Mixed species exhibit ideas

[BerdNerd]

I'm currently playing Planet Zoo and listed below are some of the mixed-species exhibits I have created. They all are successful in-game, but I just wanted to know if they would be possible in real life since I'm trying to make my zoo as realistic as I can.


- Gharial (all female), Proboscis Monkey

- Okapi, Bongo, Red River Hog

- Bornean Orangutan, Siamang, Lar Gibbon, Malayan Tapir, Asian Small-Clawed Otter

- Indian Rhinoceros, Wild Water Buffalo, Indian Peafowl

- Nile Lechwe, Nyala, Saddle-Billed Stork, Gray Crowned Crane, Southern Ground Hornbill

- Baird's Tapir, Capybara, Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman

- Reticulated Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Black Rhinoceros, Common Ostrich

- Blue Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, Common Ostrich, Impala, Gemsbok, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Southern White Rhinoceros, Thomson's Gazelle

 

[Austin the Sengi]

- Gharial (all female), Proboscis Monkey

In theory, this should work; but otherwise, I’m not certain.

- Okapi, Bongo, Red River Hog

Again, all three could work in theory, but personally, I would pick one or the other when mixing them with the hogs.

- Bornean Orangutan, Siamang, Lar Gibbon, Malayan Tapir, Asian Small-Clawed Otter

If I were you, I would choose to combine the orangutans with the gibbons and/or siamangs and keep the otters and tapirs in separate habitats; although I do know the latter two can sometimes be mixed with orangutans.

- Indian Rhinoceros, Wild Water Buffalo, Indian Peafowl

If you imply that the peafowl are free-roaming animals, then perhaps this could work; otherwise, I would keep the rhinos and buffalo separated.

- Nile Lechwe, Nyala, Saddle-Billed Stork, Gray Crowned Crane, Southern Ground Hornbill

In this case, I would recommend to remove the birds entirely, and to mix the two antelopes with different animals instead.

- Baird's Tapir, Capybara, Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman

This mix definitely works both in game and in real life; that is if you remove the caimans.

- Reticulated Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Black Rhinoceros, Common Ostrich

Again, if you remove the black rhinos from the list, then this mix would work very well.

- Blue Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, Common Ostrich, Impala, Gemsbok, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Southern White Rhinoceros, Thomson's Gazelle

For this to feasibly work, I would split the mix into the following based on what I know is successful:

-Southern White Rhinoceros + Common Ostrich + Greater Kudu

- Cape Buffalo + Impala

- Sable Antelope + Thompson’s Gazelle + Blue Wildebeest


As for the gemsbok, I would either keep them in a single-species enclosure or mix them with the Springbok if you really want to mix them with something.

 

[birdsandbats]

I know Gharials are primarily piscivorous but I wouldn't trust them (or any other crocodilian, for that matter) with any sort of primate.

 

[wild boar]

Is it possible for black wildebeest and African bush elephants to share an enclosure. I understand black wildebeest are usually pretty violent but I wonder if the situation might be different with such large company.

Also, would kinkajous and lowland pacas be fine with crimson-rumped toucanets?

 

[pichu]

i know that ravens follow wolves and even play with them, if large enough, would an enclosure with common ravens and grey wolves work?

 

[pichu]

i know that ravens follow wolves and even play with them, if large enough, would an enclosure with common ravens and grey wolves work?

with netting over it and structures for the crows to perch and climb on

 

[Great Argus]

Also, would kinkajous and lowland pacas be fine with crimson-rumped toucanets?

I don't know that I'd trust the kinkajous to behave themselves - at minimum the potential of their nocturnal habits startling the toucanets and causing them to crash around in the dark is enough I wouldn't.

i know that ravens follow wolves and even play with them, if large enough, would an enclosure with common ravens and grey wolves work?

I mean... it's a toss-up of mixing two smart species quite capable of causing injury to each other... it could work for ten years or two hours.

On a general note, why is there so much inclination to mix things with carnivores? There's a few mixes that work with the right species and individuals, but why go with all the extra risk of some of these?

 

[pichu]

I don't know that I'd trust the kinkajous to behave themselves - at minimum the potential of their nocturnal habits startling the toucanets and causing them to crash around in the dark is enough I wouldn't.

as well as the fact that the kinkajous might eat the eggs if the toucanets breed, as well as chicks.

 

[Dr. Wolverine]

Shoebills will eat the ducks, possibly the turacos also. Shoebills can only be kept with other large birds like storks.

