Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens Saigon Zoo news

[Chlidonias]

@Chlidonias, our esteemed Zoochat contributor is very much of PR of China descent. I guess @YuanChang has a good experience of what sub par conditions can exist in some zoos in PR of China. Admittedly, - and I am sure our esteemed friend will too acknowledge that a good deal of zoos in the country are making great strides in state of the art zoo exhbitry, animal husbandry and animal welfare ..., while a part is on the darker side than pale.

However, if the feedback was North American or from any other Western nation, I would agree that we have work to do at home very much too....!

Yes, I know YuanChang is from China - but I was responding to an American...

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Yes, I know YuanChang is from China - but I was responding to an American...

Too right, I totally agree and knew where you were getting at with the US poster! I do think we all need to feel secure that our global village views and perceptions are all respected.

Mine was that Asian perceptions equally deserve the level playing field and award equal accolades we strive to uphold. I do find the attitude exemplified by that US poster rebuttal rather condescending and reprehensible, to put it diplomatically.

 

[Toki]

Hi!

I was planning to visit Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in July, but postponed the trip to have more time to look around. I made three visits here between August 30th and September 1st.

I'm updating with species list here.
The format is based on Zootierliste.

<Mammals>
Annamese langur (Annamese silvered langur) (Elliot`s Lutung) (Trachypithecus margarita (Syn.: Presbytis margarita))
Asian brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus)
Asian small-clawed otter (Oriental small-clawed otter) (Aonyx cinerea (Syn.: Amblyonyx cinereus))
Black giant squirrel (Malayan giant squirrel) (no subspecies-status) (Ratufa bicolor)
Black-Shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix nigripes (Syn.: Pygathrix nemaeus nigripes))
Blue wildebeest (Brindled Gnu) (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus)
Burmese brow-antlered deer (Myanmar thamin) (Panolia eldii thamin (Syn.: Rucervus eldi thamin) (Syn.: Cervus eldii thamin))
Burmese ferret-badger (Melogale personata)
Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Syn.: Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris))
Chapman's zebra (Equus quagga chapmani (Syn.: Equus burchellii chapmani))
Common chimpanzee (No Subspecific status) (Pan troglodytes)
Common eland (no subspecific status) (Tragelaphus oryx (Syn.: Taurotragus oryx))
Common hog deer (Axis porcinus porcinus (Syn.: Hyelaphus porcinus porcinus))
Domestic Farm fox (Vulpes vulpes f. domestica)
Domestic Farm raccoon (Procyon lotor f. domestica)
Domestic horse (No Breeds-status) (Equus ferus f. caballus (Syn.: Equus przewalskii f. caballus) (Syn.: Equus caballus))
Domestic sheep (Ovis orientalis f. aries (Syn.: Ovis aries aries))
Gemsbok (Southern oryx) (Oryx gazella (Syn.: Oryx gazella gazella))
Giraffe (no subspecies-status) (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Hippopotamus (Common hippopotamus) (No Subspecific status) (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Indian wild boar (Sus scrofa cristatus)
Indochinese binturong (Arctictis binturong albifrons)
Indochinese clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa (Syn.: Panthera nebulosa nebulosa))
Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri (Syn.: Panthera pardus sinensis))
Indochinese leopard cat (Common leopard cat) (Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis)
Indochinese muntjac (Annam muntjac) (Muntiacus vaginalis annamensis (Syn.: Muntiacus muntjak annamensis))
Indochinese palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus cochinensis)
Indochinese porcupine (Kloss' porcupine) (Hystrix brachyura subcristata (Syn.: Acanthion klossi))
Indochinese sambar (Rusa unicolor cambojensis (Syn.: Cervus unicolor cambojensis))
Indochinese smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata perspicillata)
Indochinese tiger (Corbett's tiger) (Panthera tigris corbetti)
Lesser Indo-Malayan chevrotain (No Subspecific status) (Tragulus kanchil)
Lion (No subspecies-status) (Panthera leo)
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
Normal Black Bear (Burma Black Bear) (Ursus thibetanus thibetanus)
Northern Raccoon (Common Raccoon) (Procyon lotor)
Owston's banded palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni (Syn.: Hemigalus owstoni))
Pileated gibbon (Capped gibbon) (Hylobates pileatus (Syn.: Hylobates lar pileatus))
Pony (No Breeds-status) (Equus ferus f. caballus (Syn.: Equus przewalskii f. caballus))
Red-cheeked gibbon (Southern Yellow-cheeked crested gibbon) (Golden-cheeked gibbon) (Nomascus gabriellae (Syn.: Hylobates concolor gabriellae))
Red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus (Syn.: Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus))
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Silvered leaf-monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus)
South-East Asian elephant (Indian elephant) (Elephas maximus indicus (Syn.: Elephas maximus bengalensis))
South-east Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii temminckii (Syn.: Profelis temminckii temminckii))
Southern white rhinoceros (Southern square-lipped rhinoceros) (Ceratotherium simum simum (Syn.: Ceratotherium simum))
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Sun bear (Nominate subspecies) (Helarctos malayanus malayanus)
Tiger (no subspecies-status) (incl. White tiger, Golden tabby) (Panthera tigris)
Vietnamese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis (Syn.: Cervus hortulorum pseudaxis))
West African pygmy goat (African dwarf goat) (Cameroon dwarf goat) (Capra aegagrus f. hircus)
Western pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis liberiensis (Syn.: Hexaprotodon liberiensis liberiensis))

