Snowleopard's Mammals: A Lifetime List of Species Mammalian and Non-Mammalian

[TNT]

First of all - thanks for another great thread, @snowleopard. That said, this does highlight that a UK trip is needed Maybe 2025?

Sulawesi crested macaque, one of the recent AZA phase outs, and I'd love it if this species saw a return to AZA zoos seeing as there can be unique educational messaging in having two, closely related species that behave so differently.

I'd no idea this species was on the phase out in the US. The EEP in Europe is always looking for new holders. Has there been a reason given for the phase out (such as the European populations success)?

Are Barbary macaques the only macaques European zoos keep in walk-throughs?

As the lovely @Lafone has said above... You might want to avoid the London threads when it comes to discussing the colobus walkthrough (and before anyone mentions it, I'm well aware they aren't macaques)

 

[Mr Gharial]

I'm slightly more skeptical of lemur mixes,
(...)
Stuff like howler monkeys though, and especially any of the cercopithecines, just seem like accidents waiting to happen.

Reading this as someone who lives in the Netherlands is very funny, as "small monkey walkthrough" is almost a requirement for zoos here. And Lemurs and Howlers are last on my list of animals that make me go "hmm, this walkthrough may be a little too risky..."
Apelheul, as a primate park, is obviously an outlier with this. And has eight walkthrough areas for primates:
- Bolivian squirrel monkeys
- Barbary macaques
- Grey langurs
- The herbal forest with Coppery titis, White-faced sakis, Bearded emperor tamarins and Silvery marmosets.
- A forest with five different lemur species (Ring-tailed, Red ruffed, Black-and-white ruffed, Crowned and Red-bellied).
- The treetop path with Tamarins (Golden lion and Pied), Red howlers, White-faced sakis and Red-legged seriemas
- Nocturnal house with Grey-handed night monkeys and Two-toed sloths.
- Northern talapoins and King colobuses

Most zoos also have both a Lemur walkthrough and a NWM walkthrough, like:
Amersfoort with Lemurs (Ring-tailed) and NWM (Grey-handed night monkey, Azara's agouti and Two-toed sloth)
Artis with Lemurs (Red ruffed) and NWM (Grey-handed night monkey, Burrowing owl, Brazilian porcupine and Two-toed sloth)
Avifauna with Lemurs (Red-ruffed, Ring-tailed and Red-bellied, as well as storks, cranes and guineafowl) and NWM (Red howler, White-faced saki, Bearded emperor tamarin and Coppery titi)
Overloon with Lemurs (Ring-tailed, Black-and-white ruffed and Red ruffed) and NWM (White-faced saki, Golden lion tamarin and Two-toed sloth)
Wildlands with Lemurs (Black, Ring-tailed and Black-and-white ruffed) and NWM (Bearded emperor and Golden lion tamarins and White-faced saki)

And those are just the zoos in the Netherlands that have both.

Hearing Americans say they're nervous around Howlers and mixed Lemurs is borderline comical when my list of "Hmm, this might not be such a good idea, but if it works it works" starts and the Bison and Przewalski's horse walkthrough in Lelystad. (But to be fair, I have low self-preservation standards even for a European)

 

[Jurek7]

Barbary macaques have an opinion of being calmer than rhesus macaques, so are about the only macaques kept in walkthrough exhibits in Europe. However, I suspect that some other macaques are just as calm.

In the 1990s or 2000s in one research lab in the USA, a technician died after contacting a virus from a macaque. Afterwards all zoos in the USA decided to phase out all macaques. Talk about overreaction!

For an European in the USA, in reverse, it is shocking that alligators and black bears are tolerated in suburbs where people live and walk their children every day. And Americans generally behave perfectly intelligently around these animals. I suggest that AZA needs to sit with lawyers and design a policy which would extempt zoos from the responsibility just like the U.S. national parks and forests cannot be sued for behavior of animals on their land.

 

[PossumRoach]

I'd no idea this species was on the phase out in the US. The EEP in Europe is always looking for new holders. Has there been a reason given for the phase out (such as the European populations success)?

As Jurek7 mentioned, the herpes scare is the primary reason why the AZA is phasing out macaques other than Japanese (which if I recall correctly even had new founders imported from Japan). So EAZA will have to juggle four species at the moment. However Indianapolis did obtain a troop of Javan/crab-eating macaques within the last decade so that hopefully is a new species (also an endangered species per the IUCN) for the AZA to branch out to.

