Must it be a space that is undeveloped within the Zoo's location, like one of the old habitats where the Smoky the Bear Sign is?
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Based on the wording in the press release, it seems like this future Arabian leopard exhibit is still highly conceptual at the moment and given that the zoo moves as a snails pace when it comes to new projects, I wouldn't expect it for at least several years. Regardless, it's quite exciting to see a collaborative form of animal diplomacy that actually has real conservation value.
TheGytrash
Well-Known Member
There is some unused space on the Asia Trail. I could see an Arabian leopard exhibit potentially going up there. Or they could retool one of the three big cat exhibits to be enclosed on top in some way, since the lion and tiger populations are pretty low, but I don’t see that happening. I’ve been saying for years that I wished the zoo would add leopards or jaguars or snow leopards, so I’m really excited!
I saw the new bat-eared foxes two weeks ago, and they’re VERY cute. I wonder when the lynxes will arrive?
I saw the new bat-eared foxes two weeks ago, and they’re VERY cute. I wonder when the lynxes will arrive?
This is just conjecture, but the two best spots seem to be the former Bison Exhibit and the empty (former smokey bear?) exhibit a bit past the Maras. The former Bison Exhibit is definitely big enough given that it had Bison before, and being between the Asia and Africa trails thematically works. However it would need to be modified a lot for the leopards and it would potentially work better for some new ungulate species. The former smokey bear exhibit would probably also work, and it is better adapted for a carnivore species than the Bison exhibit. However it would require even more renovation given its been abandoned as long as I can remember and a leopard would be a bit out of place between the Maras and America trail.
TheGytrash
Well-Known Member
The bison enclosure was near the top of the zoo by the “Zoo in Your Backyard” exhibit and the food court. The bison left within the past year or so. The exhibit was always a little small for them and only displayed them for about 10 years.
Ah, thanks for the reminder! It’s a shame there isn’t space for them given they’re a crucial part of the American conservation story.
I reserve judgement here on this new endeavour as there has been a project endorsed by the conservation NGO Panthera and Panthera for a number of years. There has never been any discourse on bringing leopards outside the Arabian Peninsula ex situ. In fact ATM there is a large in situ breeding station in KSA and with a new one planned and already part in operation in an area slated to be one of the first protected conservation areas targetted for restoration habitat purposes and reintroduction of Arabian leopards.
NOTA BENE:
I talk with you all more ... as I have intimate knowledge about the Arabian leopards in KSA not for sharing here ... when I have the time.
Must dash now to go to work soon!!!! Just now, the mobile alarm was ringing and I must shut down my laptop now.
That is not true. There was a plan some years back of adding Arabian Leopard as an EEP in Europe. For whatever reason that seems to have fallen through. I've heard that the EU's strict rules on importing wildlife from Africa and the Middle East may have killed it, but I think that was just conjecture.
Either way, I do think it would be fantastic if US zoos could take on a second Leopard subspecies program, given that the EAZA managed FIVE and AZA currently only manages one and actively phased-out Persian Leopard. There are a number of US zoos with existing or upcoming African exhibits using Amur Leopards as stand-ins for African. I've always said that using Persian would have been a more suitable substitution, and now Arabian could be an even better choice! That's all getting a bit ahead of things, though, as the first cats haven't even arrived yet and who knows how many animals are available to be sent to the US. I've heard Sharjah as something like 30-40 cats so I have to imagine they're reaching capacity. I'll be honest in that I know precious little about what cooperation there is between Middle Eastern countries in managing a formal breeding program for this subspecies, so I'm not sure if cats from both KSA and the UAE are on the table.
~Thylo
It is true in so far as at the time the Arabian Peninsula region was an integral part of the EAZA/EEP including some of the participating zoos in the Arabian Peninsula restricted zoos and breeding centers holding and breeding Arabian leopard. This essentially excluded KSA's own national program that was at the time just restricted to its on the Red Sea coast facility as well as some of the Yemeni collections. While Sharjah is and was a member of EAZA and Al Ain Zoo, UAE was for a time no other facilities with Arabian leopards, many private, ever participatie in EAZA. So, there has been little sense in expanding the program beyond the Arabian Peninsula.
Since before Al Ain Zoo, UAE was booted out by EAZA some other developments in the region have led to a regional Zoo Association being established. Formally, as far as I know they do not currently have much in managed breeding programs and the one for Arabian leopards is a loose association of participating institutions many of which are private and attached to national Amir / petrodollar individuals owned facilities not accessible to the general public.
EAZA has managed quite a few leopard species (clouded, snow ... the regular leopards) programs according to available spaces and interest in the region and for Panthera pardus has traditionally managed more than just the one leopard subspecies. This is true for the Continental part of Europe and part of Eurasia: Amur leopard, North China/Chinese and Persian leopards. This has worked fine and I do not believe at this time that EAZA will propose a further program given the rather singular situation in the Middle East/Arabian Peninsula.
As far AZA: I don't think that the AZA is in any position to create a further leopard breeding program full stop. The trend/policy within AZA over the last decade - and this has not changed - has been to phase out all but the Amur leopard subspecies from North American zoos. This trend/policy cited has at various times been the topic of many North American forumsters and those beyond and ... ay many of us have cited how from entire family groups like antelope, deer, wild cattle ... et cetera ... et cetera how this has reduced the number of species of conservation concern being managed by AZA. The general perception has always been one of resigned apathy or concern for the role zoos have ex situ for threatened and endangered species and also one of profound and heartfelt sadness.
