German Zoo Worlds Zoo Animal Report

[German Zoo World]

Kookaburra

Photo made by @German Zoo World Laughing Kookaburra at Bodenseezoo Reuthemühle

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 6
Seen Breeds/Species: Laughing Kookaburra, Blue winged Kookaburra

As one of Australias most popular Birds the Kookaburra is a common Zoo Bird and i have seen the Laughing Kookaburra at 4 Zoos. Both Luisenpark Mannheim and Bodenseezoo Reuthemühle keep them in quite simple but adequate Aviarys. Pfauengarten Zoo has them in two different Aviarys, the first one is a old fashioned dark wooden Aviary that sadly wouldnt look out of place at a us roadside Zoo. Pfauengartens second Aviary is a simple but also larger Aviary that is home to a Pair and they where previously mixed with Golden Pheasant until the Pheasants where moved to another Aviary. One one of my Visits to Pfauengarten i noticed some interesting Behauviour, just like in the Wild a Kookaburra in the larger Aviary threw a dead chick against a branch that he was sitting on something that he would do in the wild to kill its prey. Wilhelma Zoo is sadly not keeping them anymore as the last Individual passed away in 2021. First Wilhelma did keep them on the Zoos Subtropic terraces but then they were moved over to the Zoos Aquarium/Terrarium building tropic zone to live in the Crocodile hall as freeroamers which was a absolutley spectacular sight and if you were lucky during that time you could watch them getting fed by a Keeper and the Birds swooped down to grab their food and i also never thought that such a mix would work with the Zoos Saltwater Crocodile but appareantly there were no problems. A few years ago after they were kept in the Crocodile hall they were moved over to the Zoos Bird of Prey section. I have seen the much more rarely kept Blue winged Kookaburra at 2 Zoos. Landau Zoo has them in a simple but lush and natural Aviary right next to the rare White backed Magpie. At Frankfurt Zoo they are of course kept in the Zoos famous Bird House where they are found in a lush tropical Enclosure even with underwater viewing which was until 2025 shared with the rare Little Grebe. Kookaburras are best known for their famous calls which makes them popular both by Zoos and Zoo Visitors and even the much more rarely kept Blue winged Kookaburra is now more common in Zoos than a few years ago.

 

[German Zoo World]

Sugar Glider

Photo made by @KevinB

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 2

Gliders are fascinating Zoo Animals but as they are from Australia and they need to be kept in a Nocturnal House they are quite rare in Zoos but i am very glad to have seen the Sugar Glider at 2 Zoos. Augsburg Zoo kept them in a simple Enclosure with several climbing frames inside the Zoos small Nocturnal section that is located in the Zoos Tiger House. Wilhelma Zoo does of course keep them in the Zoos Terra Australis nocturnal section in a spacious Enclosure together with Brushtail Possum and Rufous Bettong. Sugar Gliders are very popular with Zoo Visitors espacially with their cuteness and some even keep them as Pets and so the Zoos need to educate how to properly care for this arboreal Marsupial and for a australian Marsupial they are stil quite common in Zoos.

 

[German Zoo World]

King bird of Paradise

Photo made by @Jakub King bird of Paradise at Wilhelma Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 1

Bird of Paradise are huge raritys in Zoos and i am very glad to have seen the King bird of Paradise at Wilhelma Zoos small Mammal and Bird House. Wilhelma keeps them in a lush naturalistic Aviary but like several other Enclosures in the SMABH the Aviary could and should be larger. According to Zootierliste Wilhelmas King bird of Paradise are currently kept off show but i stil saw them on my last Visit in May 2025. Previously they where mixed with Rose crowned fruit Dove and Collared hill Partridge and currently they are mixed wit Cinnamon ground Dove. Espacially the collourfull Males could be crowd pleasers but sadly most Zoo Visitors overlook them and they do not appreciate how rare these Birds really are.

 

[German Zoo World]

Southeast australian short beaked Echidna

Photo made by @KevinB

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 1

Monotremes are unique Animals and they are very rare in Zoos and i am very glad to have seen the Short beaked Echidna at Frankfurt Zoos famous Grzimek House. Frankfurt has them in a spacious naturalistic Enclosure that looks like a small Eucalypt forest and they are mixed with Tawny Frogmouth which i did only see on my second round through the Grzimek House. On my Visit the Echidna was seen very active exploring its fantastic Enclosure. Echidnas are unique looking Zoo Animals but sadly they are very rare in Zoos but i think an active Echidna could be entertaining even for standard Zoo Visitors.