 

[birdsandbats]

Any primate walk-through is mind-blowing to me. Callithrid walk throughs are not unheard of in the US but are not common by any means (and many have been lost in recent years). There's one lemur walk-through in the entire country that I am aware of and it's closed most of the time, only being open whenever there happen to be staff present to make sure no one gets hurt. That's it.

Recently I had my first experiences with wild primates in Costa Rica. Capuchins made me really nervous and I did witness them attack people (though no one was majorly hurt). This made me further skeptical of primate walk-throughs. That being said I did also encounter wild howler and spider monkeys and they did not seem dangerous or threatening at all.

 

[15399]

As Jurek7 mentioned, the herpes scare is the primary reason why the AZA is phasing out macaques other than Japanese (which if I recall correctly even had new founders imported from Japan). So EAZA will have to juggle four species at the moment. However Indianapolis did obtain a troop of Javan/crab-eating macaques within the last decade so that hopefully is a new species (also an endangered species per the IUCN) for the AZA to branch out to.

It would be awesome if Indianapolis starts to spread crab-eating macaques to other zoos. I want to say this is a species some private places have and is used in some research facilities too. If interest existed (unfortunately I don't think it does), I also wouldn't consider it unreasonable for an import of lion-tailed or Sulawesi macaques from European zoos, as both have large populations there and could benefit from global management if interest exists.

 

[birdsandbats]

It would be awesome if Indianapolis starts to spread crab-eating macaques to other zoos. I want to say this is a species some private places have and is used in some research facilities too. If interest existed (unfortunately I don't think it does), I also wouldn't consider it unreasonable for an import of lion-tailed or Sulawesi macaques from European zoos, as both have large populations there and could benefit from global management if interest exists.

Sulawesi Macaques do not need an import, there's tons in the private trade (same with Crab-eating). Both species are seen at roadsides.

 

[15399]

Sulawesi Macaques do not need an import, there's tons in the private trade (same with Crab-eating). Both species are seen at roadsides.

I'd imagine, however, if the AZA wishes to get back into Sulawesi, they'd rather work with Europe to get individuals of a known-pedigree that are from more reputable institutions, rather than individuals from private zoos of unknown relatedness. Memphis is the only one in the AZA I'm aware of with the species, and I don't know if they are breeding or not.

 

[Great Argus]

However Indianapolis did obtain a troop of Javan/crab-eating macaques within the last decade so that hopefully is a new species (also an endangered species per the IUCN) for the AZA to branch out to.

I also wouldn't consider it unreasonable for an import of lion-tailed or Sulawesi macaques from European zoos, as both have large populations there and could benefit from global management if interest exists.

All macaques other than Japanese are listed as not recommended or phase out per AZA recommendations. Perhaps Crab-eating may manage a foothold but the biggest current issue with increasing macaque holders is their social hierarchy, with best method being splitting new troops from an oversized existing one. Macaque interest seems to remain relatively low overall, unfortunately.

Far as walkthroughs go, are there any larger primate walkthroughs left in the AZA after covid? SDZSP's Ring-tail Lemur one now houses gibbons, does Phoenix still do their squirrel monkeys? I don't even know of any others offhand.

 

[dillotest0]

I find the idea of a macaque walk-through insane, and hard to envision. Even beyond the fact they are large, potentially dangerous animals, the risk of zoonotic disease spread in both directions makes me shocked zoos would try such a thing. I'm not denying these walk-throughs have worked in European zoos, it's just a concept I have a hard time wrapping my brain across. Are Barbary macaques the only macaques European zoos keep in walk-throughs? I wonder if there's something about that species, whether it be temperament, resilience to disease, or something else that makes them suited for walk-throughs in a way other macaque species aren't.

I have only recollections of seeing this species twice - once at Edinburgh in '16 which kept them in a rock-type enclosure [now replaced by a water feature without animals] and in '23 at Terres des Singes in a forest walkthrough.
The area I recall was rather bare - sometimes monkeys would be difficult to find - so much so that I questioned how many they even had. Nevertheless I did find a few - who were largely inconsequential around humans. Or at least humans who respected the rules of nature and institution.

 

[birdsandbats]

All macaques other than Japanese are listed as not recommended or phase out per AZA recommendations. Perhaps Crab-eating may manage a foothold but the biggest current issue with increasing macaque holders is their social hierarchy, with best method being splitting new troops from an oversized existing one. Macaque interest seems to remain relatively low overall, unfortunately.

