Not imports, but there have been talk of starting captive breeding programs for many native birds within AZA zoos - the species that have been discussed are Kirtland's Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, Hawaiian Coot and Maui Parrotbill.
Animals that deserve inclusions in American Zoos:
- Thread starter Brayden Delashmutt
- Start date
Fantasy aside, it always puzzled me why Hawaiian honeycreepers are not more regular in the U.S. zoos. They are endangered, often colorful, good for education, found in the U.S. so no import restrictions... Species like Palila, Akohekohe or Iiwi. here must be some unconscious mental block that the USA is 49 mainland states.
The same can be extended to other endemics of the U.S. Pacific islands - there are now Guam Rails and Kingfishers, Mariana Fruit Doves and even Golden White-eyes, but these are just a top of the iceberg of fascinating and threatened island wildlife.
I can't help but feel you're being incredibly overdramatic here. The zoo has never "bragged" about their breeding success with pangolins; on the contrary they never gave much media attention regarding the already pregnant females that came in the initial import. The only exception was the recent birth a few months ago, which was a completely captive birth and the first ever second generation birth in North America. That is absolutely something to be proud about and there have been at least a few other captive births that occurred over the last several years without any fanfare. So no, nothing regarding the zoos pangolin breeding efforts have been "incredibly scummy" and they deserve credit for the success they have had.
Well if there were none other in North America at the time, where did you think they were coming from?
There was only one import that occurred back in 2016. It was part of a larger effort between multiple major zoos to establish a captive population of the species. Unfortunately only two of the zoos (one of them being Brookfield of course) had any breeding success and the rest of the individuals died off over time.
To expound a bit further on the earlier comments, Thorny Devils are notoriously difficult to keep even for Australian zoos due to their live ant diet. They will not be exported any time soon. Numbat needs to be better established in Australia besides dietary struggles. Quolls maybe, but they are short-lived and maintaining a population long-term would need a sizeable import and strong breeding emphasis.
These type of threads usually end up more of a wishlist rather than what species are likely/probable to actually work. Most of the species mentioned so far are no-gos for various reasons.
And Madagascar Pond Heron.
Not many zoos are interested in specialized passerines. Hawaiian honeycreepers are also very susceptible to various mosquito borne viruses and care must be taken to protect them. Also they're not free from restrictions either, they are all listed under the Migratory Bird Act and many of them are on the ESA too.
What zoos are taking in these ibises? Are they hoping to establish a breeding population at multiple institutions? This is so far the only species brought up in this thread as an actual phase-in species and not as some made-up fantasy hoohawhaw.
I can't disagree that there is service in that, I suppose.
We're going to have to agree to disagree on the pangolin situation. I don't think importing pregnant animals is a good thing, least of all when it is not reported as such, and it sounds that they have proven to be another unsustainable animal to keep in captivity. I was under a mistaken impression the animals had arrived through a different situation and that is a serious error on my part.I can't help but feel you're being incredibly overdramatic here. The zoo has never "bragged" about their breeding success with pangolins; on the contrary they never gave much media attention regarding the already pregnant females that came in the initial import. The only exception was the recent birth a few months ago, which was a completely captive birth and the first ever second generation birth in North America. That is absolutely something to be proud about and there have been at least a few other captive births that occurred over the last several years without any fanfare. So no, nothing regarding the zoos pangolin breeding efforts have been "incredibly scummy" and they deserve credit for the success they have had.
Well if there were none other in North America at the time, where did you think they were coming from?
There was only one import that occurred back in 2016. It was part of a larger effort between multiple major zoos to establish a captive population of the species. Unfortunately only two of the zoos (one of them being Brookfield of course) had any breeding success and the rest of the individuals died off over time.
San Diego, and then I'm not sure if the importing facility actually has made it public or not. They also received Madagascar Pond Herons as I noted earlier, one of which went on display at SDZ already in Scripps some months back. Ideally both species will see breeding success and start populations; the individuals that arrived are all captive bred birds from Europe.
Again, not on Brookfield. That falls on the importer. Though I agree it's not a good thing to do generally.
Going back to compound on my previous statement, if people wish to see "new" animals they should really look at private zoos. These zoos often have animals that are found in the private trade, but may not be seen in AZA zoos. Some examples are tyra, red lechwe, various small primates, herps, etc. That's not to say we should ever support "bad" facilities, but there are a number of "good" places like Wildlife World, Gulf Breeze, Virginia Safari Park, Wild Florida, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch TX (not Natural Bridge Zoo in VA) that may have animals you have not seen before, or just can't see in most AZA zoos.
It should also be recognized that a number of reptile specific places have opened recently, so if herps are your "thing" there is great reason to be excited.
Iguanaland - Punta Gorda FL (Ft Myers area)
Reptilandia (under construction) - Johnson City TX (Austin area)
Texas Reptile Zoo - Bastrop Tx. (Austin area)
The Reptarium - Utica MI (Detroit area)
It should also be recognized that a number of reptile specific places have opened recently, so if herps are your "thing" there is great reason to be excited.
Iguanaland - Punta Gorda FL (Ft Myers area)
Reptilandia (under construction) - Johnson City TX (Austin area)
Texas Reptile Zoo - Bastrop Tx. (Austin area)
The Reptarium - Utica MI (Detroit area)
Wildwood Wildlife Park in Minocqua, Wisconsin is another great private zoo to check out. If you're into reptiles I also suggest checking out Jack Facente Serpentarium.
Wildlife World has been involved in multiple wildlife trafficking situations.
A little late, but I figured I'd chime in on the Hawaiian Honeycreepers, since I've actually had the chance to work with them!
