Roger Williams Park Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo Formerly Kept Species

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I've noticed a few threads like this recently, and am interested in what species the Roger Williams Park Zoo used to keep. I remember a lot, and on my visit today was definitely missing some of the species I remember from years ago. I'd love to know what other species besides the ones I know the zoo used to keep.

Species I know the zoo used to keep are (I've marked species I remember personally seeing with an asterisk):
1. African Wild Dog*- exhibit now contains Cheetahs
2. Cuvier's Gazelle- exhibit demolished for elephant expansion
3. Bongo- kept in Plains of Africa? I don't know which habitat.
4. Humboldt Penguin*- habitat demolished for Farmyard expansion
5. Cormorant sp*- kept with Humboldt penguins
6. Arctic Fox*- replaced with Patagonian Cavies
7. Patagonian Cavy*- habitat demolished for Farmyard expansion
8. Elegant-crested Tinamou*- formerly kept in Tropical America then Faces of the Rainforest, recently left collection.
9. Northern Helmeted Currassow- briefly held in Faces of Rainforest
10. Crested Oropendola*- briefly held in Faces of Rainforest
11. Venezuelan Troupial*- briefly held in Faces of Rainforest
12. Prehensile-tailed Porcupine*- recently left collection, held in Tropical America then Faces of Rainforest
13. Western Grey Kangaroo*- habitat demolished for Faces of Rainforest
14. Emu*- same as kangaroos
15. Green Aracari*- in old Tropical America
16. Jamaican Fruit Bats*- in old Tropical America
17. Chinese Alligator*- Australasia, replaced with North American River Otters
18. Parma Wallaby*- replaced with Bennett's Wallaby
19. Black-tailed Prarie Dogs- once kept in current binturong exhibit
20. Carpet Python*- once kept with the snake-necked turtle in Australasia
21. Archerfish*- habitat demolished in Australasia renovations
22. Northern Tree Shrew*- habitat demolished in Australasia renovations
23. Dromedary Camel*- replaced with Bactrian Camel
24. Polar Bear- replaced with bald eagles, plans for new polar bear habitat never came to fruition
25. Collared Peccary*- once kept in North America section
26. Mongoose Lemur- Madagascar area closed, also other Lemur species I don't remember
27. Madagascar Day Geckos*- Madagascar area closed
28. Dexter Cattle*- kept in old Farmyard prior to renovations
29. North American Porcupine*- briefly kept in former Madgascar habitat
30. Great-horned Owl*- briefly kept in former Madagscar habitat
31. American Alligator*- briefly kept in former Madagascar habitat
32. Cottontop Tamarin*- in old Tropical America

What other ones am I missing? I'm sure there are many other species the zoo used to keep as well.
 
"Formerly Held" is a bit relative as the zoo obviously hosted A LOT of animals since its founding. Most of which I don't think any living visitor would be able to fully list (you'd likely need to look at what I'd assume is formal animal listings likely kept in the administration office). Within my lifetime there were a few animals that you may have missed.

Recent History:
1. Pied Tamarins* - kept for only about a week before they had to be taken out of Faces of the Rainforest.
2. Tawny Frogmouth* - On the website it still lists them but I haven't seen them in about a year, with signage taken down. Formally alongside the Laughing Kookaburra enclosure.
Older Animals (Late 90s-2000s)
2. Swamp Wallaby - kept in the Bennett's Wallaby Habitat prior to Parma Wallaby.
3. Blue Duiker* - kept in what was once the "African Kopje" exhibit (now known for the Aoudads)
4. Dwarf Mongoose* - kept in the former African Kopje
6. Rock Hyrax* - again, African Kopje
7. Naked Mole Rat* - 'old' (90s-2000s) Elephant House
8. Black Cheeked Lovebird* - Plains of Africa
9. Guinea Fowl* - Plains of Africa
10. Kenya Sand Boa* - Plains of Africa (kopje area)
11. Sungazer Lizard * - Plains of Africa
12. Von der Decken's hornbill* - Plains of Africa
13. California Sea Lion* - Really big 600 lb male that was in with the Harbor Seals in the early 2000s
14. Sandhill Crane* - Modern Muntjac Habitat
15. Sarus Crane* - Modern Red Crowned Crane Habitat
16. Wonga Pigion* - Australasia Bird Aviary
17. Black Lemur* - Madagascar
18. Black and White Ruffed Lemur* - Madagascar
19. Red Bellied Lemur* - Madagascar
20. Red-Ruffed Lemur*- Madagascar
21. Capybara - Tropical America (exhibited below Cotton Top Tamarin vines)
22. Blue-Winged Teal - Tropical America
23. Crested Quail Dove* - Tropical America
24. Motmot* - Tropical America
25. Purple Gallinule* - Tropical America
26. Red Crested Cardinal* - Tropical America
27. Rosybill* - Tropical America
28. Silver-beaked Tanager* - Tropical America
29. Southern Lapwing* - Tropical America
30. Stuart's Milksnake* - Tropical America
31. Turquoise Tanager* - Tropical America
32. Black Crowned Crane* - Former Red River Hog Enclosure
33. Blue necked Ostrich* - Zebra Habitat (lived alongside Zebras)