<Birds>
American flamingo (Caribbean flamingo) (Red flamingo) (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber)
Annamese silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera annamensis)
Asian woollyneck (Asian woolly-necked stork) (Ciconia episcopus episcopus)
Black swan (Cygnus atratus)
Black-headed ibis (Oriental white ibis) (Threskiornis melanocephalus)
Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus (Syn.: Cygnus melanocoryphus) (Syn.: Sthenelides melancoryphus))
Blue-and-yellow macaw (Blue-and-gold macaw) (Ara ararauna)
Burmese spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha haringtoni)
Chinese goose (Knob goose) (Anser cygnoid f. domestica (Syn.: Anser cygnoides f. domestica))
Common ostrich (No Subspecific status) (Struthio camelus)
Common pheasant (Ring-necked pheasant) (No Subspecific status) (Phasianus colchicus)
Common silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera nycthemera)
Domestic fowl (Domestic chicken) (No Breed-status) (Gallus gallus f. domestica (Syn.: Gallus gallus domesticus))
Domestic guineafowl (Numida meleagris f. domestica)
Eastern Hill Myna (Java Hill Myna) (Gracula religiosa religiosa)
Eastern purple heron (Ardea purpurea manilensis)
Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Golden-necked Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus aurantiacus)
Great hornbill (Great Indian hornbill) (Buceros bicornis)
Great myna (White-vented myna) (Buffalo myna) (Acridotheres grandis (Syn.: Acridotheres fuscus grandis))
Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus (Syn.: Phoenicopterus ruber roseus) (Syn.: Phoenicopterus antiquorum))
Green pheasant (No Subspecific status) (Phasianus versicolor)
Green-winged macaw (Red-and-green macaw) (Ara chloropterus (Syn.: Ara chloroptera))
Indian peafowl (Blue peafowl) (domestic forms) (Pavo cristatus f. domestica)
Indian peafowl (Blue peafowl) (Indien Peacock) (Pavo cristatus)
Indo-Chinese green peafowl (Pavo muticus imperator)
Indochinese swamphen (Malaysian swamphen) (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis (Syn.: Porphyrio indicus viridis))
Lesser adjutant (Lesser adjutant stork) (Leptoptilos javanicus)
Lesser whistling-duck (Lesser tree duck) (Javan whistling-duck) (Dendrocygna javanica)
Little cormorant (Javanese cormorant) (Microcarbo niger (Syn.: Phalacrocorax niger))
Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
Northern pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris albirostris (Syn.: Anthracoceros coronatus albirostris))
Oriental darter (Indian darter) (Anhinga melanogaster (Syn.: Anhinga melanogaster melanogaster))
Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala (Syn.: Ibis leucocephalus))
Red-crowned crane (Japanese crane) (Manchurian crane) (Grus japonensis (Syn.: Grus viridirostris))
Ringed teal (Red-shouldered teal) (Ring-necked teal) (Callonetta leucophrys)
Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
Salmon-crested cockatoo (Moluccan cockatoo) (Cacatua moluccensis (Syn.: Plyctolophus moluccensis))
Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
Scarlet macaw (Red-and-yellow macaw) (Ara macao)
Siamese fireback (Siamese fireback pheasant) (Lophura diardi)
Spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)
Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Greater sulphur-crested cockatoo) (No Subspecific status) (Cacatua galerita)
Umbrella cockatoo (White cockatoo) (White-crested cockatoo) (Cacatua alba)
Vietnamese crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata (Syn.: Rheinardia ocellata ocellata))
White peafowl (Pavo cristatus mut. albi)

