Rarest animals seen in a zoo or aquarium

Northern white rhinoceros at SDSP (SDWAP at the time)
Sumatran rhinoceros at San Diego Zoo
Golden crowned and Diademed sifaka at Duke University Primate Center (now Duke Lemur Center)
I'm not certain how many zoos kept them (I doubt it's many), but I remember San Francisco garter snakes at the San Francisco Zoo.
I have seen Kihansi spray toads at Bronx. I think only a handful of zoos keep those.
 
Anniella said:
Northern white rhinoceros at SDSP (SDWAP at the time)
Sumatran rhinoceros at San Diego Zoo
Golden crowned and Diademed sifaka at Duke University Primate Center (now Duke Lemur Center)
I'm not certain how many zoos kept them (I doubt it's many), but I remember San Francisco garter snakes at the San Francisco Zoo.
I have seen Kihansi spray toads at Bronx. I think only a handful of zoos keep those.
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Three species I've seen, three I'd absolutely LOVE to! Funny enough I've only ever seen San Francisco Garter Snakes in European zoos.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Three species I've seen, three I'd absolutely LOVE to! Funny enough I've only ever seen San Francisco Garter Snakes in European zoos.

~Thylo
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Unfortunately, none of those mammal species are found in their respective institutions these days. I think Duke Lemur Center might still have some rarities, like some elderly red-bellied lemurs, but I am not even sure if I ever saw those twenty years ago when I visited.

I have seen some living herpetological specimens in captivity (although not in zoos) that I don't think are common in captivity or possibly even seen in any zoos on display for the public. Cope's salamander, bandless sand snakes, Channel Island slender salamanders, and one of the Mexican species of alligator lizard.
 
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Anniella said:
Unfortunately, none of those mammal species are found in their respective institutions these days. I think Duke Lemur Center might still have some rarities, like some elderly red-bellied lemurs, but I am not even sure if I ever saw those twenty years ago when I visited.
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Indeed. I believe I've seen all of the species kept by Duke at this point, as Red-Bellied are at least somewhat common in European zoos (I think there are a few other US holders as well). The sifakas I think I'll have to go to Madagascar for, and the rhino I think I'll have to rely on SDZSP cloning back for...

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Indeed. I believe I've seen all of the species kept by Duke at this point, as Red-Bellied are at least somewhat common in European zoos (I think there are a few other US holders as well). The sifakas I think I'll have to go to Madagascar for, and the rhino I think I'll have to rely on SDZSP cloning back for...
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Didn't Duke also have Sanford's lemur, or are they gone too?
 
I have seen Pine martens, coyotes, bobcats, and an ermine in the wild before, but I have seen them everywhere in zoos. None of those are rare at all, its just hard to see them in the wild.
 
drill said:
The only place that still exhibit the species outside of Madagascar should be the Lemur Conservation Foundation in Florida
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Well "exhibits" wouldn't quite be the appropriate term as the place is, unfortunately, closed to the public.

~Thylo
 
drill said:
The only place that still exhibit the species outside of Madagascar should be the Lemur Conservation Foundation in Florida
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Isn't it in Myakka City, Oklahoma?

Or have I just got the wrong place. At least it says it is located there in Photo Ark.
 
Arizona Docent said:
List the very rare animals you have seen in captivity - I mean animals that only one or a few facilities worldwide have. Not talking just rare in your area or continent, I mean rare in captivity worldwide. Ok to include subspecies (even if the species is common) and color morphs (even if the typical color is common). Let's keep it to captive animals - if you want to start a separate thread about rarities seen in the wild, feel free.

Also, please follow the species name with the location where you saw it. I will post a reply to start things off.
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Rarest species I ever saw, didn't even exist. London Zoo had a pair of Imperial Pheasants in the early 70s, and even bred from them. At the time it was suggested they might be extinct in the wild. Indeed, this pair were the result of selective hybridising and back-crossing with the only 'pure' male available. Years down the line, DNA studies revealed that the species didn't even exist, but was a naturally occurring hybrid of Edwards' and Silver Pheasant. Very beautiful though, still got the photos. One or two people have the actual birds.
 
Another species that I believe is pretty rare that I only saw once: Zebra duikers at L.A. Zoo in the 1990s.

In fact, the only photos of live animals I can find in the photo gallery are from L.A.
 
Most of these with the exception of bongo are most likely at under ten or under five facilities in the world some such as the Baw Baw frog are only at one facility.

Mammals


Black Striped Wallaby (Phillip Island Wildlife Park)
Bongo (Melbourne Zoo in 2014 now deceased)
Eastern Barred Bandicoot mainland population (Werribee zoo)

I haven’t been to Healsvile in ages so I can’t remember anything from there

Birds

Swift Parrot (Moonlit Sanctuary)
Green Catbird (Moonlit Sanctuary)

Reptiles

Phillipine Crocodile (Melbourne Zoo)
Spotted Tree Monitor (Moonlit Sanctuary)
Chameleon Gecko (Melbourne Museum temporary exhibition)
Cunningham’s skink (Melbourne Museum)


Amphibians

Growling Grass Frog (Melbourne Zoo, Moonlit Sanctuary and Melbourne Museum)
Baw Baw Frog (Melbourne zoo)
Southern Coroboree frog (Melbourne zoo)
Spotted Tree Frog (Melbourne zoo and Melbourne Museum)

Fish

Speartooth River Shark (Melbourne Aquarium)
Spotted Handfish (Melbourne Aquarium)


Note: Healsville sanctuary has heaps but I haven’t been there in ages and don’t have photos nor can recollect any rare species from there.
 
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