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

[snowleopard]

Spider monkey naming is certainly confusing! For what it is worth, some of these names are synonymous with each other. Black-handed spider monkey and Geoffroy's spider monkeys both refer to the same species, for instance (Ateles geoffroyi). "Black-headed", "Black", and "Colombian Black" likely all refer to Ateles fusciceps (in many cases ssp rufiventris, which the AZA manages). "Brown Headed" could possibly refer to fusciceps too, and in the case of Cleveland that is likely the species they are referring to as it's the species they currently keep. Some of the older holdings of "Brown" spider monkey are possibly A. hybridus, a species which uses that common name and that I'm not aware of any current holders of, although Philadelphia housed them in recent years. It's possible that Philadelphia's "white-bellied" refers to this same species, as that is a morphological characteristic of them.

I appreciate your insight and I did know some of this information already. For example, all the 'Geoffroy's Spider Monkeys' that I've seen over the years I typed out as 'Black-handed' on this thread just for the sake of continuity. I also left off the name 'Variegated' as it was used at a number of American zoos. The 'Brown' Spider Monkeys are the most confusing, especially because in some cases I'm going back 10 or 15 years and so it's very hard to decipher the exact species I saw many moons ago. The signs at certain zoos are useless, although zoo nerds have been extremely helpful so far and I hold that in high regard. Thanks everyone!

Some of the other primates (gibbons, macaques, mangabeys, capuchins, etc.) are basically 100% figured out and done. However, it would be nice to have a definitive list for spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys and douroucoulis, if anyone wants to take a stab at that. It makes me chuckle that even from 2006 to 2024, the number of taxonomic changes has been incredible. Perhaps some of the animals I saw back in the 2000s now go by completely different names, or have been either 'lumped' or 'split' several times. It's kind of crazy to even attempt what I'm doing, but it's a lot of fun and has provided me with some surprises. I would never have guessed, adding up all the macaques and capuchins, that I'd be at a combined 19 species. Or that I've seen gorillas and orangutans at the exact same number of zoos (74). Or just how rare Geladas and Drills are. More to come!

 

[ZooElephantMan]

The most recent AZA document on Aotids was a studbook from 2013... which lists individuals of five different species present, in addition to hybrids and ones of an unknown species. Granted, I'd be very surprised if all five species are still around today. The only species I am 100% certain is still around is Nancy Ma's, as Monkey Jungle in Florida has a large colony and has sent some individuals to a number of other facilities (including AZA zoos). There are definitely individuals other than Nancy Ma's out there, though I don't know what species and/or if they even are a pure species.

Wow, I had no clue there was a large captive population of Night Monkeys living in Florida! I always assumed aotids were doomed to be phased out from US zoos, but this has given me some hope.

 

[15399]

Wow, I had no clue there was a large captive population of Night Monkeys living in Florida! I always assumed aotids were doomed to be phased out from US zoos, but this has given me some hope.

Indeed, everything to do with the presence of primates in US zoos is complicated by the fact there are essentially three distinct, but interconnected, captive populations of primates:

• Primates in AZA zoos: Typically are part of managed populations (or the remnants of once managed programs), and are usually of known ancestry. Generally are purebred to the species or subspecies level and are collectively managed for genetic diversity.
• Primates in non-AZA zoos: Generally high primate diversity, however in many cases they are of unknown ancestry, and could be hybrids/generic individuals (hybrids are common in some genera, such as Aotus and Chlorocebus).
• Primates at research facilities: Generally, facilities have large quantities of a small number of species. Species are selected due to being a particularly good model organism for whatever is being studied, whether that be focused on animal behavior, biomedical research, vaccine/cosmetic testing, or something else entirely.

While which species are common in each of these three areas differ, these are not three mutually exclusive groups. Some facilities that do a lot of research work quite closely with AZA facilities (Duke Lemur Center is perhaps the best example of this), and others have at times given surplus or retired research animals to zoos, accredited or otherwise (e.g., a number of Geoffroy's marmosets in the AZA were sourced from the University of Nebraska's Callitrichid Research Center). Some unaccredited zoos work closely with the AZA as sustainability partners (e.g., Metro Richmond Zoo serves in this role for multiple SSPs), or sometimes take surplus animals from the SSPs. Since each of these groups though have different philosophies and different needs when it comes to which animals to keep, it can create an interesting dichotomy between what species are kept where, and between the perceptions of which species are common in the US compared to what species actually are.

