Having looked back on this thread recently, as the zoos collection has developed I’ve come up with a few new animals that may make sense. My original 5 still stand of course.
1- crowned or verraux’s sifaka. Either of these species would go nicely in the cut off lemur exhibit in the new Madagascar zone and would be a nice round off of the zoos lemur collection, bringing it to 5 species. The first isn’t a hard species to obtain with several collections holding it however im unsure about the second.
2- Bornean bearded pig. A personal favourite of mine that could do nicely on a spruce up anoa island or perhaps if the spotted deer ever move to islands, they could perhaps take that area. They’d be a nice Bornean species, and another good hoof stock addition to the zoo, taking the number of “pigs” to 4. Again this is another species easily obtainable with a need for conservation.
3- helmeted Guineafowl. A nice little species to join the tsavo aviary with their permed cousins. One or two could make that aviary even more dynamic, though a problem is children may try to re-enact the opening of the lion king :/
4- is the long shot. Philippine eagle. Highly endangered, this species needs highlighting in my opinion as it’s a wonderful bird. Not only does it fit in with the plans the zoo has collection wise, geographically, but it would fill the void of a big raptor species I’m sure many would like to see filled again, yes we have the current European vultures, but they’re not as grand. Plus if other islands aviaries are anything to go by, bar the lorry and to some extent magpie, I’m sure it’d be a cracking enclosure.
5- the return of rhinoceros iguana. I choose this species as it is a nice large reptile that could replace the void left by the Galapagos tortoises. It’s big enough and well known enough, plus who doesn’t like another big lizard for the zoo! I think with enough modifications to it, perhaps the old Galapagos tortoise enclosure could house them, however it’d make sense to move around some of the smaller animals and put them say in the caiman lizard viv.
And that’s my ideas, far more fleshed out than last time. I’m sure they’ll all be shot down but hey a man can try to dream can’t he!