 

[German Zoo World]

Queensland Koala

Photo made by @KevinB

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 2

Koalas are one of the most popular and most well known Australian Animals which makes them popular even with standard Zoo Visitors and i have seen Koalas at 2 Zoos. Zurich Zoo has them inside several lush and naturalistic Enclosures inside the Zoos former Africa House which was refurbished as an Australia House and of course the Koala also have access to outdoor Enclosures which are located in the Zoos Kangaroo Walkthrough. Wilhelma Zoos Terra Australis has two lush indoor Enclosures and 2 outdoor Enclosures but i have only seen Wilhelmas Koala in their indoor Enclosures. On my last Visit in 2025 i was even able to see one of the two Koala babys that where born in 2024 very active exploring its Enclosure and jumping from Branch to Branch which is a rare sight for Koalas. Koalas are very popular both by Zoos and Zoo Visitors but because of their eucalypt diet and that they come from Australia makes them quite rare in Zoos but since the last few years they are now slowly more common in Zoos.

 

[German Zoo World]

Australian and oceanian Psittaciformes part 1

Photo made by @German Zoo World Eclectus Parrots at Augsburg Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 17
Seen Breeds/Species: Kea, North Island Kaka, Vogelkops Palm Cockatoo, Cockatiel, Eastern sulphur crested Cockatoo, Galah, Red tailed black Cockatoo, Bourkes Parrot, Scarlet chested Parrot, Filewoods Rosella, Golden mantled Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Swift Parrot, Red rumped Parrot, Red crowned Parakeet, Australian King Parrot, Red winged Parrot, Superb Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Solomon Islands Eclectus Parrot, Mount Goliath Papuan Lorikeet, Southern red flanked Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red collared Lorikeet, Dusky Lory

Other than the already mentioned Budgerigar there is a large variety of australian Parrots that are often kept in Zoos. I have seen the active and playfull Kea at 4 Zoos including Heidelberg Zoo which sadly phased their last Bird out in 2025. Heidelberg kept them in a simple old fashioned Aviary near the Zoos African Savannah. Of course the Kea is kept at the famous Loro Parque which also keeps them in a simple Aviary. Wilhelma Zoo is home to some very active Individuals which are of course kept on the Zoos Subtropic terraces in a simple Aviary complete with Enrichment such as a Childrens slide and you can even stil see them during the construction work for the new Tasmanian Devil Enclosure. A old fashioned yet stil adequate lush and spacious Aviary is home to the Kea at Frankfurt Zoo and they are mixed with Striated Caracara which seems to work well. Wilhelma Zoo is also home to the only North island Kaka outside of its native range and i have rarely seen her as she is much more shy than the more active Kea. Wilhelma keeps her on the Zoos Subtropic terraces in a simple Aviary and she can stil be seen currently if you are lucky. As one of the most impressive species of Cockatoo Wilhelma is home to some very active Vogelkops palm Cockatoo which are also held on the Zoos Subtropic terraces, previously they where mixed with Masked Lapwing and currently they are kept on their own but they can stil be seen. The Cockatiel is often mixed with the Budgerigar which means i have mentioned most of the Zoos already in my Budgie entry and will only name them here and they are Bad Buchau Aviary, Wilhelma Zoo, Ulm Zoo, Tiergehege Öhringen, Göppingen Zoo, Reptile Zoo Neu Ulm and Petting Zoo Kastanienhof Bodelshausen. I have also seen them at Pfauengarten Zoo which keeps them in the Zoos Bird House and since then i have also seen them at Konstanz Aviary which held them in a simple Aviary of course together with Budgerigar. The Eastern sulphur crested Cockatoo is one of the most well known species of Cockatoo which i have seen at 2 Zoos including at Reptile Zoo Neu Ulm which kept a single Individual until a few Years ago which was mostly held near the Zoos entry area. At Pfauengarten Zoo they are home to a single Individual which is kept in a simple Aviary inside of the Zoos Bird House and like all of the Birds in the Bird House the Cockatoo should get a outdoor Aviary. A large and active flock of Galah is kept at Wilhelma Zoos Australian free flight Aviary. Karlsruhe Zoo is specialiced in the keeping and breeding of rare Parrots and so they are home to the rarely kept Red tailed black Cockatoo which is kept in the Zoos Australian Aviary which is located in the Zoos Kangaroo Walkthrough of the small Australia section. Karlsruhe has previously also mixed them with Red collared Lorikeet but currently they share their Aviary with Major Mitchells Cockatoo, Galah, Superb Parrot and Masked Lapwing. The Bourkes Parrot is held at Göppingen Zoo where they are kept in the Aviary which was already mentioned in the Budgie entry. I have seen the colourfull Scarlet chested Parrot both at Pfauengarten Zoo which was also mentioned in the Budgie entry and at Wilhelma Zoo which keeps them in the spacious Aviary for Australian Finches inside of the Zoos historical Greenhouses.

