RaptorFan9000
Active Member
Maybe they’ll have meerkats, servals, porcupines, honey badgers, secretary birds, and other animals.
Bronx Zoo Bronx Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Mary
- Start date
Mary
Well-Known Member
I am almost positive this is a jird and not a kangaroo rat housed in there.
KiwiBirb
Well-Known Member
A couple updates from a visit on Friday
-Still no sign of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur anywhere in the zoo
-There is an unsigned Muscovy Duck on display in the last exhibit in the ABH
-There is indeed a Wattled Crane behind the Lesser Adjutant Aviary
-The Coscoroba Swans are back in the Sea Bird Aviary.
-While I was unable to note the species as thanks to the fencing I couldn’t get ID pics, there are a multitude of unsigned species in the Pheasant Aviaries
-The Javan Langurs were seemingly off exhibit. Does anyone know their age and what the zoo plans to do with the space once the last 2 in the AZA are gone?
-Still no Clouded Leopard yet in Jungleworld
-There was no sign or mention of Formosan Sika Deer, Eld’s Deer, and Muntjac on the monorail ride. I assume that, at least the Eld’s and Sika deer were backstage possibly? There were still a good amount of both last time I rode the monorail.
-Still no sign of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur anywhere in the zoo
-There is an unsigned Muscovy Duck on display in the last exhibit in the ABH
-There is indeed a Wattled Crane behind the Lesser Adjutant Aviary
-The Coscoroba Swans are back in the Sea Bird Aviary.
-While I was unable to note the species as thanks to the fencing I couldn’t get ID pics, there are a multitude of unsigned species in the Pheasant Aviaries
-The Javan Langurs were seemingly off exhibit. Does anyone know their age and what the zoo plans to do with the space once the last 2 in the AZA are gone?
-Still no Clouded Leopard yet in Jungleworld
-There was no sign or mention of Formosan Sika Deer, Eld’s Deer, and Muntjac on the monorail ride. I assume that, at least the Eld’s and Sika deer were backstage possibly? There were still a good amount of both last time I rode the monorail.
Mary
Well-Known Member
-The swans have been back there for a bit now.
-Those species are sometimes not on exhibit if it’s very hot/humid. Also, there is only 1 muntjac and she is very hard to see. I ride the monorail 4+ times every visit, once a week at times, and have seen her once.
There is only one Javan Langur left as of my visit a few weeks ago.
The Formosan Sika and North Indian Muntjac were both on-exhibit when I visited a few weeks ago, as well. I saw the muntjac, but not the sika. Both we named by the driver.
~Thylo
The Formosan Sika and North Indian Muntjac were both on-exhibit when I visited a few weeks ago, as well. I saw the muntjac, but not the sika. Both we named by the driver.
~Thylo
Terrible to hear the zoo is down to a single Javan langur. Is the individual likely to remain on display or is it more likely the zoo will move it behind the scenes sooner? I don't expect the zoo can source any more animals?
It'll be interesting to see what fills the space. Just about every zoo nerd knows they inhabit the former Proboscis monkey enclosure, and even the Javan langurs that replaced them were a rare species, which creates a certain expectation they may try something rare again, but it's just as likely they stick to one of the langur species still present in the AZA.
It'll be interesting to see what fills the space. Just about every zoo nerd knows they inhabit the former Proboscis monkey enclosure, and even the Javan langurs that replaced them were a rare species, which creates a certain expectation they may try something rare again, but it's just as likely they stick to one of the langur species still present in the AZA.
The last animal was on-exhibit when I visited. I know Tanganyika imported a troop from Europe some years back that has since grown significantly. They've dispersed some animals to other non-AZA institutions, but are theoretically a source of additional animals for Bronx. That said, I expect the zoo will phase-out the species once their last individual dies. There's already a breeding program for them in Europe and US zoos aren't exactly lining up to take on additional primate programs. The black morph animals also look pretty much identical to the Silvered Leaf Monkeys elsewhere in JungleWorld.
I agree that Crab-Eating Macaques would make for the most suitable replacement, however I expect it is much more likely that the zoo obtains Francois' Langur given that they're an AZA managed species. Time will tell I suppose.
~Thylo
I agree that Crab-Eating Macaques would make for the most suitable replacement, however I expect it is much more likely that the zoo obtains Francois' Langur given that they're an AZA managed species. Time will tell I suppose.
~Thylo
CMTM
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, most living things tend to eventually pass away after a period of time.
If Bronx really wants to future-proof, I suppose they could replace the langurs with lobsters or hydras...
KiwiBirb
Well-Known Member
While Francois’ Langur is the most likely option, I do think if any zoo would obtain more Javan Langurs, Crab-Eating Macaques, or any other rare primate I do believe it would be the Bronx. They have continued to maintain many species not sponsored by the AZA and the SSP, even going as far as importing more Vontsiras from Europe.
I would also assume that they would at least be encouraged by AZA to take on Francois Langurs as all the AZA managed species African-Eurasian Monkeys desperately need more holders.
Keep in mind too that with Crab-Eating Macaques, would come the cost of supplying and training staff in extensive PPE protocols now common place at many AZA zoos. This is seen as a non-essential additional cost for many zoos across the country.
Nope, that aint true and is just a load of hogwash. It is just bad species management ..., Period!
Sometimes it's bad management, sometimes a program just doesn't work out. To pretend that every failed program is the result of mismanagement and never bad luck or low genetic diversity or lack of additional breeding stock or anything else is just wrong.
~Thylo
You are entitled to your opinions, I am entitled to mine. In my defence, across the board the management of Colobine primates in Northern zoos is not the greatest - to put it diplomatically - and AZA certainly has not done itself any favours in this respect. Whether or not you agree nor like it ..., too many times the AZA has discontinued programs due to general desinterest within the North American zoo community and not any other rationale.
As a membership organization, “general disinterest within the North American zoo community” seems like an entirely appropriate reason for discontinuing a program. If the members don’t want it, why should collection decisions be “forced” upon them? Individual zoos are free to exhibit/breed whatever species they want, as the AZA programs are voluntary, not mandatory.
The statement that the failure of a zoo program can be due to a multitude of reasons beyond pure mismanagement "is just a load of hogwash. It is just bad species management ..., Period!" is not an opinion, it's a factually incorrect statement. I have no idea why the Bronx Zoo's Javan Langur program failed and I'd wager neither do you. It's possible it was due to mismanagement or a lack of interest in continuing with the species, it's also possible that it was due to their breeding group petering out and there not being more blood available for import at the time. Any number of things could have happened here, like with any other breeding program. That's just reality.
I certainly agree with you that the AZA has done a pretty terrible job with maintaining diversity. The reasons behind that are complex. It's hard for any one zoo to manage an effective breeding program for a large primate with special husbandry requirements all on their own. It's far easier for the Bronx to manage something like the Kihansi Spray Toad by the thousands than it would have been to be the sole driver of Javan Langur. The zoo has stuck their heels in the mud for various species of small rodent and Asian hoofstock, but sadly the langurs didn't carry on. That's not necessary the fault of the Bronx Zoo nor the AZA. I think it's perfectly sensible that the EAZA would manage Javan Langur while the AZA managed Silvered Leaf Monkey. The Bronx continues to breed the latter species and holds one of the largest, if not the largest group of this species in the country. The apathy towards that program from other zoos is something I, too, lament and I fear for its future in AZA zoos. If Bronx's breeding group suddenly crashes due to uncontrollable circumstances, however, that's a different story.
~Thylo