on average compared to wild devils which only survive for around 5 years (due to Devil Facial Tumor Disease). In the US, they have had a very low success rate and worldwide, it's not that common as a whole. Group sizes wise, they are solitary, but during breeding season (Feb-May) it's possible for breeding purposes. Multiple males should never be housed together but two females could work (if they are littermates or raised together)

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@lintworm

Enclosures in zoos are mostly outdoors (though indoor enclosures are also usually present). In the Pacific Northwest, Californian Mediterranean, Mid-Atlantic, and the Southeast outdoor enclosures work with night enclosures. They are nocturnal so indoor enclosures should have red-lighting.

My recommended enclosure requirements are:
  • Enclosure Sizes: 30-50+ sq. m for solitary, 75-100+ sq. m for a pair
  • Fencing should be 1.2+ m tall with 0.5+ m underground fencing
  • Heated Dens: Insulated, dry den box along with caves/shelters
  • Misters/foggers with small pools or streams
  • Underground fencing going down at least 30 cm deep
  • Fallen logs, artificial tunners (not needed)
  • Glass windows into dens
Overall, they are Somewhat Plausible as they are rare in the AZA and they have been very unsuccessful. In my opinion, it’s Not Recommended as they are unsustainable.

Species of Interest:
  • Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus - Recently at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (2013), and was on the 2012 Marsupial & Monotreme RCP Tag Phase in List
Recommended Species Doc: Recommended Mammals
What do you think so far? Please identify any mistakes, errors, feedback, etc.
 
MOG2012 said:
Overall, they are Somewhat Plausible as they are rare in the AZA and they have been very unsuccessful. In my opinion, it’s Not Recommended as they are unsustainable.
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We get Tasmanian Devils that have been retired from the breeding program, so no breeding and they're generally around only a few years. I agree with somewhat plausible as it could be possible but not real likely.
 
MOG2012 said:
Species of Interest:
  • Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus - Recently at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (2013), and was on the 2012 Marsupial & Monotreme RCP Tag Phase in List
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I’d just like to ask for a bit of an explanation on what “Species of Interest” means. Is it a species that would be reasonable to reintroduce to North American captivity, or is it something else?
 
Van Beal said:
I’d just like to ask for a bit of an explanation on what “Species of Interest” means. Is it a species that would be reasonable to reintroduce to North American captivity, or is it something else?
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Kinda, it's just species that have something interesting about them that could signify their potential to reintroduce to North American captivity (ie. the opossums held in the private trade)
 
Koala Phascolarctos cinereus
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@Ding Lingwei
  • Uncommon in AZA
  • Not Presemt in Non-Accredited
  • Uncommon as a Whole
Koalas in the US are of the Queensland subspecies and are owned by the Aussie government. They tend to live for 13-17 years in captivity but that’s sometimes lower due to sickness (ie. pneumonia). Breeding has been successful, very successful in zoos like San Diego Zoo. In the wild, they are asocial which means they live solitary with overlapping ranges but captive management usually has 1 male (multiple ones aren’t possible) and 1-3 females for breeding. A pair of females or a mother-offspring pair is possible (though this one only lasts for 12-18 months).

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@WhistlingKite 24

Enclosures in zoos typically have both indoors and outdoor enclosures. In the Californian Mediterranean and Southeast, year round outdoor housing is possible but indoor enclosures would still have to be present. Despite being nocturnal/crepuscular, most zoos don’t use reversed lighting.

Recommend Compatible Species:
  • Bare-nosed Wombat Vombatus ursinus
  • Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus
  • Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
  • Gouldian Finch Chloebia gouldiae
  • Parma Wallaby Notamacropus parma
  • Red-necked Wallaby Notamacropus rufogriseus
  • Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus
  • Tammar Wallaby Notamacropus eugenii

My recommended enclosure requirements are:
  • Enclosure Sizes: 20+ sq. m for one individual, 40+ sq. m for two individuals, 50+ sq. m for three individuals, and 70 sq.m for 4+ individuals with a height of 4+ m
  • Trunks, branches, perching forks, trees/fake trees, etc.
  • Plants
  • Feeding stations

Overall, they are Plausible as they are somewhat common in AZA facilities and are sustainable. In my opinion, it’s Recommended for the same reasons above.

