I didn't - I was responding to a post where the claim was made that the only New World tapir in US zoos was Baird's Tapir.
Reimagining South American Exhibits in U.S. Zoos
- Thread starter CleZooMan
- Start date
There are many; most of them are smaller animals like birds, reptiles and amphibians. For larger mammals and birds, there are rheas, capybara, guanacos, peccaries, anteaters, pudu, Andean bears, bush dogs, maned wolves, jaguars, ocelots and pumas.
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately Bush Dogs seem to be on their way out (although Detroit has plans for them so maybe there’s still hope).
Giant Otters have also been spreading out from what I’ve seen. Not sure if the actual numbers are any higher, but at least 3 zoos have acquired them in the last 10 years (they do seem to be relegated to the southeastern US with a few exceptions).
There are only about eleven holders off the top of my head, and Jacksonville's the only facility that's breed them within the past five years. So not a good look for the future of this species in the US.
Bush dogs are being managed globally, along with Zoos in Europe, which has a larger population. So while there aren't many right now, I doubt they'll truly go away, as Zoos have the means of importing more and some new zoos have gotten into the species relatively recently and seem dedicated to it.
To be fair, saying there are eleven holders (which is factual) doesn't dispute the fact that there are more holders now than there were previously. It is a population though that, while there are zoos dedicated to it, it has been facing some challenges (especially a high infant mortality), and hopefully they'll figure out how to breed more successfully and see numbers increase. At least it's a program though that there is a possibility of imports every now and then for, so not all hope is lost. Collectively, there should be around 35-40 giant otters in the AZA as of right now.
Whoops... sorry. Didn't see that
cloudedleopard611
Well-Known Member
The Houston Zoo has a Pantanal exhibit complex. I've never been in person but the photos look great.
It does look great! That's a start for different South American exhibits, I'd say.
Are the ones in Colorado gone now?
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, yes.
Did they die, or move to Los Angeles?
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
They died.
Paragonia would make a good subject for an exhibit in a temperate part of the country. Guanaco, Mara, Rhea, Andean Condor, Patagonian conure, plus various marine mammals like fur seals and birds like multiple penguin species and the very strange steamer ducks should all be obtainable.
Are fur seals and steamer ducks common in captivity? I guess I didn't realize.
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Steamer ducks aren't super common, but still present. South American fur seals are not really present. One could always use another species as a stand in, I suppose.