European Animals in US zoos

[birdsandbats]

For some reason, there seems to be very little European animals in US zoos. Does anyone know why this is? I sometimes see Red Deer, European Honey Bees, Eurasian Eagle Owls, Mute Swans, Whooper Swans, and Eurasian Lynx kept, but that is about it. I know animals such as Wolverines, Golden Eagles, Monarchs, Gray Wolves, Moose, and Red Foxes, which have subspecies in both Europe and North America are kept, but only the NA subspecies is kept. I am especially interested in the status of threatened/declining species, such as European Mink, Eurasian Water Vole, Eurasian Red Squirrel, European Bison, Eurasian River Otter, Western Capercaillie, and European Eel.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I suspect there are nonetheless more European animals in US zoos than there are species native to the USA in European zoos; the only truly commonplace species to the best of my recollection are Northern Raccoon, North American River Otter, Great Horned Owl and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. We have other species, but not in terribly large numbers.

 

[jayjds2]

I am especially interested in the status of threatened/declining species, such as European Mink, Eurasian Water Vole, Eurasian Red Squirrel, European Bison, Eurasian River Otter, Western Capercaillie, and European Eel.

America’s western capercaillie were originally imported by the Bronx Zoo, or at least WCS, which runs then. They have been breeding well.

 

[FBBird]

I suspect there are nonetheless more European animals in US zoos than there are species native to the USA in European zoos; the only truly commonplace species to the best of my recollection are Northern Raccoon, North American River Otter, Great Horned Owl and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. We have other species, but not in terribly large numbers.

Bison, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Californian & Bobwhite Quail.....

 

[FunkyGibbon]

I suspect there are nonetheless more European animals in US zoos than there are species native to the USA in European zoos; the only truly commonplace species to the best of my recollection are Northern Raccoon, North American River Otter, Great Horned Owl and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. We have other species, but not in terribly large numbers.

American Bison?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Bison, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Californian & Bobwhite Quail.....

American Bison?

Yep, looking at ZTL I had grossly underestimated the number of American Bison and Hooded Merganser I'd actually deliberately omitted Canada Goose however, given the fact they are pretty much an established - albeit introduced - wild species now throughout Europe, much the same as Eastern Grey Squirrel.

 

[birdsandbats]

This thread has turned into North American animals in European zoos.

 

[Hyak_II]

Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, Canada, claims to have the only breeding colony of European Red Squirrels in Canada, and as far as I can tell that is true.

 

[Arizona Docent]

Good question. I think chamois and alpine Ibex and European wildcat would make exciting additions to USA collections.

 

[Coelacanth18]

@birdsandbats To answer your original question, probably the reason for lack of European animals in US zoos is their similarity to species found here. Otters, bison, wild goats, badgers, bears, wolves, moose, elk, deer, foxes, lynx, owls, eagles, quail, wolverine... you get the picture, I hope! Might as well just get these animals from our own continent since many of them are easy to acquire from rehab facilities.

Some European species with AZA breeding programs: wolverine (European subspecies), Eurasian eagle owl, European white stork, waldrapp ibis, and cinereous vulture.

 

[DDcorvus]

Yep, looking at ZTL I had grossly underestimated the number of American Bison and Hooded Merganser I'd actually deliberately omitted Canada Goose however, given the fact they are pretty much an established - albeit introduced - wild species now throughout Europe, much the same as Eastern Grey Squirrel.

And then there are a bunch of Passerines that are in zoos like Northern Cardinal and House finch that are common, both in zoos and in private hands. And species like Blue Grosbeak or American Goldfinch that are common in private hands and any European zoo could acquire immediately if they desire.