They're a tricky lot, for a variety of reasons. First of all, collectively they're INCREDIBLY sensitive to Avian Malaria, which requires them to be housed either indoors, or in aviaries fully enclosed by mosquito netting. Secondly, while some species are reasonably placid, many of them are actually quite scrappy as well! Which can make breeding and housing them difficult (I can't remember which, but I think it was either the I'iwi or 'Apapane, that was HYPER aggressive, to the point they had to be housed completely solitarily except for introductions to mate and hens rearing chicks). Their husbandry is also not super straight forward, they're easy enough to keep alive in the right setup and with the right diet (comparable to say the south american honeycreepers), but many of them don't handle excessive temperatures well, need to be kept very clean, and also stress quite easily unless they're handreared. Plus the aforementioned behavioral quirks.
Even with that though, there have been some efforts to establish them. The Honolulu zoo has worked with and even bred several different species, but that was a good 20+ years ago now for the most part. By the time I was finished my stay there back in the early 2010's, they still had two or three pairs of Oahu Amakihi that were specifically collected from an area where the resident population was demonstrating a degree of natural immunity to avian malaria. There were also plans (that I believe *did* end up actually happening) to collect a number more to send across to the mainland to attempt to start a breeding program for them, I know birds did end up going to the mainland, but not sure how many/if any are still alive at this point or if they ever bred.
They're a group that I think, overall, would benefit from more extensive captive populations, but I don't think they have much of a place in most standard collections, instead being better suited to custom designed off display propagation centers, with only surplus (preferably hand reared) individuals being used for display.
They're a tricky lot, for a variety of reasons. First of all, collectively they're INCREDIBLY sensitive to Avian Malaria, which requires them to be housed either indoors, or in aviaries fully enclosed by mosquito netting. Secondly, while some species are reasonably placid, many of them are actually quite scrappy as well! Which can make breeding and housing them difficult (I can't remember which, but I think it was either the I'iwi or 'Apapane, that was HYPER aggressive, to the point they had to be housed completely solitarily except for introductions to mate and hens rearing chicks). Their husbandry is also not super straight forward, they're easy enough to keep alive in the right setup and with the right diet (comparable to say the south american honeycreepers), but many of them don't handle excessive temperatures well, need to be kept very clean, and also stress quite easily unless they're handreared. Plus the aforementioned behavioral quirks.
Even with that though, there have been some efforts to establish them. The Honolulu zoo has worked with and even bred several different species, but that was a good 20+ years ago now for the most part. By the time I was finished my stay there back in the early 2010's, they still had two or three pairs of Oahu Amakihi that were specifically collected from an area where the resident population was demonstrating a degree of natural immunity to avian malaria. There were also plans (that I believe *did* end up actually happening) to collect a number more to send across to the mainland to attempt to start a breeding program for them, I know birds did end up going to the mainland, but not sure how many/if any are still alive at this point or if they ever bred.
They're a group that I think, overall, would benefit from more extensive captive populations, but I don't think they have much of a place in most standard collections, instead being better suited to custom designed off display propagation centers, with only surplus (preferably hand reared) individuals being used for display.
Brights is another relatively good facility.
Absolutely, there are actually quite a few decent places that are not in the AZA. Most are part of the ZAA, but there are also a few really good places that are completely independent.
Afaik while some amakihi did make their way to mainland zoos none ever actually bred there. The last one died at Philadelphia Zoo sometime in the mid-2010s. The latest reference I can find to them still being there is from 2013.
I know I am a bit late to the conversation, but thought I would ask some questions and include some data.
Do you have a source to back up the claim that most pangolins born in the United States of America were imported as fetuses in the wombs of females? I'm not questioning you, just wondering so that I can figure out more of the story.
The importer certainly had good intentions, going so far as developing a special diet for the pangolins. However, his facility in Florida, is no longer active because his permit was revoked. Successful conception also occurred there at least once.
If I'm not mistaken, there are only two or three zoos with the pangolins anymore; those being the Gladys Porter Zoo and the Brookfield Zoo.
What data did you include that wasn't already known?
The timeframe between the import and the reported births is enough in of itself - the biggest amount of births was immediately following the import. Births fell off sharply afterwards and multiple holders never managed to breed them. The fact now only Brookfield and Gladys Porter hold them also indicates this - the population has not managed enough births to override deaths.
The secrecy and questionable legality of the import was always an issue and was highly criticized by numerous organizations. The importer himself never had anything other than pangolins on his USDA reports and was cited on both - including for failing to have a nearby vet and more critically, failing to be able to provide the inspector with legally required records. I think he was simply keeping the pangolins at his house/property by accounts.
That is correct - the two facilities have had some breeding success but we'll see how long things continue. Gladys Porter has 6 and Brookfield had 10 a bit over a year ago; presumably they are trying to keep success going by having breeding hubs to easily rotate animals as necessary. The fact zoos have lost rather than gained the species does not seem promising however.
Although it may have been obvious, I included data (the number of holders) that I hadn't seen posted anywhere else. In any case, I didn't intend for my post to interpreted in a way that suggested I was sharing new information, as it can easily be found using internet sources.
Oops. I had it in my head that there were two females imported already pregnant, for some reason, but looking at different articles, there had to've been more.
I wasn't asking for verification but thank you, none-the-less.
Brookfield is breeding them well now though, there's been several birth over the last few years that can not be explained by imported fetuses. One was even a second-generation captive birth. I am hopeful that this is just an initial drop in what will become a healthy zoo population.
I'm aware Brookfield is breeding regularly and has achieved a second generation birth - however all other holders have gone out of the species but Gladys Porter, so we'll have to see what happens.
Thank you and @Great Argus for more information in the importer.