Replace a popular US zoo animal with a more endangered one

Galapagos Penguin said:
The White Rhinoceros should be replaced. The species has skyrocketed in the past few decades and is only listed as near threatened. It’s also worth considering there are far more endangered rhino species.
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Though not any other rhino species that is easily available, can be mixed with almost any ungulate (African or otherwise) and is easy to cater for in terms of feeding requirements.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Why ? and what would you propose for the emu ?
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As an Australian ratite emus are difficult to replace since cassowaries also are common. However, if you ignore the Australian part, I do believe that Darwin's rhea would be a nice bird to introduce by replacing emus. While they are least concern according to the IUCN, they are listed as appendix I on CITES, so they must be near threatened then, right (if not why are they still listed under cites)? That and they seem to be more cold tolerant which makes them a great choice for zoos in colder regions. But of course CITES app. I does make the situation a bit tough.
 
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PossumRoach said:
As an Australian ratite emus are difficult to replace since cassowaries also are common. However, if you ignore the Australian part, I do believe that Darwin's rhea would be a nice bird to introduce by replacing emus. While they are least concern according to the IUCN, they are listed as appendix I on CITES, so they must be near threatened then right (if not why are they still listed under cites)? That and they seem to be more cold tolerant which makes them a great choice for colder regions..
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Well reasoned answer and yes they are both declining in numbers and they are quite hardy when it comes to the cold as it typically is freezing on the Altiplano and in Patagonia.
 
Hello,

It seems that the type subspecies of the Darwin's Rhea Pterocnemia (=Rhea) pennata pennata is only listed in Appendix II of the CITES. It's the most common subspecies, and its habitat in Southern Argentina and Chile is probably safer than the habitats of other Rhea species/subspecies, that could explain their LC status.
Other subspecies (including P. t. tarapacensis, now recognized as a true species) are rarer and remain in the Appendix I.
Though, Darwin's Rhea are very rare in captivity compared to their cousins the Common Rheas.
 
Haliaeetus said:
Hello,

It seems that the type subspecies of the Darwin's Rhea Pterocnemia (=Rhea) pennata pennata is only listed in Appendix II of the CITES. It's the most common subspecies, and its habitat in Southern Argentina and Chile is probably safer than the habitats of other Rhea species/subspecies, that could explain their LC status.
Other subspecies (including P. t. tarapacensis, now recognized as a true species) are rarer and remain in the Appendix I.
Though, Darwin's Rhea are very rare in captivity compared to their cousins the Common Rheas.
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That’s the point of this thread, replacing common animals with endangered ones.

And there’s 46 holders of them in Europe which isn’t too rare in my opinion.
 
Maybe with Pterocnemia (Rhea) tarapacensis, but I doubt this species is really represented in zoos, at least out of South America.
 
Leadbeater's Possum?
Sure it's a rare species, but I don't know if there are these possums outside of Australia.
 
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