<Reptiles>
African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata (Syn.: Geochelone sulcata) (Syn.: Testudo sulcata))
Burmese rock python (Burmese python) (Python bivittatus (Syn.: Python molurus bivittatus))
Chinese water dragon (Green water dragon) (Asian water dragon) (Physignathus cocincinus)
Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus (Syn.: Varanus bengalensis nebulosus))
Common green iguana (No Subspecific status) (Iguana iguana)
Common Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus reticulatus (Syn.: Python reticulatus reticulatus))
Elongated tortoise (Yellow-headed tortoise) (Indotestudo elongata (Syn.: Testudo elongata))
Giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis (Syn.: Geoemyda grandis))
Malayan box turtle (Domed box turtle) (Domed malayan box turtle) (Cuora amboinensis kamaroma)
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
Southeast Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator macromaculatus (Syn.: Varanus salvator komaini))
Yellow-headed temple turtle (Heosemys annandalii (Syn.: Hieremys annandalii))

<Fishes>
Japanese koi carp (Koi) (Cyprinus carpio f. domestica)

Since there were a lot of wierd mixed exhibits with few signages, I am most likely missing out some species. Also, I am really not sure about subspecies for some animals, so I'll just follow the ones on Zootierliste.

The zoo lost a lot of species in the past years, especially reptile and amphibian species. Two small buildings that seemed to be a former "reptile/amphibian house"had almost no animals in the tanks.

On the other hand, the zoo has made new enclosures to pet and feed capybaras.

I've also updated Zootierliste for species that I was confident.
I will upload photos to the zoo album soon.

 

[YuanChang]

Hi!

I was planning to visit Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in July, but postponed the trip to have more time to look around. I made three visits here between August 30th and September 1st.

I'm updating with species list here.
The format is based on Zootierliste.

<Mammals>
Annamese langur (Annamese silvered langur) (Elliot`s Lutung) (Trachypithecus margarita (Syn.: Presbytis margarita))
Asian brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus)
Asian small-clawed otter (Oriental small-clawed otter) (Aonyx cinerea (Syn.: Amblyonyx cinereus))
Black giant squirrel (Malayan giant squirrel) (no subspecies-status) (Ratufa bicolor)
Black-Shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix nigripes (Syn.: Pygathrix nemaeus nigripes))
Blue wildebeest (Brindled Gnu) (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus)
Burmese brow-antlered deer (Myanmar thamin) (Panolia eldii thamin (Syn.: Rucervus eldi thamin) (Syn.: Cervus eldii thamin))
Burmese ferret-badger (Melogale personata)
Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Syn.: Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris))
Chapman's zebra (Equus quagga chapmani (Syn.: Equus burchellii chapmani))
Common chimpanzee (No Subspecific status) (Pan troglodytes)
Common eland (no subspecific status) (Tragelaphus oryx (Syn.: Taurotragus oryx))
Common hog deer (Axis porcinus porcinus (Syn.: Hyelaphus porcinus porcinus))
Domestic Farm fox (Vulpes vulpes f. domestica)
Domestic Farm raccoon (Procyon lotor f. domestica)
Domestic horse (No Breeds-status) (Equus ferus f. caballus (Syn.: Equus przewalskii f. caballus) (Syn.: Equus caballus))
Domestic sheep (Ovis orientalis f. aries (Syn.: Ovis aries aries))
Gemsbok (Southern oryx) (Oryx gazella (Syn.: Oryx gazella gazella))
Giraffe (no subspecies-status) (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Hippopotamus (Common hippopotamus) (No Subspecific status) (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Indian wild boar (Sus scrofa cristatus)
Indochinese binturong (Arctictis binturong albifrons)
Indochinese clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa (Syn.: Panthera nebulosa nebulosa))
Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri (Syn.: Panthera pardus sinensis))
Indochinese leopard cat (Common leopard cat) (Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis)
Indochinese muntjac (Annam muntjac) (Muntiacus vaginalis annamensis (Syn.: Muntiacus muntjak annamensis))
Indochinese palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus cochinensis)
Indochinese porcupine (Kloss' porcupine) (Hystrix brachyura subcristata (Syn.: Acanthion klossi))
Indochinese sambar (Rusa unicolor cambojensis (Syn.: Cervus unicolor cambojensis))
Indochinese smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata perspicillata)
Indochinese tiger (Corbett's tiger) (Panthera tigris corbetti)
Lesser Indo-Malayan chevrotain (No Subspecific status) (Tragulus kanchil)
Lion (No subspecies-status) (Panthera leo)
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
Normal Black Bear (Burma Black Bear) (Ursus thibetanus thibetanus)
Northern Raccoon (Common Raccoon) (Procyon lotor)
Owston's banded palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni (Syn.: Hemigalus owstoni))
Pileated gibbon (Capped gibbon) (Hylobates pileatus (Syn.: Hylobates lar pileatus))
Pony (No Breeds-status) (Equus ferus f. caballus (Syn.: Equus przewalskii f. caballus))
Red-cheeked gibbon (Southern Yellow-cheeked crested gibbon) (Golden-cheeked gibbon) (Nomascus gabriellae (Syn.: Hylobates concolor gabriellae))
Red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus (Syn.: Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus))
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Silvered leaf-monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus)
South-East Asian elephant (Indian elephant) (Elephas maximus indicus (Syn.: Elephas maximus bengalensis))
South-east Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii temminckii (Syn.: Profelis temminckii temminckii))
Southern white rhinoceros (Southern square-lipped rhinoceros) (Ceratotherium simum simum (Syn.: Ceratotherium simum))
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Sun bear (Nominate subspecies) (Helarctos malayanus malayanus)
Tiger (no subspecies-status) (incl. White tiger, Golden tabby) (Panthera tigris)
Vietnamese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis (Syn.: Cervus hortulorum pseudaxis))
West African pygmy goat (African dwarf goat) (Cameroon dwarf goat) (Capra aegagrus f. hircus)
Western pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis liberiensis (Syn.: Hexaprotodon liberiensis liberiensis))