Far as walkthroughs go, are there any larger primate walkthroughs left in the AZA after covid? SDZSP's Ring-tail Lemur one now houses gibbons, does Phoenix still do their squirrel monkeys? I don't even know of any others offhand.

Omaha's lemur walkthrough was the one I referenced earlier.

 

[CMP]

Any primate walk-through is mind-blowing to me. Callithrid walk throughs are not unheard of in the US but are not common by any means (and many have been lost in recent years). There's one lemur walk-through in the entire country that I am aware of and it's closed most of the time, only being open whenever there happen to be staff present to make sure no one gets hurt. That's it.

does Phoenix still do their squirrel monkeys?

Yes, there still is the Squirrel Monkey walkthrough at Phoenix Zoo, but this one is also quite regulated, and the monkeys are at a fairly low density, mostly staying in the canopy.

 

[15399]

Far as walkthroughs go, are there any larger primate walkthroughs left in the AZA after covid? SDZSP's Ring-tail Lemur one now houses gibbons, does Phoenix still do their squirrel monkeys? I don't even know of any others offhand.

Moody Gardens should have free-ranging sakis in their Rainforest pyramid, or at least I haven't heard that they've stopped. The only other walk-throughs with primates I'm aware of are with callitrichids or titi monkeys (and I don't know if the titi monkey one is still happening).

 

[Fallax]

It's always super interesting to hear North Americans on the forum being blown away by primate walkthroughs when on this side of the Atlantic they are EVERYWHERE... especially for lemurs in which almost every major zoo has one now. It's a shame you all get to miss out on them but all the more reason you should travel to Europe

I find the idea of a macaque walk-through insane, and hard to envision. Even beyond the fact they are large, potentially dangerous animals, the risk of zoonotic disease spread in both directions makes me shocked zoos would try such a thing. I'm not denying these walk-throughs have worked in European zoos, it's just a concept I have a hard time wrapping my brain across. Are Barbary macaques the only macaques European zoos keep in walk-throughs? I wonder if there's something about that species, whether it be temperament, resilience to disease, or something else that makes them suited for walk-throughs in a way other macaque species aren't.

As @Lafone already mentioned, the animals in Trentham Monkey Forest in England basically live unsupervised. The whole "zoo" is basically just a fenced off bit of woodland where the macaques are left to do whatever with only a few people around to supervise visitors. They seem to do well too, with at least 100 monkeys present usually including young and I think they have access to the forest year round? Certainly, the climate in the West Midlands is not too different from the peaks of the Atlas Mountains and the species did live in Britain in the Pleistocene. Anyway, its definitely worth visiting as a cool novelty for any British ZooChatters.

 

[snowleopard]

This has been a great discussion about walk-through exhibits and, as many have pointed out, they are extremely common in European zoos. I see that @Mr Gharial listed an incredible 18 primate walk-through exhibits at only 8 Dutch zoos. It would take months to research and list all the amazing walk-throughs that are present in literally hundreds of European zoos. Of all the many differences between North American and European zoos, the classic case of walk-through animal enclosures is perhaps the number one most shocking contrast between the continents.

I've told this story before but it's worth repeating here. On my very first day of touring zoos in Europe, just before I embarked on seeing 95 zoos in a month in the summer of 2019, I was at Natuurpark Lelystad (Netherlands) and it's a sprawling, 'wildpark' type zoo. I came across a walk-through exhibit of several acres for Wisent and Przewalski's Horses. It was astonishing and I didn't know if it was legitimate. Sure enough, I strolled through and wasn't gored to death.

Here are two Wisent, in a herd of perhaps 8-10, that were fairly close to me:

Here's a photo from @vogelcommando and his path was blocked by Wisent in 2016. He survived because I spent a day touring zoos with him in 2019!

Photos by @vogelcommando

At the same zoo was a multi-acre Wild Boar exhibit with minimal, low fencing:

To top things off, in several areas there are little wooden frames that would allow someone to easily step into the exhibit. It all just seems so nonchalant.

A few days later, I was at Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) and there was no stand-off barrier outside the Golden-necked Cassowary exhibit and it was possible for some visitors to pet the bird if they wished.

Photos by @vogelcommando

Then there was the open-topped Piranha tank set in the floor at Bergen aan Zee Aquarium (Netherlands) right beside the introductory walkway.

At that point, I recovered from my shock and proceeded to see plenty of European zoos with potentially dangerous and hazardous environments. There's a real laissez faire attitude at many places, with the onus on the visitors to behave themselves and not cause trouble. It must work, because there are hundreds of walk-throughs everywhere and possibly zero lawsuits. If a little kid sticks their fingers into the water, then it's their fault if a piranha takes a nibble.