Ruddy shelducks are very aggressive towards other birds and even towards humans, especially during the breeding season. Mixing them with other birds would likely only work in a very large aviary.

Bird paradise mixes shoebills with many small species of birds. I haven't heard of a single problem with that.

 

[BerdNerd]

Bird paradise mixes shoebills with many small species of birds. I haven't heard of a single problem with that.

I feel like this is only because Bird Paradise's aviary is so massive, thus allowing more space for the smaller birds to fly or hide. If their aviary was smaller, only then would it become a more prevalent issue. I believe when it comes to ground-dwelling, opportunistic predatory birds such as the shoebill, storks, ground hornbills, etc, if enough space is given for the smaller species to escape, then their carnivorous tendencies won't be much of a problem.

 

[Great Argus]

I believe when it comes to ground-dwelling, opportunistic predatory birds such as the shoebill, storks, ground hornbills, etc, if enough space is given for the smaller species to escape, then their carnivorous tendencies won't be much of a problem.

Generally pretty true, yes. That said, there is still inherent risk that should be considered appropriately. Different species are more prone to predating small species than others; Shoebills are primarily fish-eaters, vs say Marabous that are opportunistic predator/scavengers.
Though, because you can and the presumed risk is low, does not necessarily mean you should or that it is what's best for the species involved.

 

[Osedax]

Would a predatory bird walkthrough with Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Tawny Frogmouth, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal, Oriental Dollarbird, Pacific Baza, Black-shouldered Lapwing, Bush Stone Curlew, Australasian Swamphen and Nankeen Night Heron work? Which species of Australian owls, if any, could I add to this mix?

 

[Great Argus]

Would a predatory bird walkthrough with Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Tawny Frogmouth, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal, Oriental Dollarbird, Pacific Baza, Black-shouldered Lapwing, Bush Stone Curlew, Australasian Swamphen and Nankeen Night Heron work? Which species of Australian owls, if any, could I add to this mix?

Theoretically it should work if you cut the baza - too predatory. Some aggression may be expected between the kookaburras. Not sure I'd recommend adding an owl to the mix.

 

[Osedax]

Theoretically it should work if you cut the baza - too predatory. Some aggression may be expected between the kookaburras. Not sure I'd recommend adding an owl to the mix.

Featherdale used to keep a Pacific Baza with Banded Lapwings.

 

[Great Argus]

Featherdale used to keep a Pacific Baza with Banded Lapwings.

One individual does not a generalization make - especially when mixed with species that would severely try its patience.

 

[Osedax]

One individual does not a generalization make - especially when mixed with species that would severely try its patience.

I will remove the bazas.

Could a mix of Cheetah with Tahki and/or Indian Rhino work?

 

[Great Argus]

Could a mix of Cheetah with Tahki and/or Indian Rhino work?

I would not mix Cheetah with Przewalski's Horse/Tahki. Przewalski's are typically an aggressive species that would likely give the Cheetahs a rough time at minimum.
The Indian Rhino mix you might be able to get away with, if you had the right individual. I assume you're going for an Asian version of the White Rhino/Cheetah mix; it's probably more of a gamble with Indian than with the more even-keeled White Rhino. Personally I'd not consider it, but that's just my two cents.

 

[Mr Gharial]

I know Long-crested eagles (Lophaetus occipitalis) with larger birds (they're in with vultures, kites, falcons and secretarybirds in Pairi Daiza), but could they be mixed with lapwings or ducks?

Same question for African harrier hawk (Polyboroides typus) (a mix already exists with vultures and Saddle-billed storks in Pairi Daiza)

 

[Great Argus]

I know Long-crested eagles (Lophaetus occipitalis) with larger birds (they're in with vultures, kites, falcons and secretarybirds in Pairi Daiza), but could they be mixed with lapwings or ducks?

Same question for African harrier hawk (Polyboroides typus) (a mix already exists with vultures and Saddle-billed storks in Pairi Daiza)

I'd be skeptical of either's suitability with small species.

 

[AndyJ08]

Could this work?
Amazon Rain Forest:
A medium-sized walk-through indoor rainforest with many tall trees, tropical plants of all kinds, and a waterfall with a small pond housing several species of fish.

Bay-headed tanager, paradise tanager, turquoise tanager, silver-beaked tanager, blue dancis, screaming piha, Amazonian motmot, scarlet ibis, boat-billed heron, gray-winged trumpeter, sunbittern,
Amazon milky frog, smooth-sided toad, monkey anole, Linne’s two-toed sloth, and cotton-top tamarin.