Animals that deserve inclusions in American Zoos:

Sulu hornbills are critically endangered, warranty for a presence in collections, so zoos might be able to establish a breeding program, if there was interest.

The few Sulu hornbills left would probably be best undisturbed. Capturing the entire population (likely downwards of 27), which would be necessary, could not be done easily and might be impossible because of their behavior. Sadly, as @Great Argus mentioned in his analysis, larger coraciiformes typically have a low breeding success rate.

https://iucnhornbills.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Sulu-Hornbill-Action-Plan_low-res-1.pdf
 
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wild boar said:
Sulu hornbills are critically endangered, warranty for a presence in collections, so zoos might be able to establish a breeding program, if there was interest.

Also possible, though, is that the few Sulu hornbills left would be best undisturbed. Capturing the entire population (likely downwards of 27), which would be necessary, could not be done easily and might be impossible given their behavior.

https://iucnhornbills.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Sulu-Hornbill-Action-Plan_low-res-1.pdf
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I disagree this is a species that is a candidate for establishing in US zoos. Our breeding record with larger hornbills is not very good, and many species are only around because of their lengthy lifespan. Bringing in a new, extremely threatened species for purposes of safeguarding the species does not match well with our current poor breeding success. If a ex-situ population is to be established, somewhere in Southeast Asia is better suited. As it stands, the action plan does not forsee potential for removing birds from their native islands and there is no interest to do so.
 
birdsandbats said:
A couple of places have Hawaiian Monk Seal, and there has been talk of starting a global captive breeding program for Philippine Eagle which would presumably include some American zoos.
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I know the San Diego Zoo was in talks to try and get a pair of the eagles.

I really think there should be a captive breeding program for Hawaiian monk seals, possibly including current holders.
 
wild boar said:
I know the San Diego Zoo was in talks to try and get a pair of the eagles.

I really think there should be a captive breeding program for Hawaiian monk seals, possibly including current holders.
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Honestly not sure an ex situ population is necessary for monk seals, the species is being managed very well in situ and the population has been on the increase over the last decade.
 
Jacksonville Zoo also was trying to aquire eagles not too long ago
 
wild boar said:
It would still be good to have a captive population, though.
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Why? The species is increasing in its range and is protected. Not everything needs a captive population.

tigris115 said:
IMO, with the Sri Lankan leopard, you can easily have a dynamic similar to the Amur and Sumatran/Malayan tiger

If a zoo is in a place that's hot, have the Sri Lankan leopard. If it's cold, have an Amur leopard.

2 subspecies ain't that much to manage
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It is when they're vying for space with three Tiger subspecies, the Lion, Jaguar, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Cloudie, and the Mountain Lion - space is already limited in AZA zoos without trying to manage another Leopard spp.
 
I'm still shocked the Minnesota Zoo was crazy enough to invest in Hawaiian monk seal given how quick the turnaround has been on that species. They could have just filled the tank with harbor seals and called it a day.

There will definitely never be another leopard subspecies held in the AZA, and we should phase out at least one of the tiger subspecies if we're being honest.
 
Great Argus said:
Why? The species is increasing in its range and is protected. Not everything needs a captive population.
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That is true. However, I don't see why the monk seal conservation efforts shouldn't be supported by a captive population, especially when there is an ample amount of pinniped holders in North American animal facilities for the few populations managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Establishing a captive population for Hawaiian monk seals would also have comparatively less impediments than attempting to do with another species.
 
wild boar said:
However, I don't see why the monk seal conservation efforts shouldn't be supported by a captive population, especially when there is an ample amount of pinniped holders in North American animal facilities for the few populations managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
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There's really no need though - the species is doing fine in the wild with the protection it has. Taking seals from the wild serves no purpose in this case.

wild boar said:
Establishing a captive population for Hawaiian monk seals would also have comparatively less impediments than attempting to do with another species.
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Being protected by the ESA as well as the MMPA is a poor start - the couple of monk seals left in captivity are unreleasable rescues iirc. Lot of legal hurdles to jump through unnecessarily, given Harbor seals are readily obtained and can be kept outdoors pretty much anywhere. Monk Seal requires warmer water, an additional cost to the facility. There's no reason to go catching endangered seals with a stable population when exhibits are readily filled by unreleasable Harbor Seals and California Sealions needing placement.
 
