Excellent info and idea hatching guys..but also the needed level of reality's gravity based on recent trajectory and direction patterns by our zoos.
Am aware that this is 99% unlikely, but like to keep a glimmer of hope and also subscribe to the belief that while the many exciting what-if concepts we all suggest do get a peer-reviewed reality check, still firmly believe in the continuation of voicing them. Just believe our zoos miss a highly exciting well of ideas by not having a look on these forums and considering much of what is suggested.
re: Bears, totally agree that it would be a colossal mistake if Sun Bears ever were completely phased out of our region. Even with the difficulties with breeding them (minus Wellington Zoo's big success with 'cracking the formula' and Perth's '08 success with Maly's birth) the Free the Bears Foundation is still stoically carrying out its angelic deeds in SE Asia which does mean the likelihood of other individual Sun Bears being available for being sent to live in homes at our zoos (along with the noble rescue story that Bopha, Jamran, Mr Hobbs, Otago, Sean, Victoria etc had proudly relayed to the public), obviously in the last fifteen years the FTBF has gone with suitable sanctuaries for their Bears in countries of SE Asia itself especially Cambodia (obviously the sanctuaries were part of the original plan from the mid '90s, just meant the sending of some individuals to zoos here ceased a decade & a half ago). And of course they also work with Asiatic Black Bears (''Moon Bears'') which like Sloth Beara and Spectacled Bears are a species long been exceptionally rare in Australasian zoos..well none at all in face for over 40 years (with Spectacled/Andean Bears not entirely sure they've ever graced our shores).
Truly think Sloth Bears or 'Moon Bears' would be an exciting addition to a few of our zoos, and think for one thing Melbourne should seriously consider once their Eles' have moved to Werribee. I only don't say other examples like Taronga or Perth because feel perhaps their commitment to continue keeping Sun Bears in future is about as fragile as a cornflake under a mack-truck. But wonder if Darling Downs, Altina, Mogo, Hamilton, Launceston or Port Macquarie say would look into being future holders of Sun Bears (and Adelaide again once it's Giant Panda duo are gone) and perhaps Dubbo could be convinced to be a secondary holder of Sloth Bears or 'Moon Bears' along with Melbourne hypothetically..or perhaps even Sydney Zoo, having a different Bear species to Taronga's Mary the Sun Bear would be exciting (but would entail them probably having to part with their Dromedaries for finding an exhibit in their built to capacity site large enough to accommodate a couple of Bears). Or possibly Sydney Zoo and Darling Downs Zoo could 'branch out' in being a holder of a different Bear species like (Syrian) Brown Bears which are still an approved (sun)species on Australia's approved import list and arguably the only Brown Bear sub population that's natural climate justifies new individuals of those Bears coming to reside in Australia.
Was only until less than two decades ago (in Tarongas case 10&half years ago and Canberra's case 4&half) that two Bear species were accommodated for at many of the larger city zoos in our region (oh almost forgot that with Adelaide Zoo they also had Sun Beara still for a number of years along with their two Giant Pandas, same with when they still had Syrian Brown Bears). But obviously now would think perhaps may be something that may only be a case of convincing our zoos to either maintain their Sun Bears or acquire a Bear species like the Sloths or 'Moon' Bears.
Re: Fishing Cats & Clouded Leopards - think it would be excellent if our region could maintain and try to breed both (would require two pairs each per zoo that intended to try breed them, and an off display enclosure too for adequate breeding environments) from 1993-2004 Taronga managed to hold both Clouded Leopards and Fishing Cats at the same time
(even opposite one another for a few months in late '97 in the Jungle Cats Complex/now Tassie Devil & JR the Barton's Echidna Building, the Cloudies' and Fishing Cat complimented one another I thought seeing them in neighbouring proximity as an 8 year old). Think Melbourne maintained both species too for a few years when Nella the Cloudie' moved there (and obviously private-tour only WCCC on the northern outskirts of cross-Hawkesbury Greater Sydney has both species atm, albeit one Fishing Cat, but very impressed with their Clouded Leopard collection atm plus being the sole holders of the species currently, but obviously as a Felid focused facility has helped with them being dual holders of both species at present. Think Taronga and Melbourne should look into holding both species again. Perhaps Mary the Sun Bear could receive a larger exhibit when Pak Boon & Tang Mo depart for Dubbo or Werribee, and perhaps in turn Mary's current exhibit could be set up as a Clouded Leopard exhibit (though would need a high roof and some fencing and the canyon to be filled in, and suspect the heritage people would be resistant as that exhibit is over a century old now, but if the exterior facade of the exhibit is kept intact though).
Sorry long post.
) and the fact that as you point out that even their males can be intergrated into mixed ungulate exhibits just further seals their perfect fitting for having their numbers and number-of-holders in our region bolstered. Had a big head-nod and smile-of-being-impresses when Sydney Zoo acquired the Nyala(s) for co-habitation with their Sth White Rhino', the great thing too was their Nyala can also move next door with the Giraffes, Zebras and Ostriches if need be.