To be continued....

 

[German Zoo World]

Australian and oceanian Psittaciformes part 2

I have seen the Filewoods Rosella at Blphendes Barrick Ludwigsburg which keeps them in a sepperate simple mixed australian Aviary inside of the Zoos mediterranean free flight Aviary and Ludwigsburg mixed them with Eastern Rosella and Superb Parrot. Golden mantled Roseĺla are one of several Rosella species that are kept at Pfauengarten Zoos Bird House and of course they are mixed with Eastern Rosella. Pfauengarten is also home to the Crimson Rosella which is housed in rwo sepperate Aviarys in the Zoos Bird House and in one of them they are mixed with Red billed Leiothrix. The most common Rosella species in Zoos is of course the Eastern Rosella which is kept in the already mentioned Avkarys of Pfauengarten and Ludwigsburg but they are also held in Wilhelma Zoos spacious Australian free flight Aviary. The rare and endangered Swift Parrot is bred by some Zoos to ensure a healthy captive Population that can be used for reintoduction Programms, i have seen them at a simple Aviary on Wilhelma Zoos Subtropic terraces aswell as in Augsburg Zoos Bird/Tropical House where they are kept in a simple Aviary together with Star Finch, Red billed Leiothrix, Red throated Parrotfinch, Emerald Dove, King Quail and Chinese bamboo Partridge. Another common species of australian Parrots in Zoos is the Red rumped Parrot which i have seen in the already mentioned Aviary of Bad Buchau and they also have been previously kept at Pfauengarten Zoo which has mixed them with Budgies of course inside the Zoos Bird House. I have seen the Red crowned Parakeet from New Zealand at both Göppingen and Bad Buchau both of which were alredy mentioned several times before.

To be continued....

 

[German Zoo World]

Australian and oceanian Psittaciformes part 3

Pfauengarten Zoos Bird House was home to a collourfull Australian king Parrot that was very interested in Zoo Visitors, Pfauengarten kept him together with other Birds but unfortunatley i do not remember which ones and he was kept until a few Years ago. Pfauengarten is stil home to the Red winged Parrot which is of course kept in the Zoos Bird House where they are mixed with Plume headed Parakeet but just like all other Birds of Pfauengartens Bird House they would benefit from exterior Aviarys. I have seen the Superb Parrot at Blühendes Barrock Ludwigsburg where they are held with in the already mentioned mixed Australian Aviary. As one of the largest and also most famous australian Parrots the Eclectus Parrot is a common Bird in Zoos. At Augsburg Zoo they are kept in their own Enclosure inside of the Zoos Bird/Tropical House while at Tiergehege Öhringen they have a single Individual which lives together with a Sulphur crested Cockatoo in a simple Aviary inside of the Zoos Bird Greenhouse.I have also seen the Solomon Islands Eclectus which was also kept at Pfauengarten Zoos Bird House until only a few Years ago. Wilhelma Zoo is home to many rare Birds including the Mount goliath papuan Lorikeet that i have seen in a simple Aviary which is of course located on the Zoos Subtropic terraces.Zurich Aviary Mythenquai is home to a large collection of rare Lorikeets which is fascinating for a small free city Aviary but sadly according to Zootierliste Zurich does not keep the Southern red flanked Lorikeet anymore which i stil remember from my Visit as Zurich does keep all of its Lorikeets in quite strange terrarium or pet shop like Enclosoures and sadly they do not have access to the Zoos outdoor Aviarys. I have also seen the Southern red flanked Lorikeet at Ulm Zoo which kept them in a simple Aviary in the Zoos Tropical House but sadly i did not see them anymore on my last Visit. Easily the most common Lorikeet species in Zoos is the Rainbow Lorikeet which i have seen at 3 Zoos. Bodenseezoo Reuthemühle and Tiergehege Öhringen keep them in simple Aviarys but Zurich Zoo keeps a flock in a spacious free flight Aviary which allows Zoo Visitors to feed the collourfull Birds with nectar cups and the Aviary is of course located next to the Zoos Kangaroo Walkthrough. Zurich Aviary Mythenquai stil keeps two rare species of Lorikeet the Red collared Lorikeet and the Dusky Lory which are both held in similar Enclosures like the Southern red flanked Lorikeet. Australian Parrots are common both in large and small Zoos but espacially if they are kept and seen in a spacious free flight Aviary where some Zoos even for instance allow interaction with Lorikeets which makes them to some of the most popular Zoo Birds and their collours and their active social behauvior makes Australian Parrots popular even amongst standard Zoo Visitors.

