Mixed species exhibit ideas

[Haliaeetus]

I wouldn't keep them with anything but maybe bears, similar to wolves. They are smaller but highly opportunistic. Singletons might be more mixable but frankly I still wouldn't mix them.



Nobody is interested in them at all over here, they're pretty much only found as rescues in non-AZA places, and not super common afaik.

The Zoo of Sainte-Croix has acquired a pack of Coyotes.
Although this species isn't of conservation concern, it should be interesting to keep it, as a symbol of North American wildlife and culture.
Talking properly about mixes between Coyotes and other species, I think it would be quite difficult as Coyotes are middle-sized predators, that could be either predators or preys for other species.
Maybe they should be kept with Black Bears if their enclosure is large enough, with areas closed to the Bears. Maybe also with large herbivores as Bisons or Mooses (on the model of cohabitations between Jackals and large African hoofstock), if protected space is provided to protect the newborn calves.

 

[KevinB]

I wouldn't keep them with anything but maybe bears, similar to wolves. They are smaller but highly opportunistic. Singletons might be more mixable but frankly I still wouldn't mix them.



Nobody is interested in them at all over here, they're pretty much only found as rescues in non-AZA places, and not super common afaik.

Even the bear-wolf mix has proven to be potentially very problematic, personally I don't think it should be tried again in new exhibits, and should be retired in existing exhibits.

Here in Europe there isn't much interests in coyotes either, there are only two French places listed by ZTL that have them.

When talking about medium-sized canids most European zoos seem to look at either African wild dogs or jackals. And with those species either more endangered or living in parts of Europe, I guess there would be more interest in and need for keeping them. That said, in certain contexts coyotes might be interesting, and I wouldn't mind adding the species to my list of species seen. Sadly the French parks are too far away for day trips.

I'll end this post with a question: what types of birds could be mixed with maras?

 

[Great Argus]

Although this species isn't of conservation concern, it should be interesting to keep it, as a symbol of North American wildlife and culture.

While true, the AZA spaces are prioritized to Red Wolf, Mexican Gray Wolf, and African Wild Dog, all of which are endangered and much more in need of the spaces than the increasing and successful Coyote.

Maybe they should be kept with Black Bears if their enclosure is large enough, with areas closed to the Bears.

It would be difficult to exclude the bears, and you would also have to prevent the coyotes from eating the bear's food. Assumably this can be done per wolf/bear mixes, but it's not a great option.

Maybe also with large herbivores as Bisons or Mooses (on the model of cohabitations between Jackals and large African hoofstock), if protected space is provided to protect the newborn calves.

Both of these would likely soon kill the Coyotes, especially the Moose. Adding newborns calves to the mix would make it worse for the Coyotes. Bison and moose both are aggressive enough without young. Moose are notorious for destroying various mixed species attempts in all but the largest exhibits.

Even the bear-wolf mix has proven to be potentially very problematic, personally I don't think it should be tried again in new exhibits, and should be retired in existing exhibits.

I agree with this, it's an uneasy truce that can be quickly altered if something happens.

I'll end this post with a question: what types of birds could be mixed with maras?

I've seen them mixed with screamers before; I believe you can mix mara with a wide variety of bird species.

 

[Haliaeetus]

While true, the AZA spaces are prioritized to Red Wolf, Mexican Gray Wolf, and African Wild Dog, all of which are endangered and much more in need of the spaces than the increasing and successful Coyote.



It would be difficult to exclude the bears, and you would also have to prevent the coyotes from eating the bear's food. Assumably this can be done per wolf/bear mixes, but it's not a great option.



Both of these would likely soon kill the Coyotes, especially the Moose. Adding newborns calves to the mix would make it worse for the Coyotes. Bison and moose both are aggressive enough without young. Moose are notorious for destroying various mixed species attempts in all but the largest exhibits.



I agree with this, it's an uneasy truce that can be quickly altered if something happens.



I've seen them mixed with screamers before; I believe you can mix mara with a wide variety of bird species.

I've seen the Maras being mixed with many South American Ducks, Geese and both species of Rheas.
I think they could be mixed with Flamingos, Coscoroba Swans too.
The Zoo of Branféré (France) keeps Maras in a very large lawn, where they are mixed with numerous species as several species of Cranes, Storks and (in the past) one or two Seriemas. Additionnally this lawn is used for free-flight bird displays, featuring a lot of birds including Kites, Falcons, Owls and Vultures.

 

[KevinB]

Would there be a substantial differences for a mix of maras and birds between Patagonian or Chacoan maras, given the smaller size of the latter?

 

[Haliaeetus]

Would there be a substantial differences for a mix of maras and birds between Patagonian or Chacoan maras, given the smaller size of the latter?

I don't know the issues with the Chacoan Maras.
I know only the Patagonian, much more common in zoos.

 

[Strix]

Would there be a substantial differences for a mix of maras and birds between Patagonian or Chacoan maras, given the smaller size of the latter?