 

[birdsandbats]

Since each of these groups though have different philosophies and different needs when it comes to which animals to keep, it can create an interesting dichotomy between what species are kept where, and between the perceptions of which species are common in the US compared to what species actually are.

Not primates, of course, but one of the best examples of this is Aoudad. This species is perceived by most ZooChatters as being relatively uncommon in the US, since they are fairly rare in AZA facilities. But that isn't the case. It's actually one of our most common zoo animals, as this species is ubiquitous in unaccredited zoos. It's legitimately on the level of Ring-tailed Lemur or other extremely common species, but it just isn't seen much by ZooChatters who focus primarily on visiting AZA facilities.

 

[15399]

Not primates, of course, but one of the best examples of this is Aoudad. This species is perceived by most ZooChatters as being relatively uncommon in the US, since they are fairly rare in AZA facilities. But that isn't the case. It's actually one of our most common zoo animals, as this species is ubiquitous in unaccredited zoos. It's legitimately on the level of Ring-tailed Lemur or other extremely common species, but it just isn't seen much by ZooChatters who focus primarily on visiting AZA facilities.

Indeed, there are some ungulates and other animals too which are much more common in non-AZA zoos or AZA zoos. What makes primates more complicated is the inclusion of a third group: animals at research facilities. A lot more research happens with primates than with, say, non-domestic ungulates, and in the case of primate research facilities the species that are commonly used are distinct from both the animals common in the AZA and non-AZA public zoos. Rhesus macaques may be the best example for one of these- as very few zoos display them but they are amongst the most common research primates.

 

[snowleopard]

Titi Monkeys are a good example of a type of primate that had very few species until recent years, and now there's been an explosion of them in terms of the species and subspecies recognized by some (but not all!) individuals and zoological facilities. I've seen Titi Monkeys at 19 zoos, with all 5 of the European zoos having Coppery Titis and almost all the North American zoos having White-eared Titis. The mention of Red-bellied Titis at Smithsonian's National Zoo gives me pause, as they are also called Dusky Titis and I feel as if I've seen that label at other zoos. I'm totally open to editing this post if there's some discrepancies. In some cases, even the zoos themselves might not know which type they have, but one thing for sure is that in all my tours of roadside American zoos I've never seen any Titi Monkeys. Titi Monkeys have traditionally, in my view, been found only at AZA-accredited establishments. (Henson Robinson Zoo was AZA accredited in 2014, but at one point lost that status)

1- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2008
2- Shedd Aquarium (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2008
3- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Red-bellied Titi Monkey – 2008
4- Zoo Miami (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2008
5- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
6- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
7- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
8- Dallas Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
9- Charles Paddock Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2011
10- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2011
11- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2011
12- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2012
13- Sunset Zoo (USA) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2012
14- Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2014
15- Vogelpark Avifauna (Netherlands) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
16- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
17- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
18- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
19- Randers Regnskov (Denmark) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2022

ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA), back when it was called Lowry Park Zoo, had Titi Monkeys in 2012 in an exhibit with a mock-rock backdrop. Are they still there @SwampDonkey ?

I saw Titi Monkeys at Philadelphia Zoo (USA) in 2010, with Douc Langurs next door inside the Rare Animal Conservation Center:

Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) mixed Titi Monkeys with Golden Lion Tamarins in 2011:

Another outdoor, mixed-species exhibit could be found at Santa Ana Zoo (USA), with Titi Monkeys combined with Douroucoulis in 2011:

Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) combined Titi Monkeys with Two-toed Sloths in an outdoor exhibit, complete with only a couple of tiny boxes for shelter.

Coppery Titi Monkeys, also called Red Titi Monkeys, are certainly eye-catching primates.

