Mixed species exhibit ideas

[AndyJ08]

Would Black-handed Spider Monkeys work with Barid’s tapirs, black-bellied whistling ducks, and Central American sliders? The exhibit in question would be enclosed, possibly in a tropical hall set-up.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Would Black-handed Spider Monkeys work with Barid’s tapirs, black-bellied whistling ducks, and Central American sliders? The exhibit in question would be enclosed, possibly in a tropical hall set-up.

It would probably be fine.
The main difficulty is probably to get the Baird's Tapirs.

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

Could aardwolf be mixed in large nocturnal setting with animals like aardwolfs, springhares and bushbabys, since they do not eat meat or hunt ?

 

[Spike]

Could aardwolf be mixed in large nocturnal setting with animals like aardwolfs, springhares and bushbabys, since they do not eat meat or hunt ?

I don’t see why this wouldn’t work the bush babies would stay up high, springhares eat vegetation, and the aardwolf eats insects. Great idea @GiratinaIsGod !

 

[birdsandbats]

Could aardwolf be mixed in large nocturnal setting with animals like aardwolfs, springhares and bushbabys, since they do not eat meat or hunt ?

Bushbabies are springhares have been mixed successfully before, but I'm not sure I would trust an Aardwolf with them. It might work but it just seems too risky.

 

[birdsandbats]

Ok, what about Sandhill Crane?

That's probably worse than a heron tbh.

 

[Aardwolf]

Aardwolves have been successfully mixed with small mammals before, including squirrels and rock hyrax. I actually have a photo from years ago of a sleeping aardwolf snuggled up between two hyraxes

 

[birdsandbats]

Aardwolves have been successfully mixed with small mammals before, including squirrels and rock hyrax. I actually have a photo from years ago of a sleeping aardwolf snuggled up between two hyraxes

Hyraxes are a lot bigger than springhares, though.

 

[Aardwolf]

Meh, I don't know if I'd say "a lot" - they're pretty comparable. Springhaas are in the 2.5-3.5kg range, rock hyrax 2-5.

 

[pichu]

could a mix of australian wood duck, galah, and sulphur crested cockatoo work

 

[FBBird]

could a mix of australian wood duck, galah, and sulphur crested cockatoo work

Should be fine

 

[Van Beal]

Would mixing Inca Jays and Andean Cock-of-the-rocks work out for both species?

 

[Great Argus]

Would mixing Inca Jays and Andean Cock-of-the-rocks work out for both species?

It should be fine for the most part, although breeding might be problematic due to aggression and the slightly predatory behavior from both species.

 

[Kudu21]

A question to our hoofstock experts: what would be the ideal mixed-species enclosure for African antelope/gazelles in a traditional zoo setting? I understand few mixes are ever perfect, but I'm curious what would work the best in an enclosure that's about 1.5-2 acres and features at least 2-3 species.

I have been meaning to reply to this for a long time but keep not having the time. I can give you multiple options for different size classes of antelope that are fairly common in North America, and then you can decide whether or not you want only traditional savanna/bush veldt species or just a general mix.

For your large antelope, common eland, eastern bongo, and greater kudu are your safest options. All three species are generally on the calmer and more tractable side and are less prone to inter and intra-specific aggression. Bongo do tend to be on the shier side and are more nocturnal than the other two species, so they do not always show as well in larger exhibits.

For your next step down in size, eastern white-bearded wildebeest, scimitar-horned oryx, and lesser kudu are probably your best bets. All three of these species are a greater risk for inter and intra-specific aggression than any of the large antelope (specifically the wildebeest and especially in a mixed-sex herd), but they are generally calmer and easier to manage than their counter parts (sable, gemsbok, lowland nyala, etc.). Obviously, none of the Tragelaphus species could be mixed together. Female waterbuck generally do quite well, but males are known to be aggressive towards other species, so they tend to not do well in mixed exhibits in more traditional zoo settings.

Finally, for you smaller antelope, impala and addra and Thomson's gazelles are the most feasible for mixed-species scenarios. All of these species are flighty, but they are generally the least flighty of their kind Addra are probably the calmest and most tractable of this group, but the others can do well too if properly desensitized. The male gazelles would likely have to be kept separate, as they are quite infamous for trying to fight above their weight class.

For a smaller mixed-species exhibit with a bit more flare, lesser kudu, gerenuk, and Speke's or Soemmerring's gazelles is a mix that is doable, although the males would potentially need to be managed separately (specifically the gazelles again).

 

[Van Beal]

Couple more South American mixes. Would Mara and Guanaco mix well with Black-faced Ibis and Argentine Ruddy Duck? And would Burrowing Owl and Chaco Chachalaca mix without risk to either species?

 

[Great Argus]

And would Burrowing Owl and Chaco Chachalaca mix without risk to either species?

Should generally be okay - though Burrowing Owls do occasionally kill chicks and fledglings of species they're kept with. It seems to vary widely between exhibit layouts and individual birds so it's a bit of a toss up. Adults should be fine.

 

[Van Beal]

Should generally be okay - though Burrowing Owls do occasionally kill chicks and fledglings of species they're kept with. It seems to vary widely between exhibit layouts and individual birds so it's a bit of a toss up. Adults should be fine.

So assuming I removed juvenile chachalacas until they were big enough to fare well in the mix, it should go with reduced risk of fatalities?

 

[Great Argus]

So assuming I removed juvenile chachalacas until they were big enough to fare well in the mix, it should go with reduced risk of fatalities?

It should, yes.

 

[15399]

I know kookaburras in mixed-species aviaries tend to be problematic, but has anywhere mixed them with mammals? I'm specifically wondering about either southern hairy-nosed wombats or short-beaked echidnas.

Secondly, how would a fly river turtle do in a walk-through aviary, provided that there is a large water feature? The aviary would also have tammar wallabies, masked lapwings, Australian wood ducks, and various small birds (Bourke's parakeet, eastern rosella, Australian crested and/or diamond doves, and various estrilid finches).

 

[birdsandbats]

I know kookaburras in mixed-species aviaries tend to be problematic, but has anywhere mixed them with mammals? I'm specifically wondering about either southern hairy-nosed wombats or short-beaked echidnas.

Secondly, how would a fly river turtle do in a walk-through aviary, provided that there is a large water feature? The aviary would also have tammar wallabies, masked lapwings, Australian wood ducks, and various small birds (Bourke's parakeet, eastern rosella, Australian crested and/or diamond doves, and various estrilid finches).

Bot of these should be fine, I'd imagine. I've never seen kookaburras mixed with mammals but I have seen them mixed with Green Iguanas, it can't be that different.

Some places mix kookaburras with other birds but this can be problematic. I know of a place that lost some Bourke's Parrots to a kookaburra.