Mixed species exhibit ideas

[Jarne]

Because Cincinnati went out of their way to prevent any breeding in that specific habitat?

Cincinnati is not the only zoo with such pinioned birds mixed with hoofstock. Besides how certain are you they didn’t want them to breed? I can’t find it in the AZA mixed ungulate manual.

Of course you need to be able to compare them with proper exhibits for these birds to draw my conclusion, pretty hard when you’re living in the US where pretty much everything still gets pinioned and just thrown out in mixes with large mammals. I’ve seen both outdated mixes with hoofstock and modern aviaries here in Europe, and it’s quite clear which ones work better. There are always the few mixed exhibits here and there with ungulates that do work well. But when species like marabou which are mostly kept in mixed savannah’s have most of their breeding happening in a handful of aviaries, you don’t need to be a genius to know which type of exhibit works better. For many of these species, good breeding results can also be obtained in open-topped separated exhibits, but often at the cost of some breeding/rearing success, physical health or lost behaviors.

Curiously the Zooparc de Beauval has kept for many years a pair of Griffon Vultures with a breeding herd of Sitatungas, Emus and Marabou Storks (what a strange mix !) in an enclosure.
And the Vultures bred nearly every year !

There are always exceptions to the rule. Perhaps it’s just a bolder pair of vultures, the oddball couple so to say. It likely also helps that sitatunga are not the biggest nor most aggressive antelopes. On the other hand, in Pairi Daiza they have this nice large group of marabou storks in with their sitatunga and they have failed to breed for nearly 15 years whilst the newer, younger and smaller unpinioned group in Antwerp had success in less than 5.

Also, once a pair starts breeding the chances of them breeding again are highly elevated. To properly look at the success of a mix, you’d need to replicate it multiple times with different individuals. This doesn’t only apply to birds, but to any mixed exhibit. The fact that it works somewhere is no guarantee that it will work most of the times nor that it will work forever.

 

[Corangurilla]

Cincinnati is not the only zoo with such pinioned birds mixed with hoofstock. Besides how certain are you they didn’t want them to breed? I can’t find it in the AZA mixed ungulate manual.

@Moebelle’s Zoo Tours video for Africa at the Cincinnati Zoo says that every species in the mix is either all-male, all-female, or are related to each other to prevent unauthorized breeding.

 

[Jarne]

@Moebelle’s Zoo Tours video for Africa at the Cincinnati Zoo says that every species in the mix is either all-male, all-female, or are related to each other to prevent unauthorized breeding.

I’ve by now found it in the ungulate manual, indeed all but two species are single-sex groups. Only the shelducks and vultures are mixed sex duos, but they mention they don’t have any breeding pairs. It doesn’t mention for either species wether they haven’t bred by default (especially ducks don’t care about relatedness) or wether they have taken active measures to prevent it.

 

[RandomZooVisitorYT]

So knowing how cheetahs are mixed with elands in one zoo I know of, is there any other small cat animal mixes that could work in theory assuming that hoofstock/aardvarks aren't a breeding pair.

Ideas-
Ocelot and Tapir or Capybara
Fishing Cat and Tufted Deer
Black Footed Cat and Aardvark

 

[Aardwolf]

So knowing how cheetahs are mixed with elands in one zoo I know of, is there any other small cat animal mixes that could work in theory assuming that hoofstock/aardvarks aren't a breeding pair.

Ideas-
Ocelot and Tapir or Capybara
Fishing Cat and Tufted Deer
Black Footed Cat and Aardvark

Black-footed cat and aardvark I could at least possibly see, based on fennec and aardvark having worked together.

The other two are pretty solid no in my opinion.

I've read accounts of fishing cat killing adult leopards before in a zoo setting, so a tufted deer would not be an ideal mix. I've worked with ocelot and capybara and can't see either of those species enjoying the experience of co-habbing. Either the ocelot will go after a capy, a capy will go after an ocelot under the "best defense is a good offense" option, or, best case scenario, they'll stress each other out and just make each other generally miserable.

Besides, I think these species would do better in separate habitats for a design perspective. Ocelot exhibits are fully-enclosed, generally, which does tend to limit their size. It could seriously curtail the amount of space capybara and tapir could have to be kept in an enclosure meant to safely contain ocelot.