@Zooreviewsuk

@NigeW

If one is looking for a really close encounter with some Titi Monkeys, as well as Red Howler Monkeys, Emperor Tamarins and White-faced Sakis, then Vogelpark Avifauna (Netherlands) has a walk-through habitat that allows visitors in with those 4 species, or whatever cast of critters are there now. This bird park has gradually been adding non-avian creatures to its collection in recent years. I was there in 2019 and it was possible to get quite close to the inhabitants.

@KevinB

In the superb Danish zoo known as Randers Regnskov (Denmark), there are Titi Monkeys free-roaming inside the South American dome. This zoo has three domed rainforest buildings, plus an outdoor loop, with the South American one being the biggest and best.

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos and 95 exhibits (5 species: Black-headed, Colombian Brown, Geoffroy's, Red-faced Black, White-bellied)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Colobus Monkeys - 72 zoos (3 species: Angolan, King, Mantled Guereza)

Gorillas - 74 (2 species: Western Lowland, plus 1 Eastern Lowland at Antwerp Zoo)

Orangutans - 74 (2 species: Bornean, Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Douroucoulis - 22 zoos (5 species: Grey-legged, Humboldt's, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian, Three-striped)

Titi Monkeys - 19 zoos (3 species: 11 White-eared, 7 Coppery, 1 Red-bellied)

Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6

 

[15399]

Titi Monkeys are a good example of a type of primate that had very few species until recent years, and now there's been an explosion of them in terms of the species and subspecies recognized by some (but not all!) individuals and zoological facilities. I've seen Titi Monkeys at 19 zoos, with all 5 of the European zoos having Coppery Titis and almost all the North American zoos having White-eared Titis. The mention of Red-bellied Titis at Smithsonian's National Zoo gives me pause, as they are also called Dusky Titis and I feel as if I've seen that label at other zoos. I'm totally open to editing this post if there's some discrepancies. In some cases, even the zoos themselves might not know which type they have, but one thing for sure is that in all my tours of roadside American zoos I've never seen any Titi Monkeys. Titi Monkeys have traditionally, in my view, been found only at AZA-accredited establishments. (Henson Robinson Zoo was AZA accredited in 2014, but at one point lost that status)

1- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2008
2- Shedd Aquarium (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2008
3- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Red-bellied Titi Monkey – 2008
4- Zoo Miami (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2008
5- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
6- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
7- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
8- Dallas Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2010
9- Charles Paddock Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2011
10- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2011
11- Santa Ana Zoo (USA) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2011
12- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2012
13- Sunset Zoo (USA) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2012
14- Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) – White-eared Titi Monkey – 2014
15- Vogelpark Avifauna (Netherlands) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
16- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
17- Apenheul Primate Park (Netherlands) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
18- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2019
19- Randers Regnskov (Denmark) – Coppery Titi Monkey – 2022

ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA), back when it was called Lowry Park Zoo, had Titi Monkeys in 2012 in an exhibit with a mock-rock backdrop. Are they still there @SwampDonkey ?

I saw Titi Monkeys at Philadelphia Zoo (USA) in 2010, with Douc Langurs next door inside the Rare Animal Conservation Center:

Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) mixed Titi Monkeys with Golden Lion Tamarins in 2011:

Another outdoor, mixed-species exhibit could be found at Santa Ana Zoo (USA), with Titi Monkeys combined with Douroucoulis in 2011:

Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) combined Titi Monkeys with Two-toed Sloths in an outdoor exhibit, complete with a couple of tiny boxes for shelter.

Coppery Titi Monkeys, also called Red Titi Monkeys, are certainly eye-catching primates.

@Zooreviewsuk

@NigeW

If one is looking for a really close encounter with some Titi Monkeys, as well as Red Howler Monkeys, Emperor Tamarins and White-faced Sakis, then Vogelpark Avifauna (Netherlands) has a walk-through habitat that allows visitors in with those 4 species, or whatever cast of critters are there now. This bird park has gradually been adding non-avian creatures to its collection in recent years. I was there in 2019 and it was possible to get quite close to the inhabitants.

@KevinB

In the superb Danish zoo known as Randers Regnskov (Denmark), there are Titi Monkeys free-roaming inside the South American dome. This zoo has three domed rainforest buildings, plus an outdoor loop, with the South American one being the biggest and best.