<Birds>
American flamingo (Caribbean flamingo) (Red flamingo) (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber)
Annamese silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera annamensis)
Asian woollyneck (Asian woolly-necked stork) (Ciconia episcopus episcopus)
Black swan (Cygnus atratus)
Black-headed ibis (Oriental white ibis) (Threskiornis melanocephalus)
Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus (Syn.: Cygnus melanocoryphus) (Syn.: Sthenelides melancoryphus))
Blue-and-yellow macaw (Blue-and-gold macaw) (Ara ararauna)
Burmese spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha haringtoni)
Chinese goose (Knob goose) (Anser cygnoid f. domestica (Syn.: Anser cygnoides f. domestica))
Common ostrich (No Subspecific status) (Struthio camelus)
Common pheasant (Ring-necked pheasant) (No Subspecific status) (Phasianus colchicus)
Common silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera nycthemera)
Domestic fowl (Domestic chicken) (No Breed-status) (Gallus gallus f. domestica (Syn.: Gallus gallus domesticus))
Domestic guineafowl (Numida meleagris f. domestica)
Eastern Hill Myna (Java Hill Myna) (Gracula religiosa religiosa)
Eastern purple heron (Ardea purpurea manilensis)
Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Golden-necked Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus aurantiacus)
Great hornbill (Great Indian hornbill) (Buceros bicornis)
Great myna (White-vented myna) (Buffalo myna) (Acridotheres grandis (Syn.: Acridotheres fuscus grandis))
Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus (Syn.: Phoenicopterus ruber roseus) (Syn.: Phoenicopterus antiquorum))
Green pheasant (No Subspecific status) (Phasianus versicolor)
Green-winged macaw (Red-and-green macaw) (Ara chloropterus (Syn.: Ara chloroptera))
Indian peafowl (Blue peafowl) (domestic forms) (Pavo cristatus f. domestica)
Indian peafowl (Blue peafowl) (Indien Peacock) (Pavo cristatus)
Indo-Chinese green peafowl (Pavo muticus imperator)
Indochinese swamphen (Malaysian swamphen) (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis (Syn.: Porphyrio indicus viridis))
Lesser adjutant (Lesser adjutant stork) (Leptoptilos javanicus)
Lesser whistling-duck (Lesser tree duck) (Javan whistling-duck) (Dendrocygna javanica)
Little cormorant (Javanese cormorant) (Microcarbo niger (Syn.: Phalacrocorax niger))
Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
Northern pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris albirostris (Syn.: Anthracoceros coronatus albirostris))
Oriental darter (Indian darter) (Anhinga melanogaster (Syn.: Anhinga melanogaster melanogaster))
Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala (Syn.: Ibis leucocephalus))
Red-crowned crane (Japanese crane) (Manchurian crane) (Grus japonensis (Syn.: Grus viridirostris))
Ringed teal (Red-shouldered teal) (Ring-necked teal) (Callonetta leucophrys)
Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
Salmon-crested cockatoo (Moluccan cockatoo) (Cacatua moluccensis (Syn.: Plyctolophus moluccensis))
Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
Scarlet macaw (Red-and-yellow macaw) (Ara macao)
Siamese fireback (Siamese fireback pheasant) (Lophura diardi)
Spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)
Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Greater sulphur-crested cockatoo) (No Subspecific status) (Cacatua galerita)
Umbrella cockatoo (White cockatoo) (White-crested cockatoo) (Cacatua alba)
Vietnamese crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata (Syn.: Rheinardia ocellata ocellata))
White peafowl (Pavo cristatus mut. albi)

