Rare/Absent species from the UK.

Bele said:
There are many unusual species of Reptiles , Amphibians and Invertebrates being held in private hands and imported by dealers , a lot of them being successfully bred . If anyone has a spare £2000 they could buy a Chinese Alligator from a dealer in Gloucester and get 1p change . I am not keen on the attention being given to breeding colour morphs of so many species though .
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Assuming this is true (the person that told me doesn't seem like a liar), but I've heard of a private owner that is successfully keeping a Thorny Devil (or devils?) in Britain. I've forgotten all of the details, but I know that they have a picky diet.
 
Chlidonias said:
"a picky diet" is a bit of an understatement :)
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Well, yeah. One species of ant native to Australia, that's almost as picky as me ;p.

In seriousness, I wouldn't like the difficulty of keeping one unless somebody could replicate a diet. (On a reptile forum, I've heard that it might be possible to feed them small crickets coated in formic[?] acid. I think this would replicate the diet nutritionally, but the problem would be getting them to eat the crickets).
 
They might be misidentified toad lizards Phrynosoma...

I would also like to see Horned Devils - some of most unusual and underrated Australian animals. I guess they might eat other small ants native to UK... :)
 
Jurek7 said:
They might be misidentified toad lizards Phrynosoma...

I would also like to see Horned Devils - some of most unusual and underrated Australian animals. I guess they might eat other small ants native to UK... :)
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It certainly could be. It was mentioned in passing really when I was talking to one of the owners of a local reptile shop. It was one of their friends in Warrington that she said about.

I'd love to see more Australian species in general. I don't understand though why they won't allow exports :S. I know of many animals places in Australia would love to obtain, surely some 'swaps' between Australian and European zoos would benefit both parties?
 
Species I'd (selfishly) like to have in the UK

Doria's Tree Kangaroo and
Red faced Ukari
I remember seeing both at Twycross as a kid
Harpy Eagle - In a huge canopy aviary
Shoebill Stork recently visited Zurich to see their pair - outstanding
Sea Otter - planned species for Living Coasts but transfer from Monterey became too difficult!
Norway Lemming - for Living Coasts (educate about cliff myth)
Marine Iguana - what an interesting addition to drab penguin enclosures!
Crested Auklet
Great Slaty Woodpecker - I viewed last year at Saigon Zoo, what a great display they make.
Gerenuk - éddgy' and nervous but beautiful!
Klipspringer - potential mix with Gelada, Ibex and Hyrax?
Mountain Tapir - if there's any left?
Douc Langur - beautiful, successful at San Diego and Singapore, is Paignton (English Riviera) too cold?
Indri - Why are they not being bred in zoo's? is it a dietry/population issue?
Numbat - Love seeing these in Oz collections
Pygmy anteater - only ever seen in books?
 
TriGB said:
Douc Langur - beautiful, successful at San Diego and Singapore, is Paignton (English Riviera) too cold?
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Sadly enough, not succesfull at San Diego (and gone from San Diego as well), just at Singapore... :(

(before anyone mentions ISIS, San Diego is another ghost entry, there are only 1.1 left in the USA at Philly Zoo)
 
Since they've been mentioned a few times, I've seen a couple of Armadillo enclosures with very reclusive residents, they just aren't show offs. But at Banham they use one in an animal show and he clearly loves running about after food and fuss from the keeper. Maybe this would be a good way to show a few other animals that are rarely shown due to shyness.
As a side note, my list of wants includes tree kangaroos, many more genets, lots of aussie animals that we never see here, and of course, manatees!!
I can also say that Raccoon dogs are in this country, in private hands, I've seen a few for sale in the last couple of years.
 
Desmans

scimiterhorned1 said:
i think durrel might hav dessmands masfc. and yes we need orca and dolphins. and barids and mountaintapis
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Durrell (Jersey Zoo) has never had Desman. The confusion arises because Gerald Durrell is shown holding a wild-caught Desman (which was promptly released) in his TV series and book of the same name, "Durrell in Russia".
 
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