 

[German Zoo World]

Common brush tailed Possum

Photo made by @twilighter

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 1

Wilhelma Zoo is one of the few Zoos that is specialiced in rarely kept australian Mammals including the Brush tailed Possum which is of course kept in Wilhelmas Terra Australis nocturnal section in the same Enclosure that was already mentioned in my Kangaroo and Sugar Glider entrys. I have never thought that the Brush tailed Possum is near the size of a Racoon but as i had seen them for the first Time i had never expected them to be that large, i always thought they are the size of a Squirrel and so the Brush tailed Possum is one of the Zoo Animals that are way larger in real life than i expected them to be. Even when Brush tailed Possum is mostly kept in nocturnal Enclosures they do not only look cute and fluffy for the standard Zoo Visitors they are also entertaining to watch if you are luck when they are climbing arround and when they are seen active, Zoos can also educate about them as a invasive Species threatning New Zealands rare Birdlife but sadly there is always the same Problem with nocturnal Enclosures which makes them hard to find in Zoos both small and large.

 

[Mickey]

Zootierliste is clearly not following the accepted taxonomy then. Rather disappointing considering the Cat Classification Taskforce of the IUNC's Cat Specialist Group recognized that the cougar only has two valid subspecies in 2017.

"Accepted" is a strong word, I can accept someone in my house, that doesn't mean I have to like them, or I can accept an idea, that doesn't make it right.
The taxonomy is "accepted" by those that agree with or like it, not everyone.
By all means I'm keen on recognising it as well, but I wanted to dot the "i"s.

Where can one find this document you're referring to? I went to the IUCN Red List website and for Puma concolor (last assessed in 2014, over 10 years ago) it says:

The taxonomy is currently under review by the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group. While 32 subspecies have been classically described, on the basis of genetic analysis Culver et al. (2000) suggest six subspecies as follows:

P. c. cougar: North America
P. c. costaricensis: Central America
P. c. capricornensis: eastern South America
P. c. concolor: northern South America
P. c. cabrerae: central South America
P. c. puma: southern South America

Was the 2017 report the one about tigers as well or was that a subsequent one? Anyhow, a suggestion from an institution doesn't mean you can't challenge it.

P.S. sorry for the off-topic.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Where can one find this document you're referring to?

https://repository.si.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/1d1e8363-e64d-4e40-bb48-f95fd9b90645/content

There you go.

 

[Mickey]

https://repository.si.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/1d1e8363-e64d-4e40-bb48-f95fd9b90645/content

There you go.

To answer myself the question, yes, it is the one about tigers and lions; this is a highly controversial publications and not everyone adheres to it, especially without first doubting a thing or two, and lots of zoos prefer to keep a more conservative approach, eg. North Chinese leopard and Amur leopard are still managed separately in EU.

It doesn't mean any of us is wrong, but it depends on how you want to manage taxa.

Edit: by the way, I didn't know about Lynx lynx sardiniae, hilarious!

 

[German Zoo World]

Southern Cassowary

Photo made by @German Zoo World Southern Cassowary at Praha Zoo

Seen at how many Zoos/Aquariums: 2


Cassowarys are most popular for being the Worlds most dangerous Bird but for some reason they are much more rare in Zoos than other Ratites. I first saw them at Praha Zoo and i remember that i was really fascinated how huge the Cassowary was and i saw the dangerous Claws and i thought now i know why this is the Worlds most dangerous Bird. Praha keeps them in their old Australia section in a quite simple wooded Enclosure which includes viewing in to the Cassowarys indoor Enclsure. At Frankfurt Zoo they are kept in two lush and naturalistic Enclosures and they are even mixed with Parma Wallaby here which i have never thought about but it seems to work well at Frankfurt. Cassowarys are huge and absolutley impressive Zoo Birds that are even popular with standard Zoo Visitors but for some reason they are sadly much more rarely kept in Zoos than other Ratites.