 

[Jurek7]

I like this thread and I hope it lets people in different countries copy each other and develop completely new things!

European walk-through exhibits are usually much larger than American ones. Barbary macaques can live without bothering visitors in a large walkthrough exhibit, but in a small cage this would be impossible. Note that walkthrough paddocks with bison in Lelystad and wild boar in Langenberg are enormous. Visitors are asked to keep the distance of at least 50 meters inside the exhibit. Such an exhibit starts to cross the border between a zoo and a wildlife reserve.

In Asia, visitors are allowed even more and expected to use their best judgement more. In much of South Asia, elephants are domestic animals and people are expected to know how to behave around them. In Bangkok Dusit Zoo, two elephants were standing on a public plaza with their mahouts. Later a young teenager climbed the calf and rode across the zoo to its night stall. And it works. For me it was a much nicer experience than any carefully themed elephant exhibit in the USA.

 

[Spike]

This is easily one of the most well put together thread on this sit!
Awesome job @snowleopard !!!

 

[Dhole dude]

Memphis is the only one in the AZA I'm aware of with the species, and I don't know if they are breeding or not.

Afaik Omaha should still have a a pair of Sulawesi Crested Macaques either behind the scenes or rotating in Gorilla Valley.

 

[snowleopard]

There's been a number of comments about Sulawesi Crested Macaques and it's interesting that I've only seen the species at 13 zoos, behind Lion-tailed, Japanese and Barbary. Yet again, here is a type of macaque that is on thin ice in North American zoos, basically on the verge of captive extinction. Yet, apparently the species is thriving in European collections, like many macaques.

1- Denver Zoo (USA) - Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2006
2- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2008
3- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2008
4- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2010
5- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2010
6- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2018
7- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) - Sulawesi Crested Macaque - 2018
8- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2019
9- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2019
10- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2019
11- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2019
12- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2022
13- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – Sulawesi Crested Macaque – 2022

I didn't see Sulawesi Crested Macaques, also commonly labeled as Celebes Crested Macaques, until 2006 at Denver Zoo (USA). Does anyone know what primate species is in this exhibit now?

Smithsonian's National Zoo (USA) had Sulawesi Crested Macaques in 2008 but perhaps 5 years later they were gone. Here's the exhibit in the 'Think Tank' primate zone:

@NAIB Volunteer

I saw the species in this exhibit at Memphis Zoo (USA) in 2008, although I think that the monkeys have been moved to a different enclosure since then. And Memphis is just about the last AZA zoo with Sulawesi Crested Macaques...a real shame! Perhaps Omaha as well, but nevertheless they are endangered in North American collections.

I saw a half-dozen Sulawesi Crested Macaques at Buffalo Zoo (USA) in 2010, now long gone.

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) had a couple in a ghastly corn-crib cage in 2010:

At that point, 8 years went by before I saw a single Sulawesi Crested Macaque with a Booted Macaque in the same small cage at the now closed Special Memories Zoo (USA).

Then it was off to Europe for me, where it's possible for Sulawesi Crested Macaques to ride around on Lowland Anoas at Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands). What a great photo!

@korhoen

And I saw the wonderful housing!

Another big, famous Dutch Zoo has the species. Here's the exhibit at Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands):

Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) has this macaque species in its extensive Asian loop.

@Perseus6

And of course the behemoth that is called Pairi Daiza (Belgium) has Sulawesi Crested Macaques:

All 3 photos by @KevinB

I saw the species in a spacious, impressive exhibit at Givskud Zoo (Denmark) that has a very low visitor glass fence but a large water moat.

And, lastly, Boras Zoo (Sweden) has a well-furnished island home for this type of macaque.

@Kwambeze

Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos (64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 105 zoos (62 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Gorillas - 74
Orangutans - 74
Chimpanzees - 64
Baboons - 41 zoos (31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)
Mandrills - 41
Lion-tailed Macaques - 25
Japanese Macaques - 23
Barbary Macaques - 16
Bonobos - 14
Sulawesi Crested Macaques - 13
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6

 

[MGolka]

That former macaque exhibit at Denver is now a Guereza Colobus exhibit per my last visit to Denver in 2022.

I'm surprised you didn't see the group at Omaha in one of your earliest visits here! They were in the original gorilla house and were there for a long time until COVID shut the zoo down and they started removing that portion for now BTS primate holding as part of Gorilla Valley renovations.