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos and 95 exhibits (5 species: Black-headed, Colombian Brown, Geoffroy's, Red-faced Black, White-bellied)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Colobus Monkeys - 72 zoos (3 species: Angolan, King, Mantled Guereza)

Gorillas - 74 (2 species: Western Lowland, plus 1 Eastern Lowland at Antwerp Zoo)

Orangutans - 74 (2 species: Bornean, Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Douroucoulis - 22 zoos (5 species: Grey-legged, Humboldt's, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian, Three-striped)

Titi Monkeys - 19 zoos (3 species: 11 White-eared, 7 Coppery, 1 Red-bellied)
Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6

I'm surprised you've only seen Bolivian grey/white-eared titis at eleven zoos! I've been to way fewer zoos than you (37 total), and even I've seen them at seven zoos, would've expected your number to be higher. This leads me to wonder: why have you seen so few titis compared to total zoos visited? Is it that this species has grown in holders in recent years, when most of your zoo trips have been overseas? Or perhaps they are just disproportionately common in the northeast, where most of the zoos I've visited are? It's also possible you under-counted slightly here- Bronx has housed Bolivian grey titi monkeys for years, although you could've missed them.

 

[TinoPup]

Not primates, of course, but one of the best examples of this is Aoudad. This species is perceived by most ZooChatters as being relatively uncommon in the US, since they are fairly rare in AZA facilities. But that isn't the case. It's actually one of our most common zoo animals, as this species is ubiquitous in unaccredited zoos. It's legitimately on the level of Ring-tailed Lemur or other extremely common species, but it just isn't seen much by ZooChatters who focus primarily on visiting AZA facilities.

I was about to say, after the first two sentences, who thinks they're uncommon But that's a good point! Another great example is Pere David's deer. They're not super common, but they're in many more places than most realize, I think.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Another great example is Pere David's deer. They're not super common, but they're in many more places than most realize, I think.

That's definitely true over here - I always seem to notice when I see that species and feel as if it is of particular note, but when I think about it I realise I actually see them pretty often!

 

[birdsandbats]

White-eared Titis are a species whose popularity in zoos is relatively recent, and I imagine a lot of the current holders have only gotten them after snowleopard visited. I know all of the collections I've seen them at have had snowleopard visits, yet he hasn't seen them at any of those places.

 

[SwampDonkey]

ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA), back when it was called Lowry Park Zoo, had Titi Monkeys in 2012 in an exhibit with a mock-rock backdrop. Are they still there @SwampDonkey ?

Yep, they are still there as far as I know.

 

[snowleopard]

The very first Patas Monkey exhibit that I came across arguably remains the best one almost three decades later. I've seen this species at 20 zoos, almost exclusively in American zoos. The first third of the zoos on the list are AZA-accredited ones, the next grouping is a bunch of non-accredited roadside zoos, and I only saw the species 3 times in 120 European zoos/aquariums. From my perspective, they are rare overseas. However, perhaps in some nations that is not the case as Zootierliste has a lot of Patas Monkeys listed.

How many zoos of the world display Patas Monkeys in modern, excellent, appropriate exhibits? As you'll be able to tell from my walk down memory lane, the answer is very few!

1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 1996
2- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2006
3- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2008
4- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2010
5- Houston Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2010
6- Zoo Boise (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2010
7- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2011
8- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2011
9- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2012
10- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
11- Franklin Drive-Thru Safari (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
12- Austin Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
13- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
14- Sierra Safari Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
15- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) Patas Monkey – 2017
16- Wilderness Trails Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2018
17- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2018
18- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – Patas Monkey – 2019
19- Munkholm Zoo (Denmark) – Patas Monkey – 2022
20- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Patas Monkey – 2022

Woodland Park Zoo (USA) was where I first saw Patas Monkeys and I've been to that zoo on dozens of occasions. The exhibit there is of high quality, with an African Savanna paddock in the background.

@Northwest_FIsh_Keeping

Patas Monkeys have access to both the lower and upper layers of this enclosure, with a hidden moat behind the termite mound and tree trunk being totally obscured to visitors. There's actually two monkeys together in this photo.