Old History (Before 1995):
34. Clouded Leopard* - Modern Gibbon Habitat outside Giftshop
35. Asian Elephant* - Tropical America (when it was the original Elephant House)
36. Lion* - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop)
37. Leopard* - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop)
38. Tiger* - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop)

The Zoo also hosted many smaller animals throughout its lifetime (smaller rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, etc) but none were around long enough to be of note.

As a correction to Neil's post, the Bongo was kept in the area that would later be used for the Elephant Expansion (the barn still remains to this day). There are images online of the zoo at one point having Blesbok in this habitat briefly during the 2000s but I couldn't verify one way or another.
 
I have no idea if this information is current but at least in 2019, the Jamaican fruit bats were kept behind the scenes.

Also, I checked some maps and I saw that in the old tropical house, there were "crocodiles" I am unsure what species it was but it was on the map so should be included here.
 
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The crocodiles were Cubans.
Gemsbok were definitely at the zoo. I remember them in the current Auodad exhibit.
There were also at least one duiker species in with the cuviers.
Elk were mixed with pronghorn at one point.
 
Neil chace said:
Does the zoo officially no longer have the Cranes? They are still listed on the website and on my visit yesterday that exhibit was closed off for construction, but the sign still said Cranes.
Click to expand...
Well, the zoo still has red crowned cranes over at the Marco Polo Trail. We will have to see if they still have the African Crowned Cranes when the construction is done at their exhibit.
 
Nicholas LionRider said:
"Formerly Held" is a bit relative as the zoo obviously hosted A LOT of animals since its founding. Most of which I don't think any living visitor would be able to fully list (you'd likely need to look at what I'd assume is formal animal listings likely kept in the administration office). Within my lifetime there were a few animals that you may have missed.

Recent History:
1. Pied Tamarins* - kept for only about a week before they had to be taken out of Faces of the Rainforest.
2. Tawny Frogmouth* - On the website it still lists them but I haven't seen them in about a year, with signage taken down. Formally alongside the Laughing Kookaburra enclosure.
Older Animals (Late 90s-2000s)
2. Swamp Wallaby - kept in the Bennett's Wallaby Habitat prior to Parma Wallaby.
3. Blue Duiker* - kept in what was once the "African Kopje" exhibit (now known for the Aoudads)
4. Dwarf Mongoose* - kept in the former African Kopje
6. Rock Hyrax* - again, African Kopje
7. Naked Mole Rat* - 'old' (90s-2000s) Elephant House
8. Black Cheeked Lovebird* - Plains of Africa
9. Guinea Fowl* - Plains of Africa
10. Kenya Sand Boa* - Plains of Africa (kopje area)
11. Sungazer Lizard * - Plains of Africa
12. Von der Decken's hornbill* - Plains of Africa
13. California Sea Lion* - Really big 600 lb male that was in with the Harbor Seals in the early 2000s
14. Sandhill Crane* - Modern Muntjac Habitat
15. Sarus Crane* - Modern Red Crowned Crane Habitat
16. Wonga Pigion* - Australasia Bird Aviary
17. Black Lemur* - Madagascar
18. Black and White Ruffed Lemur* - Madagascar
19. Red Bellied Lemur* - Madagascar
20. Red-Ruffed Lemur*- Madagascar
21. Capybara - Tropical America (exhibited below Cotton Top Tamarin vines)
22. Blue-Winged Teal - Tropical America
23. Crested Quail Dove* - Tropical America
24. Motmot* - Tropical America
25. Purple Gallinule* - Tropical America
26. Red Crested Cardinal* - Tropical America
27. Rosybill* - Tropical America
28. Silver-beaked Tanager* - Tropical America
29. Southern Lapwing* - Tropical America
30. Stuart's Milksnake* - Tropical America
31. Turquoise Tanager* - Tropical America
32. Black Crowned Crane* - Former Red River Hog Enclosure
33. Blue necked Ostrich* - Zebra Habitat (lived alongside Zebras)

Old History (Before 1995):
34. Clouded Leopard* - Modern Gibbon Habitat outside Giftshop
35. Asian Elephant* - Tropical America (when it was the original Elephant House)
36. Lion* - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop)
37. Leopard* - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop)
38. Tiger* - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop)

The Zoo also hosted many smaller animals throughout its lifetime (smaller rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, etc) but none were around long enough to be of note.

