Geographically Incorrect Exhibits

[Randomname0183]

Not necessarily due to that, the Amur Leopard is being given priority within the AZA and also the EAZA I believe.

I haven’t heard news of the other leopard SSP being on phase-out in the EAZA, so I believe they might have priority for all 6 leopard subspecies in captivity of the region: Amur, North Chinese, Sri Lankan, Indian (however it’s only kept in a single collection), Javan and Persian are quite widespread and it’d be a waste to phase all of them out for Amur due to all being between vulnerable and critically endangered. It could well be similar to the situation for tigers where they focus on all 3 subspecies.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I don't get the point of this honestly. The zoo has a fine African area they can put the RRH and hippos in, and Australian animals like emus and wallabies are incredibly cheap and easy for a zoo to purchase. Binturong is a stretch, but I guess it kind of makes sense, if you go for an Australasia kind of theme.

Yeah, as @Jambo mentioned, the hippos are kind of all over the place between three exhibits and three "continents". I agree though, I am not certain why they don't ship off a few hippo and make that area actually Australian. It is kind of bizarre and without a vision. I would be curious to see the master plan and what they have for that area.

 

[Jambo]

Yeah, as @Jambo mentioned, the hippos are kind of all over the place between three exhibits and three "continents". I agree though, I am not certain why they don't ship off a few hippo and make that area actually Australian. It is kind of bizarre and without a vision. I would be curious to see the master plan and what they have for that area.

They do have the most successful breeding program for the Pygmy Hippo in North America though, with five calves born in the last six years. They currently have seven hippos across three enclosures (two different pairs and then their respective offspring); so they'd definitely be in need of three enclosures.

The website actually states the Australian section consists of Pygmy Hippos, Red River Hogs and Budgerigar, only one of which is native to Australia.

Montgomery also has Saimang in their African precinct which is also geographically inaccurate.

 

[SusScrofa]

Smithsonian had non-Amazon species in its Amazonian exhibit (African Clawed Frog for example). There's also Maned Wolves on the American Trail, though on the website it says Gray Wolves. Technically not geographically incorrect because there from South America, but all the other species on the trail are North American.

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo - The Coast

The Coast (pinniped exhibit) began life as a California sea lion exhibit in 2001.

10 years later, it was refurbished and became part of the New Zealand precinct. The zoo had acquired three New Zealand fur seals and one Subantarctic fur seal by this time, but the sea lions remained.

I'd like to note that unlike seeing Indian antelope on Hamilton Zoo's African Savannah, it never bothered me seeing California sea lion in the New Zealand precinct. These highly charismatic animals were the highlight of the precinct and have been a great loss to the zoo since the last one died in 2015.

The New Zealand fur seals have since died also, leaving the zoo with an elderly Subantarctic fur seal. Technically this isn't geographically incorrect as this species does occasionally wash up on New Zealand shores (like this one did), though DOC notes they're rarely seen in New Zealand: Subantarctic fur seals are found typically on offshore islands throughout the subantarctic region including the southern Indian Ocean and southern Atlantic. While it is rare, they do occasionally make their way to New Zealand.

The zoo are planning to phase out pinnipeds upon the death of the remaining seal, so I'll be making the most of this exhibit either way.

Subantarctic Fur Seal Exhibit (New Zealand Coast) - Viewing Window

• Zoofan15
• 5 Jan 2022

Photo taken 04/01/2022.

Subantarctic Fur Seal Exhibit (New Zealand Coast) - Main Pool

• Zoofan15
• 5 Jan 2022

Photo taken 04/01/2022.

 

[15399]

Auckland Zoo - The Coast

The Coast (pinniped exhibit) began life as a California sea lion exhibit in 2001.

10 years later, it was refurbished and became part of the New Zealand precinct. The zoo had acquired three New Zealand fur seals and one Subantarctic fur seal by this time, but the sea lions remained.

I'd like to note that unlike seeing Indian antelope on Hamilton Zoo's African Savannah, it never bothered me seeing California sea lion in the New Zealand precinct. These highly charismatic animals were the highlight of the precinct and have been a great loss to the zoo since the last one died in 2015.

The New Zealand fur seals have since died also, leaving the zoo with an elderly Subantarctic fur seal. Technically this isn't geographically incorrect as this species does occasionally wash up on New Zealand shores (like this one did), though DOC notes they're rarely seen in New Zealand: Subantarctic fur seals are found typically on offshore islands throughout the subantarctic region including the southern Indian Ocean and southern Atlantic. While it is rare, they do occasionally make their way to New Zealand.

The zoo are planning to phase out pinnipeds upon the death of the remaining seal, so I'll be making the most of this exhibit either way.

Subantarctic Fur Seal Exhibit (New Zealand Coast) - Viewing Window

• Zoofan15
• 5 Jan 2022

Photo taken 04/01/2022.

Subantarctic Fur Seal Exhibit (New Zealand Coast) - Main Pool

• Zoofan15
• 5 Jan 2022

Photo taken 04/01/2022.

That looks like a really nice pinniped exhibit! I know very little about that zoo, but it seems like the pinnipeds will be greatly missed.

 

[Zoofan15]

That looks like a really nice pinniped exhibit! I know very little about that zoo, but it seems like the pinnipeds will be greatly missed.

The pinnipeds will be a huge loss to the zoo. The zoo's original seal pond opened in the 1920's and held New Zealand fur seals, New Zealand sea lions and California sea lions throughout the 20th century. The zoo once had a thriving colony of California sea lions, founded by two females from the USA (Sinka and Kline), who produced several pups with an Auckland bred male. This colony had dwindled to 1.2 by the time the current pinniped exhibit opened in 2001.

This exhibit was the first of its kind in a New Zealand zoo, offering underwater viewing and the California sea lions in particular used to enjoy gliding upside down past the viewing window. The fur seals were always less engaging, preferring to stay on the rocks; though they became more active in the water following the death of the bull sea lion, suggesting there was some avoidance here.

 

[aramacao]

Plzen Zoo: Ring-tailed lemur vs Aldabra giant tortoise
Bioparc Valencia: Some species of sturgeons in the rivers of a parc with an exclusive african theme.
L'Oceanogràfic Valencia: some species of birds reptiles and fiches of South America and mediterranea area in the same aviary (ibis, spoonbills, ducks, turtles...).

 

[Randomname0183]

Bioparc Valencia: Some species of sturgeons in the rivers of a parc with an exclusive african theme.

I’ve never seen these sturgeons you speak of and don’t recall them being listed on the website. Would you have photos of the sturgeons in question? I believe there may be some carp in bioparc around the flamingoes too.

 

[aramacao]

I’ve never seen these sturgeons you speak of and don’t recall them being listed on the website. Would you have photos of the sturgeons in question? I believe there may be some carp in bioparc around the flamingoes too.

I'm sorry, but I don't have any photos. They are in the estuaries of the Madagascar exhibit.

 

[AndyJ08]

A bit late, but as much as I love Bronx’s World of Birds, I felt as if they just threw geographic mixes out the window. It felt odd to see a Japanese Quail in a savannah-themed exhibit, and for whatever reason, Crested Wood Partridges were in nearly every exhibit.