Mixed species exhibit ideas
- Thread starter LowlandGorilla4
- Start date
I'm no expert on tree Kangaroos, but if they're strictly vegetarian and never, even occasionally, eat eggs, perhaps there could be a tree restricted to only the birds, with some iron covering like many zoos do to prevent animals from climbing/damaging the trees, so there's no risk that the kangaroo may not, even by, accident destroy the nest
Your main difficulty would be keeping the birds out of the kangaroo's food, other than that it shouldn't be a problem as long as there is sufficient space to avoid each other. I think most tree kangaroos are kept as species exhibits largely for that reason, there's no easy way to keep birds out of the food. A primarily insectivorous species might work; I'd avoid species like parrots and kookaburra that are curious and have potential to injure and harass the roos. No idea how ground birds like brush-turkey might work.
This has been done in Doué-la-fontaine, whilst I haven't heard of any condor breeding in that specific aviary the flamingoes in there do breed readily.
King Vultures - they seem to mix ok in large exhibits with other large boisterous bird species, but anyone know how well breeding works for all species involved? I know Doue-la-fontaine had them in the giant South American aviary for a few years, did they inhibit much breeding or breed successfully themselves? What about the more average large mixed exhibit? Found some resources but they weren't super helpful and looking for some additional information.
Tree kangaroos have been known to eat small birds and I can remember reading somewhere about one eating the head of a chicken!
Also a mix concern is that the are also susceptible to avian TB
Dreamworld, Australia keep their Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroos within a walkthrough bird aviary which has black cockatoos, pigeons, rails, stilts, ibis and stone-curlews. The birds can enter the tree roo enclosure as it's open-topped and there are usually a few pigeons (especially White-headed and Wonga Pigeons) hanging around them but of course the tree roos cannot access the majority of the aviary.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
I would avoid to mix 2 zebra species.I decided to do a Reticulated giraffe/Grant's zebra complex. Would Grevy's zebras work too for this space or not? When the greater kudu mod gets updated, I can add that in the giraffe enclosure and have zebras in their own separate place.
Otherwise the mixes with Giraffes and Grévy's Zebras are common.
If I got one, I'd phase out the other
Grant's usually mix better. Usually they will pick on antelope babies so don't mix them with breeding Kudu (in the real world).
Ostrich also work extremely easily with those three species.
Ostrich also work extremely easily with those three species.
I have heard of cases where zebras (I believe the case was with Grant's) have caused some issues (chasing and/or kicking them) for giraffe foals. Presumably zebras could also be a threat to ostrich nests or chicks.
So I think in mixes with zebras a sufficiently separation paddock for the other species should probably be present.
Both Grant's and Grevy's Zebras are notoriously problematic with baby anything. Most facilities either pull expectant mothers off exhibit before birth occurs or do not breed in situations where zebra are involved. A few facilities have had luck where the zebras were geriatric and not inclined to be problematic, but the general rule is better safe than sorry.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Beauval Zoo (France) mixes with success Grévy's Zebras, White Rhinos, Giraffes, Blue Wildebeests, Sable Antelopes and Ostriches.
All the species (except the Ostriches) breed regularly.
There has been a breeding herd of Springboks in this exhibit for more than 2 decades. They have been phased out recently, maybe because it isn't a priority species in terms of conservation.
Of course there are many paddocks or inner quarters to isolate problematic animals and newborns, it may be the condition of the success of this display.
All the species (except the Ostriches) breed regularly.
There has been a breeding herd of Springboks in this exhibit for more than 2 decades. They have been phased out recently, maybe because it isn't a priority species in terms of conservation.
Of course there are many paddocks or inner quarters to isolate problematic animals and newborns, it may be the condition of the success of this display.
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Could a non carnivorous species of flying squirrel and a variety of small bird species live together?
I'm not sure how well this would work, primarily because of the active periods involved here. The obligatory nocturnal nature of the flying squirrels would likely be disruptive to the birds. Probably not so much vice versa, depending on whether cavity-nesting birds were included.
I don’t think there is such a thing as a non-omnivorous squirrel. I’m sure they’ll all grab the odd small bird when opportunity presents.