<Reptiles>
African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata (Syn.: Geochelone sulcata) (Syn.: Testudo sulcata))
Burmese rock python (Burmese python) (Python bivittatus (Syn.: Python molurus bivittatus))
Chinese water dragon (Green water dragon) (Asian water dragon) (Physignathus cocincinus)
Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus (Syn.: Varanus bengalensis nebulosus))
Common green iguana (No Subspecific status) (Iguana iguana)
Common Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus reticulatus (Syn.: Python reticulatus reticulatus))
Elongated tortoise (Yellow-headed tortoise) (Indotestudo elongata (Syn.: Testudo elongata))
Giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis (Syn.: Geoemyda grandis))
Malayan box turtle (Domed box turtle) (Domed malayan box turtle) (Cuora amboinensis kamaroma)
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
Southeast Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator macromaculatus (Syn.: Varanus salvator komaini))
Yellow-headed temple turtle (Heosemys annandalii (Syn.: Hieremys annandalii))

<Fishes>
Japanese koi carp (Koi) (Cyprinus carpio f. domestica)

Since there were a lot of wierd mixed exhibits with few signages, I am most likely missing out some species. Also, I am really not sure about subspecies for some animals, so I'll just follow the ones on Zootierliste.

The zoo lost a lot of species in the past years, especially reptile and amphibian species. Two small buildings that seemed to be a former "reptile/amphibian house"had almost no animals in the tanks.

On the other hand, the zoo has made new enclosures to pet and feed capybaras.

I've also updated Zootierliste for species that I was confident.
I will upload photos to the zoo album soon.

The individuals they identified as Silvered Leaf-Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus) actually appear to be Germain's Langur.

 

[Toki]

The individuals they identified as Silvered Leaf-Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus) actually appear to be Germain's Langur.

Thanks!

To be honest, I can't distinguish the two species based on appearance so I was just following the signs.

Do you know how to distinguish them?

 

[YuanChang]

Thanks!

To be honest, I can't distinguish the two species based on appearance so I was just following the signs.

Do you know how to distinguish them?

Generally speaking, this is not difficult. Germain's Langur has light-colored hair on both sides of its face, resembling white cheeks, while the face of the Silvery Lutung often appears entirely silvery-gray. As for the Annamese Langur, it has white cheek hair similar to that of Germain's Langur, but its entire face is not as triangular as Germain's Langur's; instead, it is more rounded.

This is an individual labeled as Silvery Lutung that I photographed in Saigon. In fact, it appears to have distinct white cheek hair, making it look like a Germain's Langur.

This is an individual from Nanning Zoo. The population in this zoo has been clearly identified as Germain's Langur, with distinct white cheek hair and a noticeably triangular-shaped head as its prominent features.

This is a wild Silvery Lutung I photographed in Borneo. It is generally dark silvery-gray overall, with a relatively rounded head. Additionally, the crests on the heads of Silvery Lutungs from the Malay Peninsula are usually significantly taller and sharper than those from East Malaysia or Indonesia, giving their entire heads a more triangular shape. This type is sometimes recognized as a separate species: Selangor Silvered Lutung (Trachypithecus selangorensis).

