Doesn't Auchingarrich wildlife centre still have some Chamois? I've no idea how many or if they are breeding but that would be a logical species to see at HWP. So does anyone know what happened with the Elk? They had three, and then there was only one on ISIS. The wilderness reserve at Alladale was supposed to be importing some as well.
Highland Wildlife Park highland wildlife park
- Thread starter davidevans72@bt
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Elk are massive
yeah !!
when I was on a camping trip in USA and Canada , I crawled out of my puptent in the Rockies , and found myself between two sets of legs ...... elk !!
They are the only deer that I have seen that are bigger than horses
( There may be other deer that are bigger , but I havent seen them )
yeah !!
when I was on a camping trip in USA and Canada , I crawled out of my puptent in the Rockies , and found myself between two sets of legs ...... elk !!
They are the only deer that I have seen that are bigger than horses
( There may be other deer that are bigger , but I havent seen them )
a species that bred here in the past is the saiga, they had a group here in the seventies and early eighties they would be ideal for the parks new remit although i think animals would only be available from askanyia nova in the ukraine, there is a group in moscow and the former breeding herd at cologne is now down to 1 animal
kiang,
It is a nice thought, but every initiative to firmly establish the species in a zoo environment has failed. The Koeln Zoo was the most advanced in this respect untill predation took its toll on the female breeders. The reason it is so difficult to maintain in captivity is the species is notoriously nervous and to limit stress is a definite factor to take into consideration before establishing a new colony.
Moskva Zoo imported Saiga in late 2006 I think. The group has just started breeding. Saiga tatarica tatarica are at Askaniya Nova in Ukraine and several other wildlife breeding farms, e.g. Centre for Wild Animals, Kalmykia (all Central-Asian race). Saiga tatarica mongolica are at captive centers in Mongolia (since 2006-2007) and Wuwei Endangered Wildlife Breeding Center (since 2001) in China.
In a separate development several US zoos have started a conservation programme with an intended captive component in the US. This should start in 2007.
So, perhaps your prayers may be overheard .. somewhere. If the UK will become involved it is best if several zoos partner on it, especially those with an Eurasian animal theme to them.
It is a nice thought, but every initiative to firmly establish the species in a zoo environment has failed. The Koeln Zoo was the most advanced in this respect untill predation took its toll on the female breeders. The reason it is so difficult to maintain in captivity is the species is notoriously nervous and to limit stress is a definite factor to take into consideration before establishing a new colony.
Moskva Zoo imported Saiga in late 2006 I think. The group has just started breeding. Saiga tatarica tatarica are at Askaniya Nova in Ukraine and several other wildlife breeding farms, e.g. Centre for Wild Animals, Kalmykia (all Central-Asian race). Saiga tatarica mongolica are at captive centers in Mongolia (since 2006-2007) and Wuwei Endangered Wildlife Breeding Center (since 2001) in China.
In a separate development several US zoos have started a conservation programme with an intended captive component in the US. This should start in 2007.
So, perhaps your prayers may be overheard .. somewhere. If the UK will become involved it is best if several zoos partner on it, especially those with an Eurasian animal theme to them.
Even Cologne was not really THAT sucessful with saigas. One year ago a fox killed 2 or 3 females and a newborn female baby which was the end of the breeding group. But after years and years of breeding there were only so few animals in Cologne - 2 males, 2 or 3 females and 1 baby - and I think the group had died out even without the fox within a few years, unless new animals had been brought in. And who knows if breeding with new animals had been that much more sucessful.
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
What happened to San diego's Saiga?
Yassa,
The case of the Koeln Zoo Saiga was meant to illustrate that the saiga breeding was a continuous and successful programme. Had the fox predation not drastically altered the sex ratio in its population obstructing any further breeding, their 3 female adults would each have given birth to individual calves or even twins. That very capacity for growth had allowed the Koeln saiga to persist.
Where the Koeln saiga programme was perhaps lacking in was a long term plan for its maintenance in European zoos. No other zoos in the region seemed prepared to make the considerable commitment needed to keeping and breeding this taxon in an conducive zoo environment.
At this point I am unsure what the EAZA Antelope TAG view is on saiga in European zoos or whether they part of the collection planning process. Only if there is full endorsement from the EAZA Antelope TAG for a saiga programme does a realistic chance exist for it to become really established in European zoos.
The case of the Koeln Zoo Saiga was meant to illustrate that the saiga breeding was a continuous and successful programme. Had the fox predation not drastically altered the sex ratio in its population obstructing any further breeding, their 3 female adults would each have given birth to individual calves or even twins. That very capacity for growth had allowed the Koeln saiga to persist.
Where the Koeln saiga programme was perhaps lacking in was a long term plan for its maintenance in European zoos. No other zoos in the region seemed prepared to make the considerable commitment needed to keeping and breeding this taxon in an conducive zoo environment.
At this point I am unsure what the EAZA Antelope TAG view is on saiga in European zoos or whether they part of the collection planning process. Only if there is full endorsement from the EAZA Antelope TAG for a saiga programme does a realistic chance exist for it to become really established in European zoos.
The San Diego WAP herd was initiated in November 1970 with 3.1 individuals from various zoos. The first birth occurred 13/5/1979. A further 6.3 individuals were added over the 1979-1991 period. In all 118 births were registered with an 80% 30 day survival rate (the most critical period for saiga fawn survival). The last birth was during 1996 and the group finally died out in 2002.
The San Diego WAP herd was initiated in November 1970 with 3.1 individuals from various zoos. The first birth occurred 13/5/1979. A further 6.3 individuals were added over the 1979-1991 period. In all 118 births were registered with an 80% 30 day survival rate (the most critical period for saiga fawn survival). The last birth was during 1996 and the group finally died out in 2002.
the herd of bactrian wapiti have now been moved up to the hwp along with the chinese grey goral, have e-mailed the park to find out what there plans are for birds in the collection. A new amur tiger enclosure will be ready for the beginning of spring next year along with an enclosure for amur leopard.
kiang,
It sure is a revolution out there in HWP. It is fast becoming a park of note with a more diverse species assemblage!
I personally hope that more zoos across the UK will become interested in keeping takin, Bactrian deer (critically endangered in the wild!), bharal and kiang. Zoos here are so well suited to these cold climate species.
It sure is a revolution out there in HWP. It is fast becoming a park of note with a more diverse species assemblage!
I personally hope that more zoos across the UK will become interested in keeping takin, Bactrian deer (critically endangered in the wild!), bharal and kiang. Zoos here are so well suited to these cold climate species.
Himalayan snowcock aviary
Sounds like your wish has been partially granted. The army are up there at the moment helping to construct a new walk-through aviary for Himalayan snowcocks, as well as the Amur tiger exhibit. Sure beats fighting the Taliban!
The 3 adult tigers will move up from Edinburgh in time for an Easter opening.
Sounds like your wish has been partially granted. The army are up there at the moment helping to construct a new walk-through aviary for Himalayan snowcocks, as well as the Amur tiger exhibit. Sure beats fighting the Taliban!
The 3 adult tigers will move up from Edinburgh in time for an Easter opening.
I've actually never been - only driven past on the A9. The aviary news was in Zoo News Digest recently. Can't shed any light on the location of the tiger enclosure I'm afraid.
The article also stated that bears ARE in the HWP plans but not in the short term, and it didn't say which species.
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