AZA Ungulate Updates

Westcoastperson said:
I agree it would be difficult but it’s never impossible. A campaign by some zoo 99% would not work unless they had a master marketing department but as just some random internet trend is definitely possible. But chances of that happening are entirely random if there is no influence from an outside source.
That being said there is also little chance zoos would revive the population with overseas animals even if they became popular.
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It wouldn't happen. Rhinos have been popular for over a thousand years. They are one of most well known types of animals, and are common as mascots, brand ambassador/logos, and cartoons. When I did adult zoo camp a couple of months ago, we got to go in the rhino barn and people were crying at being close to them.
 
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Sorry if this has been answered already, but does the phase out of gaur have to do with the fact there are simply not enough individuals to maintain a population, or because they are ‘losing space to’ other species like banteng and rhino? I know it is possibly a mix, but if so, which factor is greater?
 
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TinoPup said:
It wouldn't happen. Rhinos have been popular for over a thousand years. They are one of most well known types of animals, and are common as mascots, brand ambassador/logos, and cartoons. When I did adult zoo camp a couple of months ago, we got to go in the rhino barn and people were crying at being close to them.
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Oh god no I never meant they would be more popular than rhinos that close to impossible. What I meant was it is (difficult but) possible for Guar to gain popularity. But I doubt that would change zoos attitude toward the species.
 
Junklekitteb said:
Sorry if this has been answered already, but does the phase out of gaur have to do with the fact there are simply not enough individuals to maintain a population, or because they are ‘losing space to’ other species like banteng and rhino? I know it is possibly a mix, but if so, which factor is greater?
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Low genetic diversity, low population, lack of interest from other zoos are all factors.
 
In regards to gaur populations, what happened to the herd in Omaha? They had a pretty decent sized herd at one point.

I never knew there were feral zebras in California, I just knew about a herd in the Hearst Ranch.

Sad to see so many species go, I did not realize there was a subspecies of aoudad being phased out. Those seem so common. I do like the idea of pure bison being bred. It might be tough to get founders from some places like Yellowstone or the Henry Mountains in Utah. What will happen to bison from other public herds like Custer State Park, Land Between the Lakes, or Theodore Roosevelt National Park? Will more go to reservations or private owners?
 
elefante said:
In regards to gaur populations, what happened to the herd in Omaha? They had a pretty decent sized herd at one point.

I never knew there were feral zebras in California, I just knew about a herd in the Hearst Ranch.

Sad to see so many species go, I did not realize there was a subspecies of aoudad being phased out. Those seem so common. I do like the idea of pure bison being bred. It might be tough to get founders from some places like Yellowstone or the Henry Mountains in Utah. What will happen to bison from other public herds like Custer State Park, Land Between the Lakes, or Theodore Roosevelt National Park? Will more go to reservations or private owners?
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The Omaha animals are now behind the scenes at Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari.

The Hearst Ranch zebras are what is being referred to here. Not wild if you ask me, given that they are fenced.
 
Echobeast said:
Low genetic diversity, low population, lack of interest from other zoos are all factors.
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Does ‘lack of interest’ mean that these zoos think gaur is not worth displaying or for conservation, or that they do not want to become invested in the program due to logistics?
 
PossumRoach said:
I disagree. With the exception of people who dream of having one as a trophy and animal nerds like you and I, I don’t see any member of the general public getting interested into gaurs with the family friendly marketing zoos could make. The only way I see some people liking gaurs is by being made into a meme because of how roided they look. Otherwise I don’t see the general public liking them anytime soon.
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So I'm in a rare majority of people who are Gaur superfans? I will agree that baby Indian Rhinos are way cuter than baby Gaurs.
 
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Sarus Crane said:
So I'm in a rare majority of people who are Gaur superfans? I will agree that baby Indian Rhinos are way cuter than baby Gaurs.
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>rare majority

Idk if you are trying to make a witty sarcastic remark or confused the words minority and majority? Because if the general public is full of animal and nerds, then the world would be a hell of a different place.
 