 

[kiang]

For some reason, there seems to be very little European animals in US zoos. Does anyone know why this is? I sometimes see Red Deer, European Honey Bees, Eurasian Eagle Owls, Mute Swans, Whooper Swans, and Eurasian Lynx kept, but that is about it. I know animals such as Wolverines, Golden Eagles, Monarchs, Gray Wolves, Moose, and Red Foxes, which have subspecies in both Europe and North America are kept, but only the NA subspecies is kept. I am especially interested in the status of threatened/declining species, such as European Mink, Eurasian Water Vole, Eurasian Red Squirrel, European Bison, Eurasian River Otter, Western Capercaillie, and European Eel.

There was this thread from a few years back....................

European animals in North American collections

 

[TinoPup]

Is Bronx the only US zoo with capercaillie?

 

[drill]

Is Bronx the only US zoo with capercaillie?

Toledo

 

[birdsandbats]

Is Bronx the only US zoo with capercaillie?

I think Central Park, too.

 

[birdsandbats]

I've recently been thinking, if a zoo created a North American European zone, what would it look like, with so few species available? Here is a list, using only species easy to obtain:

Fallow Deer
Red Deer
Wild Boar
European Mouflon
European Rabbit
European Lynx
Eurasian Brown Bear
Beech Marten
Wolverine
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Mute Swan
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Waldrapp Ibis
Cinereous Vulture
European Starling
European Goldfinch
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Great Tit
Golden Eagle
Common Wall Lizard
Italian Wall Lizard
European Glass Lizard

 

[vogelcommando]

I suspect there are nonetheless more European animals in US zoos than there are species native to the USA in European zoos; the only truly commonplace species to the best of my recollection are Northern Raccoon, North American River Otter, Great Horned Owl and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. We have other species, but not in terribly large numbers.

Think you forgot about reptilians ! Loads of North American species are kept in good or even large numbers in European zoos ( and privat collections ) : Lampropeltis, Thamnophis, several rattlesnakes, sliders, snapping turtles, Mississippi alligator, gila monster and a good number of other lizard-species. On the other hand I guess the number of European species kept in North American collections ( both public and privat ) is VERY small !

 

[birdsandbats]

On the other hand I guess the number of European species kept in North American collections ( both public and privat ) is VERY small !

You see the reptiles in my post above? That's basically it.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

For some reason, there seems to be very little European animals in US zoos. Does anyone know why this is? I sometimes see Red Deer, European Honey Bees, Eurasian Eagle Owls, Mute Swans, Whooper Swans, and Eurasian Lynx kept, but that is about it. I know animals such as Wolverines, Golden Eagles, Monarchs, Gray Wolves, Moose, and Red Foxes, which have subspecies in both Europe and North America are kept, but only the NA subspecies is kept. I am especially interested in the status of threatened/declining species, such as European Mink, Eurasian Water Vole, Eurasian Red Squirrel, European Bison, Eurasian River Otter, Western Capercaillie, and European Eel.

I'm pretty sure the majority of Wolverines in US zoos have been imported from Europe. I don't actually know who exactly keeps the American subspecies. As mentioned already, capercaillie is kept and bred regularly by Bronx. They currently have around 3.4, with offspring kept at a few other zoos. I think Tanganyika received them at some point. Central Park does not keep them afaik, though it wouldn't surprise me if they were more recently sent some overstock animals considering Bronx runs the zoo. European Bison I believe is kept in small numbers in the US.

I suspect there are nonetheless more European animals in US zoos than there are species native to the USA in European zoos; the only truly commonplace species to the best of my recollection are Northern Raccoon, North American River Otter, Great Horned Owl and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. We have other species, but not in terribly large numbers.

As someone who's been to a fair number of both European and American zoos at this point, I can very confidently say that there are a ton more American species in European zoos than European species in American zoos. In fact, you guys even have many American species that are more commonly kept in Europe than in America! This is why I keep getting North American lifers over there, much to all of your amusement

You see the reptiles in my post above? That's basically it.

What about the various European viper and lacerta species kept in US zoos?

~Thylo

 

[birdsandbats]

What about the various European viper and lacerta species kept in US zoos?

Forgot about the vipers and didn't know lactera was so widely kept.