Example Enclosure:
Bakersfield Zoo: Koala Kingdom

The central enclosure in the outdoor complex is 160 sq. m large, netted, and 8 m tall. There are trees, shrubs, grass, and a small pool. Additionally, there are logs, trunks, branches, and rock formations. Connected to the outdoor enclosure is the Koala Building with a 40 sq. m large and 5 m tall indoor enclosure directly connected to the outdoor one. The inhabitants can travel to either by going through a ground-level tunnel or an elevated wooden walkway which both have push panels. In the indoor enclosure, there are artificial trees, climbing branches, nesting shelters, nest boxes, and resting platforms. It’s home to a charm of 10.10 Gouldian Finch Chloebia gouldiae, a breeding trio of 1.2 Koala Phascolarctos cinereus, and a mob of 1.4 Tammar Wallaby Notamacropus eugenii.

Recommended Species Document:
Recommended Mammals

Example Enclosures:
Example Enclosures

What do you think so far? Please identify any mistakes, errors, feedback, etc.
 
Bare-nosed Wombat Vombatus ursinus
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@Hix
  • Extremely Rare in AZA
  • Not Present in Non-Accredited
  • Extremely Rare as a Whole
They live for 10-25 years in captivity with breeding being virtually absent. They are predominantly solitary so they should be kept solitary at all times except during breeding season (then a breeding pair can work).

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@WhistlingKite24

They are nocturnal so reversed-lighting is common if indoor enclosures are present. They have both indoor and outdoor enclosures. If outdoors, they can be outside year round in the Pacific Northwest (with night housing and a dry shelter), the Californian Mediterranean, and the Southeast (with cooling measures and indoor housing).

Recommended Compatible Species:
  • Koala Phascolarctos cinereus
  • Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus

My recommended enclosure requirements are:
  • Enclosure Sizes: 50+ sq. for a single wombat, 100+ sq. m would work for for a pair (only during breeding season)
  • Fencing and Barriers: 1.5+ m deep underground barriers, 1.5+ m high fencing
  • Artificial burrow or underground den with several tunnels, it should be waterproof and windproof, heated ones are recommended
  • Large hollow logs, rock piles, trees

Overall, they are Somewhat Plausible as they are barely holding on in the United States and new importations aren’t likely. In my opinion, it’s Not Recommended for being not sustainable.

Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat Lasiorhinus latifrons
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@TheGerenuk
  • Extremely Rare in AZA
  • Not Present in Non-Accredited
  • Extremely Rare as a Whole

They live for 15-25 years in captivity with breeding being rare (Brookfield was the primary source of North American wombat births). They are predominantly solitary but they are social-tolerant. A breeding pair could work but it would have to be monitored along with a pair of two females that would work together too. Solitary also works. If there are multiple individuals, multiple dens/burrows are needed.

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@WhistlingKite24


They are nocturnal so reversed-lighting is common if indoor enclosures are present. They have both indoor and outdoor enclosures. If outdoors, they can be outside year round in the Pacific Northwest (with night housing, heated housing and a dry shelter), the Californian Mediterranean, and the Southeast.

Recommended Compatible Species:
  • Koala Phascolarctos cinereus
  • Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus

My recommended enclosure requirements are:
  • Enclosure Sizes: 90+ sq. for a single wombat, and 150+ sq. m for 2-3 wombats (the more wombats, the more burrows and a larger size)
  • Fencing and Barriers: 1.2+ m tall fencing as wombats can pile up dirt (plus predators) and escape along with 1+ m deep underground fencing
  • Cooled/heated indoor shelter
  • Deep, soft and diggable substrate with bre-dug burrows/sleeping chambers with tunnels
  • Logs, shrubs, earth mounds

Overall, they are Barely Plausible as they are also “barely” holding on in the United States and breeding has been rare. In my opinion, it’s Not Recommended for being not sustainable.