 

[Thomas]

So no Pangolins?

 

[YuanChang]

So no Pangolins?

The Sunda pangolin has not been on display in recent years, so you won't be able to see it there.

 

[Raikou]

So no Pangolins?

The pangolins are believed to be living in the backstage area of Saigon Zoo, which has successfully bred Sunda pangolins in the past few years.

 

[Haliaeetus]

The pangolins are believed to be living in the backstage area of Saigon Zoo, which has successfully bred Sunda pangolins in the past few years.

A good news for this species, once supposed to be impossible to breed in a zoo

 

[Toki]

Generally speaking, this is not difficult. Germain's Langur has light-colored hair on both sides of its face, resembling white cheeks, while the face of the Silvery Lutung often appears entirely silvery-gray. As for the Annamese Langur, it has white cheek hair similar to that of Germain's Langur, but its entire face is not as triangular as Germain's Langur's; instead, it is more rounded.

This is an individual labeled as Silvery Lutung that I photographed in Saigon. In fact, it appears to have distinct white cheek hair, making it look like a Germain's Langur.

This is an individual from Nanning Zoo. The population in this zoo has been clearly identified as Germain's Langur, with distinct white cheek hair and a noticeably triangular-shaped head as its prominent features.

This is a wild Silvery Lutung I photographed in Borneo. It is generally dark silvery-gray overall, with a relatively rounded head. Additionally, the crests on the heads of Silvery Lutungs from the Malay Peninsula are usually significantly taller and sharper than those from East Malaysia or Indonesia, giving their entire heads a more triangular shape. This type is sometimes recognized as a separate species: Selangor Silvered Lutung (Trachypithecus selangorensis).

Thanks for the clarification!
It's much easier to understand with these images and explanation.
Yes, in fact they look like mislabeled Germain's Langurs...

 

[Jakub]

@Toki
No more Grey-shanked douc langur in Saigon ?

 

[Toki]

@Toki
No more Grey-shanked douc langur in Saigon ?

Hi, I only saw black shanked and red shanked, which were both signed.

I didn't see any gray shanked, but I could have missed it if it was not signed and mixed up with one of the two species.

 

[Thomas]

So I am in Vietnam and what should I expect to see at this Zoo?

 

[Toki]

Hi!

I was planning to visit Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in July, but postponed the trip to have more time to look around. I made three visits here between August 30th and September 1st.

I'm updating with species list here.
The format is based on Zootierliste.