As a correction to Neil's post, the Bongo was kept in the area that would later be used for the Elephant Expansion (the barn still remains to this day). There are images online of the zoo at one point having Blesbok in this habitat briefly during the 2000s but I couldn't verify one way or another.
Click to expand...
What happened with the pied tamarins that they were only their for a short period of time when Faces of the Rainforest opened? Also, how long ago did the zoo have all of the African animals in what is now Fabric of Africa?
 
San Francisco garter snakes were formerly held(only place I have ever seen them)
 
I was told by a friend that Roger Williams zoo had American Burrying beetles, but I cannot find any them listed on the website. Are they stilll at the zoo?
 
PossumRoach said:
I was told by a friend that Roger Williams zoo had American Burrying beetles, but I cannot find any them listed on the website. Are they stilll at the zoo?
Click to expand...
They are no longer on exhibit. They were exhibited in a small building since demolished for Faces of the Rainforest. It contained the beetles, Spotted Turtles, oriental fire-bellied toads, and maybe one or two other things. The zoo still has burying beetles behind the scenes though.
 
Neil chace said:
Does the zoo officially no longer have the Cranes? They are still listed on the website and on my visit yesterday that exhibit was closed off for construction, but the sign still said Cranes.
Click to expand...
We should still have them but in the original habitat we had black crowned cranes. In modern day I believe they are grey crowned cranes.
 
I don't believe we still have southern tamandua anymore since it isn't listed on their site.

Also I went through some old postcards from the zoo and I believe the zoo also kept American black bears and white-tailed deer.
 
Smaggledagle said:
I don't believe we still have southern tamandua anymore since it isn't listed on their site.

Also I went through some old postcards from the zoo and I believe the zoo also kept American black bears and white-tailed deer.
Click to expand...
I saw the tamandua yesterday.
 
Mammals:
Common raccoon [1872-1980s]
Domestic guinea pig [1872]
Baboon [1891]
Cougar [1890s]
Jaguar [1890s]
Coyote - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop) [~1905]
Hyena - Menagerie Building (Modern Day Giftshop) [~1905]
Rhesus macaque - Monkey Island [1927-~1970s]
Coati [1950s]
Llama [1950s]
Barbados Black Belly sheep - Plains area (Now Plains of Africa and Hasbro's Big Backyard) [1960s-1986]
Eland - Plains area (Now Plains of Africa and Hasbro's Big Backyard) [1960s-1986]
Sika deer- Plains area (Now Plains of Africa and Hasbro's Big Backyard) [1960s-1986]
Common chimpanzee [1970]
Aoudad (exhibit now home to common ostrich) [2022]
Harbor seal (Bubba moved to Woods Hole Science Aquarium) [2022]

Birds:
"African siskin" - Menagerie Building Aviary (Modern Day Giftshop) [1929]
Mandarin duck - Menagerie Building Aviary (Modern Day Giftshop) [1929]
Pelican - Menagerie Building Aviary (Modern Day Giftshop) [1929]
Snowy owl - Former Madagascar exhibit (Now home to turkey and American black vultures) [2022]

Reptiles:
Common snapping turtle [1950s]

*I didn't mention animals that had vague names that are still at the zoo (hawk, flamingo, rabbit) to avoid confusion.

Sources:
Images of America: Roger William Park Zoo
The Jewel of Providence
Roger Williams Park: A Gift of Seasons
 
The pied tamarins were not maintaining a good distance from zoo visitors in their curiosity. This was a danger to them so they were removed. Apparently, the zoo has considered getting emperor tamarins instead, which I would be against because Buttonwood Park Zoo has them.

1. jambu fruit dove - sent to the Bronx Zoo for what is presumed to be breeding purposes
2. common ostrich - a temporary replacement for aoudads before construction began on the new education center
3. guira cuckoo* - kept in Faces of the Rainforest
4. white-faced whistling duck* - kept in Faces of the Rainforest
5. hooded vulture - This animal was kept adjacent to the zebra/wildebeest enclosure. I only ever saw it once, when it lived not adjacent to but in the zebra-wildebeest pen.
6. "blue-crowned" motmot* - The two were kept in Faces of the Rainforest. Keepers were expecting chicks because they'd burrowed a nest above the anaconda enclosure. One of the birds was found very suprisingly found dead and staff concluded that they were actually both females. I asked why blood testing wasn't done first to determine the gender of the bird, as they are sexually dimorphic, and learned that this does not work this group of animals. The remaining motmot was sent out not long after.
7. ring-necked duck* - kept in Faces of the Rainforest

*I am guessing that the greenhouse was used as a temporary home for the mentioned birds, the sloth baby, and Cookie and Monster before they were sent to other zoos this summer.
 
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