 

[birdsandbats]

I've read accounts of fishing cat killing adult leopards before in a zoo setting

Surely you mean the other way around?

 

[Aardwolf]

Surely you mean the other way around?

Nope. They're that bad ass, apparently. It was cited by Sunquist and Sunquist in their "Wild Cats of the World"

 

[Jarne]

One can also question wether tapir wil tolerate the continual presence of ocelot, a potential predator of their young, amidst them. Tapir have nasty teeth, and aren’t afraid to use them when the need arises.

 

[Mr.Ivory]

I plan on making a late pleistocene based mixed species enclosure for Asian elephants, American Bison, Dromedary Camel, Guanaco, Przewalski's horse and
Peninsular Pronghorn which enough room for all species species to separate if needed.

Would the mix work or would the Guanaco and Camels causes issues. I also plan on allowing Baird's Tapir and Capybara access to the mixed species.

 

[15399]

I plan on making a late pleistocene based mixed species enclosure for Asian elephants, American Bison, Dromedary Camel, Guanaco, Przewalski's horse and
Peninsular Pronghorn which enough room for all species species to separate if needed.

Would the mix work or would the Guanaco and Camels causes issues. I also plan on allowing Baird's Tapir and Capybara access to the mixed species.

Guanaco are the least of your problems with that mix. Wild horses, camels, and bison are all aggressive species that don't always play nice, and Asian elephants can also pose a risk, and there have been numerous instances of dangerous aggression between conspecifics, let alone with smaller species. Even if the mix doesn't kill anything, it almost certainly would increase stress levels and have negative effects on the welfare of all species involved. The only two species you name that I'd trust to be in the same exhibit are the capybaras and guanacos, or the capybaras and tapirs if non-breeding.

 

[Corangurilla]

I plan on making a late pleistocene based mixed species enclosure for Asian elephants, American Bison, Dromedary Camel, Guanaco, Przewalski's horse and
Peninsular Pronghorn which enough room for all species species to separate if needed.

Would the mix work or would the Guanaco and Camels causes issues. I also plan on allowing Baird's Tapir and Capybara access to the mixed species.

At that point, I’d just make a Pleistocene-based zone.

 

[Mr.Ivory]

At that point, I’d just make a Pleistocene-based zone.

That is the idea

Guanaco are the least of your problems with that mix. Wild horses, camels, and bison are all aggressive species that don't always play nice, and Asian elephants can also pose a risk, and there have been numerous instances of dangerous aggression between conspecifics, let alone with smaller species. Even if the mix doesn't kill anything, it almost certainly would increase stress levels and have negative effects on the welfare of all species involved.

So each species having their own separate exhibit would be a better option.

 

[Platypusboy]

So apparently Squirrel monkeys and Spectacled bears, and Howler monkeys and Spectacled bears have been mixed before at places like Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine and Durrell, but what about Brown spider monkeys and Spectacled bears? Would it work or is it too dangerous?

 

[Jarne]

That is the idea

So each species having their own separate exhibit would be a better option.

Some of them could be mixed.

The tapirs (assuming baird’s behave similar to South-American), capybara and guanaco for instance is one of the most common mixes in Europe and can certainly work. That is if you give them the space to do their own thing. Capybara don’t really care what’s beside them and tapir don’t mind them either as they aren’t a threat. However, forcing the guanaco male and the tapirs to be in close quarters might result in some fighting or stress. Hence why you need separate nightquarters.

American bison and Przewalski horse might also work, as long as the exhibit is spacious, has no narrow corners/hallways an individual can get trapped in and has separation pens that you can keep newborns (and their mother) in for a few weeks. Przewalski horse can be aggressive, but they would know their place when confronted with bison and just keep their distance. And bison’s aggression is also a bit exaggerated, yes they can attack but if the other species doesn’t come too close they won’t. Having their stables/separation pens on opposite ends of the exhibit will help avoid conflicts when letting the animals in/out of the exhibit.