I tend to see Chacoans in smaller enclosures, whereas Patagonians are often kept in larger enclosures with larger animals such as rheas. I’ve seen Chacoan maras mixed with parrots and I think they would work with other small aviary birds.

 

[Platypusboy]

Would chacoan peccaries be too dangerous to keep with them? (Chacoan maras)

 

[KevinB]

Would chacoan peccaries be too dangerous to keep with them? (Chacoan maras)

Peccaries are omnivores and will eat any small animal they can get their snouts on. Way too risky to try such a mix.

 

[Bisonfan]

could painted turtles be kept with koi?

 

[Dhole dude]

could painted turtles be kept with koi?

I’ve seen Koi mixed with Red-Eared Sliders, so this mix should work.

 

[Bengal Tiger]

could painted turtles be kept with koi?

This will work. Many different North American turtles can be kept with koi.

 

[Bisonfan]

Thanks

 

[Platypusboy]

How about a large mountainous enclosure for Chinese goral, Sichuan takin and if possible to acquire golden snub nosed monkey. The monkeys would have areas to them selves.

 

[Mr Gharial]

How about a large mountainous enclosure for Chinese goral, Sichuan takin and if possible to acquire golden snub nosed monkey. The monkeys would have areas to them selves.

I would say these still apply:

I know mixes of primates and ungulates work, but would Himalayan tahr, Rhesus macaque and Tajik markhors go well together?

I think Rhesus macaques and ungulates has been done before, and would be possible. I'm not sure whether male ungulates of both species would not fight or injure each other though, so I would go with just one ungulate species. Or give the Rhesus macaques access to two diferent ungulate exhibits.

Though the size difference between Gorals and Takins might make them less aggressive to each other

 

[Great Argus]

How about a large mountainous enclosure for Chinese goral, Sichuan takin and if possible to acquire golden snub nosed monkey. The monkeys would have areas to them selves.

It might work - you'd need a lot of escape routes for the monkeys though. The buffers would also need to be strong enough to withstand the takins, they're powerful and known to be rough on fencing and such.
Given you'd be working with rare monkeys though, I don't think it'd be worth the possible risk to the primates.

 

[birdsandbats]

could painted turtles be kept with koi?

Shalom Wildlife Zoo mixes Painted Turtles with Koi. There's actually more species involved in the mix, too:

-Painted Turtle
-Koi
-Domestic Swan Goose
-Domestic Graylag Goose
-Domestic Mallard
-Red-eared Slider
-False Map Turtle
-Common Snapping Turtle

 

[birdsandbats]

I have a couple of questions with regards to helmeted guineafowl.

• Are they in general aggressive birds? Are they suitable for walk-through exhibits?
• Can they be kept with other ground-dwelling birds like francolins or ducks, in a large aviary or tropical house setting?
• Could they, in the aforementioned setting, be problematic for tortoises with regards to food competition?
• Is mixing hoofstock with guineafowl a safe option for the guineafowl?

NEW Zoo used to keep a mixed exhibit of Helmeted Guineafowl and Indian Peafowl. They were kept in a medium-sized aviary together, with one individual of each. This worked well for many years. I don't know why the mix no longer exists, my guess is that the peafowl died.

Indianapolis keeps two separate mixed species aviaries with Helmeted Guineafowl - one in Flights of Fancy and one in Plains. Here lists of these two aviaries:

1. Helmeted Guineafowl, Taveta Golden Weaver, Crested Wood-Partridge, Crested Coua, White-cheeked Turaco, Superb Starling, Vulturine Guineafowl, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Rock Hyrax
2. Helmeted Guineafowl, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Gray Crowned Crane

At Columbus, pinioned guieafowl are kept in an African savanna exhibit:

-Helmeted Guineafowl, Common Ostrich, Greater Kudu, Thompson's Gazelle, Saddle-billed Stork, Generic Giraffe, Grant's Zebra, Common Wildebeest, Gray Crowned Crane, Dama Gazelle, Slender-horned Gazelle

 

[Haliaeetus]

In Beauval, a flock of Helmeted Guineafowl lives for many years (at least since 2013) in a plain with Somalian Wild Ass, Kafue Lechwe and Beisa Oryx.
They have also been presented with Bongos, Pelicans and Cranes.

In the Jardin des Plantes de Paris, they used to live for a few years (late 2000's) in a large African themed aviary, with Diks-diks, Crowned Cranes, Ibises, Spoonbills, Doves, Touracos, Grey Parrots, Senegal Parrots...

 

[Austin the Sengi]

Theoretically, if one can keep only certain well-fed individuals of the former species that have a somewhat peaceful temperament. Then would a mix between West African Dwarf Crocodiles and several African bird species (such as a Hamerkop) that are likely to be too large for the crocs to eat, would end up being a logistical mix. I would also make this enclosure as a spacious aviary, just in case if the birds ever wanted to fly away from their scaly neighbors. I ask this question primarily because of how the Sigean Wildlife Park in France, have been able to successfully house a crocodilian species (in their case, American Alligators) within a free-flight aviary, and I just wanted to figure out if this type of mix can be successfully done with a smaller species.