Mixed species exhibit ideas

Mr Gharial said:
The wildlife park in France specifically holds two elderly crocodiles, that are too slow to go after the birds. I would say that larger birds would actually be the risk here, as they would be a larger and slower target.

Seeing other examples (like crocodile river in Blijdorp and the butterfly temple in wildlands) I think smaller birds would be better, since they would be quicker than the cross. Such as starlings and especially weavers.

On the other hand, Ferme aux crocodiles (also in France) holds ibises and hornbills with their crocs, that regularly fly down to the ground to walk between the crocs, so I think it might be a bit of a toss-up. Depending both on individual crocodiles and birds
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When thinking of mixing animals in enclosure you also have to look at the single animals' personalities and temperament, for example, for the longest time Parco Natura Viva, a zoo in Italy, housed a white rhinoceros called Toby with Nyalas and Hippos, Toby was really docile and often played with younger hippos, and the older ones never saw any threat in him, so the mix resulted successful
 
Could domestic water buffalo and Rusa deer be housed in a mixed paddock? And if so, what special concerns could there possibly be for this mix to work?
 
Could Pygmy slow lorises, Javan chevrotains, Philippine sailfin lizards, Chinese water dragons and Asian forest tortoises and a group of birds* go together safely?

Birds: Crested wood partridge, White-crested laughingthrush, Scaly-breasted munia and Eastern superb fruit dove
 
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Mr Gharial said:
Could Pygmy slow lorises, Javan chevrotains, Philippine sailfin lizards, Chinese water dragons and Asian forest tortoises and a group of birds* go together safely?

Birds: Crested wood partridge, White-crested laughingthrush, Scaly-breasted munia and Eastern superb fruit dove
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For me it would be okay. I had fears about the lizards but they don't seem to eat bird eggs.
 
Slow loris will eat small birds (and what they consider "small" may surprise you), creeping up on them at night.
 
Platypusboy said:
Can giant otters be held in aviaries? (I think Jacksonville zoo might do this with tamarins also involved)
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I think it would be difficult, as Giant Otters are super-predators.
If there are birds, only small and mobile species (songbirds, small parrots or parakeets) of low conservation concern could be put in the aviary.
There's a special case in the zooparc de Beauval ; in the Dôme there are many free-ranging birds (including Scarlet Ibises and Roseate Spoonbills) that can theoretically come in the Otter enclosure (and in other enclosures with Crocs and Komodo Dragons for example), but nothing is done to attract the birds in this enclosure.
 
What species can a breeding group of zebras (1 stallion and some mares) be housed with, provided that the antelope can have a separate yard for calving
 
I ask because I read some reports about zebras being nasty towards other species, even killing antelope calves and chasing around rhino calves and even grown giraffes

Thus, I came to the conclusion that zebras gotta have their own place if u want a breeding herd.
 
tigris115 said:
I ask because I read some reports about zebras being nasty towards other species, even killing antelope calves and chasing around rhino calves and even grown giraffes

Thus, I came to the conclusion that zebras gotta have their own place if u want a breeding herd.
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Yes they must have separate night quarters and isolation paddocks.
 
tigris115 said:
What species can a breeding group of zebras (1 stallion and some mares) be housed with, provided that the antelope can have a separate yard for calving
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Haliaeetus said:
It's okay, such exhibits are very common.
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It actually depends on three more factors:
- what Zebra species is it? Grevy's tend to be more aggressive and harder to mix than Mountain or Plains.
- what antelope species? Some species are a lot more fragile than others, and some are also fairly aggressive.
- how much space? This can often make or break these kinds of mixes.
 
Neil chace said:
It actually depends on three more factors:
- what Zebra species is it? Grevy's tend to be more aggressive and harder to mix than Mountain or Plains.
- what antelope species? Some species are a lot more fragile than others, and some are also fairly aggressive.
- how much space? This can often make or break these kinds of mixes.
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In Beauval there's a 2 ha plain with Grévy's Zebras, Sable Antelopes, Blue Wildebeests, Ostriches, White Rhinos and Reticulated Giraffes.
There used to be a breeding herd of Springboks for many years.
All the ungulate species breed successfully.
These animals have separate night quarters and isolation paddocks.
So I can conclude that mixed-species exhibits with Grévy's Zebras can work.
 
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