 

[15399]

American bison and Przewalski horse might also work, as long as the exhibit is spacious, has no narrow corners/hallways an individual can get trapped in and has separation pens that you can keep newborns (and their mother) in for a few weeks. Przewalski horse can be aggressive, but they would know their place when confronted with bison and just keep their distance. And bison’s aggression is also a bit exaggerated, yes they can attack but if the other species doesn’t come too close they won’t. Having their stables/separation pens on opposite ends of the exhibit will help avoid conflicts when letting the animals in/out of the exhibit

A good, successful mixed species exhibit is about more than just conflict avoidance. It's also about ensuring that the welfare of the species involved is not harmed by the mix. When you say the horses would "know their place when confronted with bison" that screams heightened cortisol levels to me, and fear responses to avoid them. While I'm sure someone could make this work in an extremely large exhibit, I question why? At least in traditional zoos, mixed species exhibits are most typically used as a means of maximizing space, and in this instance you'd be better off splitting the species into two exhibits.

 

[Brayden Delashmutt]

Does anyone know if mandrills can be successfully kept with bongos or other primates?

 

[birdsandbats]

Does anyone know if mandrills can be successfully kept with bongos or other primates?

Brookfield at one point mixed Mandrills with several species of African primates, including Angolan Colobus, Allen's Swamp Monkey, Red-tailed Guenon, and Black-crested Mangabey (there might have been some other species present, too). The mix also included Pygmy Hippo and several bird species (the birds also had access to a large area the primates couldn't get to).

 

[Corangurilla]

Brookfield at one point mixed Mandrills with several species of African primates, including Angolan Colobus, Allen's Swamp Monkey, Red-tailed Guenon, and Black-crested Mangabey (there might have been some other species present, too). The mix also included Pygmy Hippo and several bird species (the birds also had access to a large area the primates couldn't get to).

Sooty Mangabeys were part of that mix, too. And somehow, they ended up hybridizing with the Mandrills.

 

[Jarne]

A good, successful mixed species exhibit is about more than just conflict avoidance. It's also about ensuring that the welfare of the species involved is not harmed by the mix. When you say the horses would "know their place when confronted with bison" that screams heightened cortisol levels to me, and fear responses to avoid them. While I'm sure someone could make this work in an extremely large exhibit, I question why? At least in traditional zoos, mixed species exhibits are most typically used as a means of maximizing space, and in this instance you'd be better off splitting the species into two exhibits.

I have my doubts it would cause continuously elevated cortisol levels, as I said the horses would know their place and avoid stress-causing conflicts. If you give them the space to do so, I have no doubt that the species can live peacefully and in good welfare (varying a bit from individual to individual of course). After all the horses would know they aren’t in danger when they just stick their distance. The benefit in this case would be that the total area given to both species would be larger, even if the horses temporarily won’t be able to use the specific zones where the bison are at that time.

Many mixed exhibits rely in this principle, giving animals enough space so that they don’t need to interact too much or have the space to flee if conflicts arise. Including most savannah’s, mixed aviaries, primate mixes, …

 

[15399]

I have my doubts it would cause continuously elevated cortisol levels, as I said the horses would know their place and avoid stress-causing conflicts.

If the horses are actively having to avoid stress-causing conflicts, then that would be increasing their stress levels. A mix where one species intentionally has to flee from the other and escape is not a mix that is conducive to success.

If you give them the space to do so, I have no doubt that the species can live peacefully and in good welfar

Sure, but the space requirement to allow this mix to be successful and relatively stress-free would be substantially higher than what either species individually requires. Places such as The Wilds, SDWAP, etc. that have paddocks of five plus acres may be able to cohabitate these species, but traditional zoos don't have the spatial needs to mix these two species, especially when both would be more stress-free in smaller single-species exhibits.

Many mixed exhibits rely in this principle, giving animals enough space so that they don’t need to interact too much or have the space to flee if conflicts arise. Including most savannah’s, mixed aviaries, primate mixes, …

You're partially correct here. While mixed species exhibits do often lead to increased space for the animals, and oftentimes mixes include species that won't interact much, mixes also need to consider the physical, social, and mental well-beings of the individuals when they do come into contact- as it's inevitable that at some point in time two species sharing an enclosure will come into contact, and oftentimes occurs quite often. Just because a mix can be done without killing anything doesn't make it a good idea.