<Mammals>
Annamese langur (Annamese silvered langur) (Elliot`s Lutung) (Trachypithecus margarita (Syn.: Presbytis margarita))
Asian brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus)
Asian small-clawed otter (Oriental small-clawed otter) (Aonyx cinerea (Syn.: Amblyonyx cinereus))
Black giant squirrel (Malayan giant squirrel) (no subspecies-status) (Ratufa bicolor)
Black-Shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix nigripes (Syn.: Pygathrix nemaeus nigripes))
Blue wildebeest (Brindled Gnu) (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus)
Burmese brow-antlered deer (Myanmar thamin) (Panolia eldii thamin (Syn.: Rucervus eldi thamin) (Syn.: Cervus eldii thamin))
Burmese ferret-badger (Melogale personata)
Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Syn.: Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris))
Chapman's zebra (Equus quagga chapmani (Syn.: Equus burchellii chapmani))
Common chimpanzee (No Subspecific status) (Pan troglodytes)
Common eland (no subspecific status) (Tragelaphus oryx (Syn.: Taurotragus oryx))
Common hog deer (Axis porcinus porcinus (Syn.: Hyelaphus porcinus porcinus))
Domestic Farm fox (Vulpes vulpes f. domestica)
Domestic Farm raccoon (Procyon lotor f. domestica)
Domestic horse (No Breeds-status) (Equus ferus f. caballus (Syn.: Equus przewalskii f. caballus) (Syn.: Equus caballus))
Domestic sheep (Ovis orientalis f. aries (Syn.: Ovis aries aries))
Gemsbok (Southern oryx) (Oryx gazella (Syn.: Oryx gazella gazella))
Giraffe (no subspecies-status) (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Hippopotamus (Common hippopotamus) (No Subspecific status) (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Indian wild boar (Sus scrofa cristatus)
Indochinese binturong (Arctictis binturong albifrons)
Indochinese clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa (Syn.: Panthera nebulosa nebulosa))
Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri (Syn.: Panthera pardus sinensis))
Indochinese leopard cat (Common leopard cat) (Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis)
Indochinese muntjac (Annam muntjac) (Muntiacus vaginalis annamensis (Syn.: Muntiacus muntjak annamensis))
Indochinese palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus cochinensis)
Indochinese porcupine (Kloss' porcupine) (Hystrix brachyura subcristata (Syn.: Acanthion klossi))
Indochinese sambar (Rusa unicolor cambojensis (Syn.: Cervus unicolor cambojensis))
Indochinese smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata perspicillata)
Indochinese tiger (Corbett's tiger) (Panthera tigris corbetti)
Lesser Indo-Malayan chevrotain (No Subspecific status) (Tragulus kanchil)
Lion (No subspecies-status) (Panthera leo)
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
Normal Black Bear (Burma Black Bear) (Ursus thibetanus thibetanus)
Northern Raccoon (Common Raccoon) (Procyon lotor)
Owston's banded palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni (Syn.: Hemigalus owstoni))
Pileated gibbon (Capped gibbon) (Hylobates pileatus (Syn.: Hylobates lar pileatus))
Pony (No Breeds-status) (Equus ferus f. caballus (Syn.: Equus przewalskii f. caballus))
Red-cheeked gibbon (Southern Yellow-cheeked crested gibbon) (Golden-cheeked gibbon) (Nomascus gabriellae (Syn.: Hylobates concolor gabriellae))
Red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus (Syn.: Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus))
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Silvered leaf-monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus)
South-East Asian elephant (Indian elephant) (Elephas maximus indicus (Syn.: Elephas maximus bengalensis))
South-east Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii temminckii (Syn.: Profelis temminckii temminckii))
Southern white rhinoceros (Southern square-lipped rhinoceros) (Ceratotherium simum simum (Syn.: Ceratotherium simum))
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Sun bear (Nominate subspecies) (Helarctos malayanus malayanus)
Tiger (no subspecies-status) (incl. White tiger, Golden tabby) (Panthera tigris)
Vietnamese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis (Syn.: Cervus hortulorum pseudaxis))
West African pygmy goat (African dwarf goat) (Cameroon dwarf goat) (Capra aegagrus f. hircus)
Western pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis liberiensis (Syn.: Hexaprotodon liberiensis liberiensis))

<Birds>
American flamingo (Caribbean flamingo) (Red flamingo) (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber)
Annamese silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera annamensis)
Asian woollyneck (Asian woolly-necked stork) (Ciconia episcopus episcopus)
Black swan (Cygnus atratus)
Black-headed ibis (Oriental white ibis) (Threskiornis melanocephalus)
Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus (Syn.: Cygnus melanocoryphus) (Syn.: Sthenelides melancoryphus))
Blue-and-yellow macaw (Blue-and-gold macaw) (Ara ararauna)
Burmese spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha haringtoni)
Chinese goose (Knob goose) (Anser cygnoid f. domestica (Syn.: Anser cygnoides f. domestica))
Common ostrich (No Subspecific status) (Struthio camelus)
Common pheasant (Ring-necked pheasant) (No Subspecific status) (Phasianus colchicus)
Common silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera nycthemera)
Domestic fowl (Domestic chicken) (No Breed-status) (Gallus gallus f. domestica (Syn.: Gallus gallus domesticus))
Domestic guineafowl (Numida meleagris f. domestica)
Eastern Hill Myna (Java Hill Myna) (Gracula religiosa religiosa)
Eastern purple heron (Ardea purpurea manilensis)
Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Golden-necked Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus aurantiacus)
Great hornbill (Great Indian hornbill) (Buceros bicornis)
Great myna (White-vented myna) (Buffalo myna) (Acridotheres grandis (Syn.: Acridotheres fuscus grandis))
Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus (Syn.: Phoenicopterus ruber roseus) (Syn.: Phoenicopterus antiquorum))
Green pheasant (No Subspecific status) (Phasianus versicolor)
Green-winged macaw (Red-and-green macaw) (Ara chloropterus (Syn.: Ara chloroptera))
Indian peafowl (Blue peafowl) (domestic forms) (Pavo cristatus f. domestica)
Indian peafowl (Blue peafowl) (Indien Peacock) (Pavo cristatus)
Indo-Chinese green peafowl (Pavo muticus imperator)
Indochinese swamphen (Malaysian swamphen) (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis (Syn.: Porphyrio indicus viridis))
Lesser adjutant (Lesser adjutant stork) (Leptoptilos javanicus)
Lesser whistling-duck (Lesser tree duck) (Javan whistling-duck) (Dendrocygna javanica)
Little cormorant (Javanese cormorant) (Microcarbo niger (Syn.: Phalacrocorax niger))
Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
Northern pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris albirostris (Syn.: Anthracoceros coronatus albirostris))
Oriental darter (Indian darter) (Anhinga melanogaster (Syn.: Anhinga melanogaster melanogaster))
Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala (Syn.: Ibis leucocephalus))
Red-crowned crane (Japanese crane) (Manchurian crane) (Grus japonensis (Syn.: Grus viridirostris))
Ringed teal (Red-shouldered teal) (Ring-necked teal) (Callonetta leucophrys)
Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
Salmon-crested cockatoo (Moluccan cockatoo) (Cacatua moluccensis (Syn.: Plyctolophus moluccensis))
Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
Scarlet macaw (Red-and-yellow macaw) (Ara macao)
Siamese fireback (Siamese fireback pheasant) (Lophura diardi)
Spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)
Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Greater sulphur-crested cockatoo) (No Subspecific status) (Cacatua galerita)
Umbrella cockatoo (White cockatoo) (White-crested cockatoo) (Cacatua alba)
Vietnamese crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata (Syn.: Rheinardia ocellata ocellata))
White peafowl (Pavo cristatus mut. albi)