Now I am somehow not convinced that even for the critically endangered Arabian leopard that current AZA trend/policy is going to change any time soon! Plus ..., on a personal note ... nor do I think it is at all in the interest of species conservation nor a priority to pursue. The penultimate goal now is that all the conservation activities ex situ, regional policies with endangered species in the region and restoration ecology the penultimate goal is now on pooling genetics regionally and working towards re-establishing sustainable and well protected wild populations of Arabian leopards within prime range countries.
Most Arabian leopards in the region currently are of Omani/Yemeni descent/origins anyway. This safe for a a very few individuals from other Arabian Peninsula countries (KSA ...) as pretty much everywhere else including KSA, UAE and Jordan Arabian leopards have more or less disappeared or been eradicated completely. The priority must now be restoring populations in the wild and range states given that many countries now have operating re-establishment programs for larger antelope and small prey species like ibex and gazelles. ... and starting breed for release initiatives in countries like KSA and UAE first and foremost.
The source population to allow for reestablishment is there ... and to export any out of the region in my personal view is counterproductive and taking away from the last 20-25 years that regional cooperation between local and national conservation authorities in the region has existed. That présence is now robust and already several NGO organisations from primarily European countries (France, UK, others). One of these NGO's - Panthera - along with the French national authorities have recruited experienced and well seasoned staff both local nationals as well as Thaise from European countries long associated with conservation work in the region has been the prime driver for the establishing a restoration program in KSA, moving away from just breeding accidentally to a fully managed breeding program and now effectively working towards full release within the next 5-10 years in the central western mountain range of KSA from their - ATM - current 2 full breeding operations.
NOTA BENE:
Personally, - I am talking off personal experience and knowledge of conservation work in the region and knowing quite a few individuals currently involved locally, regionally and internationally with this KSA program -, I don't think it would be helping much as to which is already there and IMPO is effectively taking away petrodollars to what is already in train in KSA!!
CONCLUSION:
Now You may not agree with me which is just totally fine!
(I could say, observe and comment a lot more here, but then that would and should warrant an entirely new thread that in my perception is just to continue and moreat home in the Arabian Peninsula/Middle East parts' of this forum or national KSA/UAE/Oman/Yemen threads. Amen!
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
2 new alpacas, Coffee Cup and Rainstorm, have arrived at the zoo.
Zoo Welcomes Alpacas ‘Rainstorm’ and ‘Coffee Cup’
Zoo Welcomes Alpacas ‘Rainstorm’ and ‘Coffee Cup’
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Six North American canvasback ducklings hatched on May 19th.
Hello, Ducklings! Zoo Welcomes Six Canvasback Babies
Hello, Ducklings! Zoo Welcomes Six Canvasback Babies
In WTOP reporter Matt Kaufaxs latest episode of his "Matt About Town" series he went behind the scenes with one of the zoos big cat keepers, and in it they revealed the zoo recently acquired 0.1 Amur tiger "Coba" from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
It can be like tigers where zoos can pick one of two leopard species based on the weather
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
A litter of eight black-footed ferret kits were born on at the CBI on May 28th.
Black-Footed Ferrets Born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute | Smithsonian Institution
Black-Footed Ferrets Born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute | Smithsonian Institution
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
1.0 California sea lion Nick will be returned to the Denver Zoo this fall: Sea Lions Make a Splash - Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
Nick was rescued by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in 2007, and arrived at the Denver Zoo the following year. He was transferred to the National Zoo on October 6th, 2023 to facilitate reconstruction of Denver's sea lion habitat.
Nick was rescued by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in 2007, and arrived at the Denver Zoo the following year. He was transferred to the National Zoo on October 6th, 2023 to facilitate reconstruction of Denver's sea lion habitat.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
0.1 sloth bear Vicki has been temporarily moved to the Abilene Zoo in Texas.
Abilene Zoo
Abilene Zoo
lt would’ve been cool to get a bigger leopard subspecies like Persian or Sri Lankan. I understand the zoo only has so much space but feel like they have a great opportunity to add more hoofstock. They could make the former Smoky the Bear exhibit into a mixed species pampas exhibit with Guanaco, Giant Anteater and move the Rheas from the Bird House. There’s also an empty area with a hill near the edge of the elephant exhibit that would be great for Gaur, Takin, Barasingha or Pere David’s Deer. I heard at one point the zoo wanted to bring back Indian rhinos but rarer less often seen hoofstock could be a better option.
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As for animals for the Africa Trail I think it’d be great to theme it to NZP history highlighting which animals were gifts like Dan the Grevy’s Zebra and the Somali Ostriches which were gifts to Theodore Roosevelt and of course Billy the Pygmy Hippo! Bringing back Lesser Kudu and Dama Gazelles to highlight NZP’s work with Sahara Conservation would be good and you can include the Abyssinian Hornbills and bring back Marabou Storks and Crowned Cranes. Overall the Africa Trail was very Horn of Africa species focused so theres some cool opportunities for theming there.