Old thread but here are some species that I think should be included more in North American zoos:

Fiji crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis)
Waxy monkey tree frogs (Phyllomedusa sp.)
Madagascar spider tortoises (Pyxis sp.)
Hoopoes (Upupa sp.)
Parsons’ chameleon (Calumma parsonii)
Carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)
Meller’s chameleon (Trioceros melleri)
Shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa)
Lehmann’s poison dart frog (Oophaga lehmanni)
Black-masked lovebird (Agapornis personatus)
Peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis rosiecollis)
New Zealand frogs (Leiopelma sp.)
New Zealand green geckos (Naultinus sp.)
Dumeril’s monitor (Varanus dumerilii)
Goodman’s mouse lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara)

Yeah, I know that some of the species that I listed are more suitable for the now-defunct Fantasy Zoos thread, but maybe some zoo like SDZ will make a deal to bring some rarities to the New World. Thoughts? :)
 
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Iguana_Cabana said:
Fiji crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis)
Waxy monkey tree frogs (Phyllomedusa sp.)
Madagascar spider tortoises (Pyxis sp.)
Hoopoes (Upupa sp.)
Parsons’ chameleon (Calumma parsonii)
Carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)
Meller’s chameleon (Trioceros melleri)
Shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa)
Lehmann’s poison dart frog (Oophaga lehmanni)
Black-masked lovebird (Agapornis personatus)
Peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis rosiecollis)
New Zealand frogs (Leiopelma sp.)
New Zealand green geckos (Naultinus sp.)
Dumeril’s monitor (Varanus dumerilii)
Goodman’s mouse lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara)
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Most of these species are at least present in NA - some of them are outright common, if not necessarily in zoos.
 
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JVM said:
I don't realistically see any new species being phased in. Most discussion about species being phased out has been about making room for existing programs and expanding holders - the phase out of sun bears is opening room for Andean and Sloth bears, for example. New animal imports are famously difficult, especially for groups such as hoofstock, and it's well understood by now that all we can really do is work to expand existing captive populations to keep up long-term sustainability or on rare occasion, cooperation between the AZA and EAZA, which is a subject I'm not terribly versed with. Homogenization is the future.

The last phase-in species I remember getting some conversation and attention is Jaguaroundi and that was nearly a decade ago and last I'd heard they had declined in holders since then. There is some talk about Masai giraffe and Mountain zebra gradually displacing some of the captive hybrid giraffe and common zebra population but those are going to be take a pretty long time to happen. There was a period when I think Nubian ibex were expected to expand but now it looks like they may eventually be phased out. I know Lake Titicaca frogs have spread a lot.

The closest thing I can think of is that if Brookfield continues to have success breeding white-bellied tree pangolin, I could eventually imagine some of them becoming exhibits at other facilities.

If we're talking species that I'd like to see become common that are not? I think it's a shame that bush dogs have disappeared from major institutions, I think potto and kinkajou could be very popular if given another chance. Small mammals and small carnviores have seen a decline and a lot of them, I think, could stand to be popular with the right attention paid.
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Why are they phasing out sun bears? They are my favorite
 
CTZoologist said:
Why are they phasing out sun bears? They are my favorite
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The intent in bringing rescued bears to the US was to start a captive breeding program, but they bred very poorly. In addition, standards for bears have changed so much that most zoos can only keep a couple bear species, forcing sun bears to compete with not only the popular and adaptable polar and brown bears, but also the other tropical bear species like Andean and sloth bear, both of which have bred more consistently and are easier to obtain. So even the few zoos with room for more than three bears are unlikely to pick sun bears.

That said, there are sun bears being kept in Europe, so a decent captive population does exist that is breeding better, should anyone in the US take an interest in the future.
 
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