<Reptiles>
African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata (Syn.: Geochelone sulcata) (Syn.: Testudo sulcata))
Burmese rock python (Burmese python) (Python bivittatus (Syn.: Python molurus bivittatus))
Chinese water dragon (Green water dragon) (Asian water dragon) (Physignathus cocincinus)
Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus (Syn.: Varanus bengalensis nebulosus))
Common green iguana (No Subspecific status) (Iguana iguana)
Common Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus reticulatus (Syn.: Python reticulatus reticulatus))
Elongated tortoise (Yellow-headed tortoise) (Indotestudo elongata (Syn.: Testudo elongata))
Giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis (Syn.: Geoemyda grandis))
Malayan box turtle (Domed box turtle) (Domed malayan box turtle) (Cuora amboinensis kamaroma)
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
Southeast Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator macromaculatus (Syn.: Varanus salvator komaini))
Yellow-headed temple turtle (Heosemys annandalii (Syn.: Hieremys annandalii))

<Fishes>
Japanese koi carp (Koi) (Cyprinus carpio f. domestica)

Since there were a lot of wierd mixed exhibits with few signages, I am most likely missing out some species. Also, I am really not sure about subspecies for some animals, so I'll just follow the ones on Zootierliste.

The zoo lost a lot of species in the past years, especially reptile and amphibian species. Two small buildings that seemed to be a former "reptile/amphibian house"had almost no animals in the tanks.

On the other hand, the zoo has made new enclosures to pet and feed capybaras.

I've also updated Zootierliste for species that I was confident.
I will upload photos to the zoo album soon.

@Thomas
This is the latest species list from last month.
There might be a few changes, but I hope this helps.

 

[Thomas]

@Thomas
This is the latest species list from last month.
There might be a few changes, but I hope this helps.

Thanks and it’s going to be a field day for me, because they are a lot of species I haven’t seen before.

 

[Thomas]

Here were some videos when staff of Yorkshire Wildlife Park visited the zoo and help with some animal habitat renovations.

 

[Thomas]

So I went to the zoo two times and I saw the habitats are small and cramp in modern standards, but make up for naturalistic garden backgrounds and welfare.

I feel some are repetitive of the same species like Peafowl, Green Iguana, Python, Turtles, and such like they have a surplus population of these animals.

 

[YANG Zhuofan]

Hi, I only saw black shanked and red shanked, which were both signed.

I didn't see any gray shanked, but I could have missed it if it was not signed and mixed up with one of the two species.

When I visited in June, a Grey-shanked douc langur and a red-shanked douc langu were in the rightmost cage.

 

[Thomas]

A Business Report from January-September:

Ho Chi Minh City zoo reports strong business results during January-September