Flying snakes in zoos?

M

Mbwamwitu

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Does anyone know of zoos that have been able to exhibit flying snakes (golden tree snake, paradise flying snake, etc.) displaying their gliding behavior?

For that matter: same question in reference to flying dracos.

I know a lot of facilities keep flying snakes in terrariums that they don't fly in, but are there any that have managed to create an exhibit in which the snake goes for the leap? Seems unlikely since there wouldn't be much need to do so in captivity, but just wondering.
 
Milwaukee County Zoo kept Ornate Flying Snakes until recently, when their exhibit became empty with a "new exhibit coming soon" sign. It is possible they are still at the zoo bts.
 
It's unpractical and useless to have flying snakes in an exhibit where they can show their gliding behaviour. The result will be a walthrough rainforest greenhouse where visitors never will see any snake. Snakes would pass all day lying quiet in the branches and for sure there would be no predators that make the snake leap for security. Even seeing one inside a terrarium is difficult (It was the biggest gut punch of my visit to Bonn museum, but despite many efforts and repeated visits I was unable to find a single portion of the flying snake despite looking at every posible corner of the terrarium). So imagine how it would be in a big exhibit!
 
Kakapo said:
It's unpractical and useless to have flying snakes in an exhibit where they can show their gliding behaviour. The result will be a walthrough rainforest greenhouse where visitors never will see any snake. Snakes would pass all day lying quiet in the branches and for sure there would be no predators that make the snake leap for security. Even seeing one inside a terrarium is difficult (It was the biggest gut punch of my visit to Bonn museum, but despite many efforts and repeated visits I was unable to find a single portion of the flying snake despite looking at every posible corner of the terrarium). So imagine how it would be in a big exhibit!
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I never had trouble with Milwaukee's flying snakes when they were on exhibit.
 
DavidBrown said:
The subject came up several years ago and at that time there were some flying snake species, but no exhibits big enough for them to glide that anyone knew of: What zoos have flying snakes?
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Ah, I should have run a search before posting! I am aware of zoos that have them, since the golden tree snake for example seems to be not uncommon in collections here in India. (I think I've seen one but it was years ago so can't be sure) - it's just the flying behavior that I was wondering about, and the replies on your thread (and this one) seem to confirm why it wouldn't happen.

Kakapo said:
It's unpractical and useless to have flying snakes in an exhibit where they can show their gliding behaviour. The result will be a walthrough rainforest greenhouse where visitors never will see any snake. Snakes would pass all day lying quiet in the branches and for sure there would be no predators that make the snake leap for security. Even seeing one inside a terrarium is difficult (It was the biggest gut punch of my visit to Bonn museum, but despite many efforts and repeated visits I was unable to find a single portion of the flying snake despite looking at every posible corner of the terrarium). So imagine how it would be in a big exhibit!
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I figured the lack of predators would be a reason, and your point about the 0% likelihood of zoos investing in an exhibit that would even make it possible is well taken. I guess even if there were hypotheticals under which the snake might fly, e.g. through some kind of enrichment, there is no exhibit under which such an experiment could be conducted. And my hunch is that flying isn't really that necessary an "enrichment" for the snake, so no one would be nuts enough to conduct such an experiment to begin with... but I thought I'd trawl around and see if someone was :P

birdsandbats said:
I never had trouble with Milwaukee's flying snakes when they were on exhibit.
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Nice-looking species, even when it's not flying!
 
Does the Dallas Children's Aquarium still have them? I saw a reference in Wikipedia (which I know isn't reliable) that they have them.
 
jayjds2 said:
That’s just not true. In addition to Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park, there’s also the California Academy of Sciences, which usually is reported as having them, Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo, and likely others.
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Any idea how they got them? Milwaukee would always make a big deal about how they were the only holder, and then Milwaukee's snakes went to Toledo.
 
Brookfield also has flying snakes - so there are at least 5 places with them at the moment.
 
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Private trade, zoo-pursued imports, confiscations - there are many avenues for acquiring strange animals. Sadly zoos are not usually the best at advertising when they have the only specimens of a certain species.
 
Flying snakes are certainly common species in the exotic animal trade. And quite cheap.
 
aramacao said:
Flying snakes are certainly common species in the exotic animal trade. And quite cheap.
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I am given to understand they are much more common in the European exotic market than the USA exotic market, but I am not that involved in the reptile trade to know for any certainty.
 
I remember seeing a paradise tree snake many years ago. I think more people would have been interested if the sign had mentioned that the snake can glide between trees.
 
Dassie rat said:
I remember seeing a paradise tree snake many years ago. I think more people would have been interested if the sign had mentioned that the snake can glide between trees.
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I totally agree, one complaint I have about the Cal Academy of Science is the lack of informational signage. They have lots of pretty and up to date signs with names of animals, but very little practical information about them at all.
 
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