Species of Interest (they didn't fit in anywhere else)
  • Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis because the EAZA recently made an EEP for them and if there are imports to Europe, there could be importations to the US

Recommended Species Document: Recommended Mammals
Example Enclosures Document: Example Enclosures

What do you think so far? Please identify any mistakes, errors, feedback, etc. Also, one thing I want to point out is that the zoos used for the example enclosures are actual spec zoos that I'm going to post (or I'm posting like the Las Vegas one)
 
Sulawesi Bear Cuscus Ailurops ursinus
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@KevinB
  • Extremely Rare in AZA
  • Not Present in Non-Accredited
  • Extremely Rare as a Whole

They live for about 5-30 years in captivity. In the US, breeding has been non-existent and worldwide, the first birth didn't happen until 2018. Group sizes wise, they are somewhat solitary but are also found in pairs of very small groups. Recommended groupings is either a solitary individual or a single male with 1-2 females.

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@SivatheriumGuy

Enclosures in zoos are mostly indoors but can possibly housed year-round in the Southeast. They are often perceived as nocturnal (possibly due to being mostly "inactive" during the daytime) but are actually mostly diurnal.

My recommended enclosure requirements are:
  • Enclosure Sizes: 30+ sq. m for a single individual, 50+ sq. m for a pair, and 70+ sq. m for 3 individuals
  • It should have a ceiling or be netted with at least 3-4 m of climbing space
  • Climbing platforms, thick tree trunks, sturdy branches, large vines, ropes, resting shelves
  • Plants (live trees would be cool)
  • Outdoor housing (if indoor space is already present) is recommended but that's not needed. It would need to be in a place with 60+ % humidity levels and a warmer climate
  • Dens/hide boxes which could be cork bark caves & hollow logs or wooden nest boxes. There should be multiple, varying in height
Overall, they are Barely Plausible as they are not that common in captivity in the world but are still present. In my opinion, it’s Not Recommended as they are unsustainable.

Species of Interest:
  • Common Ring-tailed Possum - They were on the 2012 Marsupial & Monotreme Phase-In List but have been recently in the US at Aquarium of the Pacific (was that a Brushtail possum?) and San Diego Zoo
  • Common Spotted Cuscus Spilocuscus maculatus - They were also on the 2012 Marsupial & Monotreme Phase-In List but import isn't likely with only ~6 known holders in the world
  • Ground Cuscus Phalanger gymnotis - They aren't on public display anywhere in the US. The Busch Gardens individual likely passed away but the San Diego Zoo individual is likely still around (maybe that's what @Great Argus meant below)
Great Argus said:
I think this statement may be inaccurate, however I don't know if the animal in question is publicly known so I'm going to leave it at that.
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  • Northern Common Cuscus Phalanger orientalis - They were recently in the US private trade
  • Ornate Cuscus Phalanger ornatus - They were also recently in the US private trade

Recommended Species Doc: Recommended Mammals
What do you think so far? Please identify any mistakes, errors, feedback, etc.
 
MOG2012 said:
Species of Interest:
  • Common Ring-tailed Possum - They were on the 2012 Marsupial & Monotreme Phase-In List but have been recently in the US at Aquarium of the Pacific (was that a Brushtail possum?) and San Diego Zoo
  • Common Spotted Cuscus Spilocuscus maculatus - They were also on the 2012 Marsupial & Monotreme Phase-In List but import isn't likely with only ~6 known holders in the world
  • Ground Cuscus Phalanger gymnotis - They aren't on public display anywhere in the US.
Click to expand...

MOG2012 said:
  • Northern Common Cuscus Phalanger orientalis - They were recently in the US private trade
  • Ornate Cuscus Phalanger ornatus - They were also recently in the US private trade
Click to expand...

Fwiw, the only one of these 5 that was mentioned in the more recent RCP was Ground Cuscus. There are no recommended phase-ins for the marsupial TAG at this time.
 
Great Argus said:
Fwiw, the only one of these 5 that was mentioned in the more recent RCP was Ground Cuscus. There are no recommended phase-ins for the marsupial TAG at this time.
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Is the ground cuscus phase-in or phase-out or are you talking about the presence f them
 
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