Let’s see, most of the overdue species I have listed are mainly captive mammals. Although, there are a few other non-mammalian species that are personally “needed” (yet even that’s a bit of a stretch).
By far, there are a few notable carnivorans which, somehow, I keep missing out on:
- Asiatic Black Bear - the last bear species that I haven’t seen in person (for context, I’ve been lucky with the remaining seven).
- Maned Wolf - a species I was really looking forward to seeing at the San Diego Zoo; but alas, I’ll have to look elsewhere.
- Bat-Eared Fox - my most sought-after canid at the moment; who, for whatever reason, I keep missing due to their nocturnal nature.
- Bush Dog - my other sought-after canid, and my second favorite species overall (first being the dhole, which I have seen
). A true South American staple in my books, and a unique looking canine all the same!
Now as far as ungulates go (both even-toed & odd-toed), I don’t have too many that are exactly overdue (aside from the usual rarities). However, it would be hard to miss that I would love to see the following two species at some point; with both of them being bovids funnily enough:
- Aoudad - a safari park-staple that I haven’t seen whatsoever. It would be nice to at least see them in a drive-through safari or two at some point though!
- Musk Ox - a true Arctic icon, and a real rarity at that. However, while I have been lucky enough to have seen mounted specimens at a few museums and outdoor retail stores. Seeing them in person, whether at the Point Defiance Zoo or any facility in Alaska would be a dream come true.
Finally, for my remaining overdue mammals, I’m turning to the superorder
Euarchontoglires, for which there are a few that have long evaded me:
- Sumatran Orangutan - Despite being decently common in zoos, I have so far missed them at four different places; and every time I do see an orangutan, they’re always a Bornean!
- Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur - Back before the Bronx Zoo became a holder, the only place where I tried to see this species was the Duke Lemur Center. Unfortunately, between the two times I visited the center; the nocturnal building where the lemurs were held was closed on my first visit. On my second visit, however, the building was open; yet, due to the presence of some researchers at the time, they remained a no-show. Safe to say, I do hope that a third visit to Duke or possibly, a return trip to the Bronx will finally give me the chance of seeing them in person!
- Night Monkeys / Aotus (any species) - An entire family of primates that I haven’t had the fortune of seeing! Hopefully, I’ll run into a representative species in a zoo somewhere… one day, someday.
- Rhesus Macaque - Even after attempting to see them as an invasive species in my home state (which ultimately failed). I have still not managed to see this rather infamous species anywhere else.
- Potto - A rather neat prosimian that’s currently down to four holders in the United States alone! Hopefully, a visit to any one of those facilities will be all the worth while.
- Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat - By far, despite having visited two facilities that have held the species. These panda-like buggers continue to remain as my biggest “white-whale” as far as rodents are concerned!
- Lowland Paca - A personal favorite; like the bush dog, this is another signature mammal from South America that I haven’t had the chance to see.
- Hares / Lepus (any species) - Whether in the wild or in captivity, I have not been the most fortunate with seeing any representative of this genus of lagomorph.
- Sunda Colugo - Until I ever find myself in Southeast Asia, this is the most rarity-oriented of the overdue species listed so far. Therefore, the colugos in general are the last order of mammals from this superorder that I have yet to see.
Moving on from the mammals, the majority of overdue birds are species that I would prefer to find in the wild. However, I do have a few captive species that I keep missing out on as far as the first two go:
- Golden Eagle (A. c. canadensis, specifically) - For whatever reason, despite being an extremely common raptor throughout the Northern Hemisphere (which shows for how many holders there are). I, for whatever reason, have never seen this famous species of eagle. Nothing that finding them in the wild, or perhaps, at the odd zoo or nature center can’t solve!
- Kagu - Like the cloud rats, these birds continue to remain as a personal “white-whale”; and like the maned wolves, they were a species that I was looking forward to see at the San Diego Zoo.
- Common / Ring-Necked Pheasant - Even though I have long been enamored by this species from a hunting perspective (in addition to having several feathers gifted from a friend). This species will certainly be a pleasure to see (and eat!) as an introduced species in the Great Plains; and if not there, a more obscure zoological facility elsewhere in the states.
Wrapping up this post with the reptiles, I suppose that an overdue species
might be the
Common Snapping Turtle, as well as a few venomous snakes as far as native species go. Otherwise, there’s not too much else to add besides the usual rarities and the majority of crocodilians (with the
Black Caiman being the most noteworthy).
With that being said, it will be interesting to see as for how lucky I will be with several of the listed species in a few years time. Until then, I’ll just leave it off here.