PossumRoach said:
@Kudu21 so I was checking the Planned SSP Changes: Potential Impact on the HIPPIT TAG slide show and the very last slide puzzled me. I am aware that the three species listed on the last slide are phase out species but idk what do they mean by "Other Species that could be included". Do you know what it could mean?
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Before they had the Green/Yellow/Red SSP system, AZA used to have a population designation called DERP - Display, Education, Research. It was basically a catch-all for species that some zoos would want to include in their collections, which the TAG wanted to acknowledge, but which wouldn't be formally managed. I think this is kind of a reincarnation of that; for a while, AZA seemed to be of the mind that every species in their facilities had to be an SSP, and this is the pendulum swinging back the other way.

For example, AZA wants Chacoan peccary to be the managed priority peccary, but this is acknowledging that a lot of southwestern zoos are going to have native wildlife exhibits that they will want collared peccary for, no substitutions.
 
Aardwolf said:
Before they had the Green/Yellow/Red SSP system, AZA used to have a population designation called DERP - Display, Education, Research. It was basically a catch-all for species that some zoos would want to include in their collections, which the TAG wanted to acknowledge, but which wouldn't be formally managed. I think this is kind of a reincarnation of that; for a while, AZA seemed to be of the mind that every species in their facilities had to be an SSP, and this is the pendulum swinging back the other way.

For example, AZA wants Chacoan peccary to be the managed priority peccary, but this is acknowledging that a lot of southwestern zoos are going to have native wildlife exhibits that they will want collared peccary for, no substitutions.
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I see... I understand for the collared peccary. But I don't understand for the other two tapirs since the mountain tapir is basically at a dead-end and iirc there are no AZA zoos with lowland tapirs.
 
PossumRoach said:
I see... I understand for the collared peccary. But I don't understand for the other two tapirs since the mountain tapir is basically at a dead-end and iirc there are no AZA zoos with lowland tapirs.
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No AZA zoos with lowland tapirs?

Here in Prague we have a lowland tapir male Tex that arrived from San Antonio Zoo circa 15 years ago. Have all other died since?
 
Jana said:
No AZA zoos with lowland tapirs?

Here in Prague we have a lowland tapir male Tex that arrived from San Antonio Zoo circa 15 years ago. Have all other died since?
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Okay maybe 0 lowland tapirs is a far stretch, but in the US lowland tapirs are rare compared to Europe. And most of them are in unaccredited zoos or as some call them roadside zoos
 
PossumRoach said:
I see... I understand for the collared peccary. But I don't understand for the other two tapirs since the mountain tapir is basically at a dead-end and iirc there are no AZA zoos with lowland tapirs.
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Jana said:
No AZA zoos with lowland tapirs?

Here in Prague we have a lowland tapir male Tex that arrived from San Antonio Zoo circa 15 years ago. Have all other died since?
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There's one AZA zoo with Lowland Tapirs - Brookfield.
 
Lowland Tapirs look better than Baird's because they have that stiff mane that runs down their neck like a horse. AZA should definitely consider working with EAZA on bringing more to the US. I remember in 2012 that Southwick's Zoo had a pair. I saw them on a visit then.
 
Sarus Crane said:
Lowland Tapirs look better than Baird's because they have that stiff mane that runs down their neck like a horse. AZA should definitely consider working with EAZA on bringing more to the US. I remember in 2012 that Southwick's Zoo had a pair. I saw them on a visit then.
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Lowland tapirs in EAZA are rather inbred. If AZA would want to start with a program, it would be wise to start with imports from range countries.
 
Sarus Crane said:
Lowland Tapirs look better than Baird's because they have that stiff mane that runs down their neck like a horse. AZA should definitely consider working with EAZA on bringing more to the US. I remember in 2012 that Southwick's Zoo had a pair. I saw them on a visit then.
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But aren't Baird's Tapir the more endangered species?
 
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