Zooming in, one can see a pair of Giraffes in the next exhibit:

San Francisco Zoo (USA) has Patas Monkeys in a nicely vegetated habitat that is surrounded by 'brutalist architecture' in the shape of an old-fashioned primate complex.

@TheoV

Some zoos have Patas Monkeys in grassy exhibits that are enclosed via concrete bowls, like Houston Zoo (USA):

You can see a Patas Monkey sitting on top of the rocks in this exhibit at Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) in 2011. This is one of the better enclosures I've seen for the species, but they haven't been at that zoo for years now. Long gone.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo (USA) has kept Patas Monkeys entirely indoors for many years, although in the warmer months those monkeys rotate with other primates into a large outdoor space.

But they spend most of their days and nights in here:

@TinoPup

The less said about Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) the better, with these two cages holding two Patas Monkeys and one African Crested Porcupine during my visit in 2015:

Franklin Drive Thru Safari (USA) had two or three Patas Monkeys in this tiny cage, with no space, zero branches to climb on, and just that tiny yellow box at the back for a shelter. I'm not sure how this 'exhibit' meets any kind of woeful animal legislation laws.

Another zoo, another terribly small cage. This photo was taken at Capital of Texas Zoo (USA):

Sierra Safari Zoo (USA) had a big male Patas Monkey sitting on his cage's single branch, with a couple of stuffed animals in the dirt when I visited in 2015.

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) is infamous for its junky primate cages and this photo was just taken last year. Sure enough, Patas Monkeys are kept inadequately here too.

A bit better, but still not great, is the Patas Monkey exhibit that I saw at Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) in 2022:

Munkholm Zoo (Denmark) has the species in a cage loaded with climbing opportunities, but there's not much space and aren't Patas Monkeys notably savanna animals? C'mon zoos, you can do better!

Patas Monkeys have been poorly treated in zoos, with many of the places I've been to having them in tiny cages with hardly any enrichment opportunities. No wonder that Woodland Park Zoo (USA) remains the cream of the crop when it comes to this species.

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos and 95 exhibits (5 species: Black-headed, Colombian Brown, Geoffroy's, Red-faced Black, White-bellied)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Colobus Monkeys - 72 zoos (3 species: Angolan, King, Mantled Guereza)

Gorillas - 74 (2 species: Western Lowland, plus 1 Eastern Lowland at Antwerp Zoo)

Orangutans - 74 (2 species: Bornean, Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Douroucoulis - 22 zoos (5 species: Grey-legged, Humboldt's, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian, Three-striped)

Patas Monkeys - 20 zoos

Titi Monkeys - 19 zoos (3 species: 11 White-eared, 7 Coppery, 1 Red-bellied)

Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6

 

[SwampDonkey]

The very first Patas Monkey exhibit that I came across arguably remains the best one almost three decades later. I've seen this species at 20 zoos, almost exclusively in American zoos. The first third of the zoos on the list are AZA-accredited ones, the next grouping is a bunch of non-accredited roadside zoos, and I only saw the species 3 times in 120 European zoos/aquariums. From my perspective, they are rare overseas. However, perhaps in some nations that is not the case as Zootierliste has a lot of Patas Monkeys listed.

How many zoos of the world display Patas Monkeys in modern, excellent, appropriate exhibits? As you'll be able to tell from my walk down memory lane, the answer is very few!

1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 1996
2- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2006
3- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2008
4- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2010
5- Houston Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2010
6- Zoo Boise (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2010
7- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2011
8- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2011
9- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2012
10- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
11- Franklin Drive-Thru Safari (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
12- Austin Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
13- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
14- Sierra Safari Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2015
15- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) Patas Monkey – 2017
16- Wilderness Trails Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2018
17- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Patas Monkey – 2018
18- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – Patas Monkey – 2019
19- Munkholm Zoo (Denmark) – Patas Monkey – 2022
20- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Patas Monkey – 2022

Woodland Park Zoo (USA) was where I first saw Patas Monkeys and I've been to that zoo on dozens of occasions. The exhibit there is of high quality, with an African Savanna paddock in the background.

@Northwest_FIsh_Keeping

Patas Monkeys have access to both the lower and upper layers of this enclosure, with a hidden moat behind the termite mound and tree trunk being totally obscured to visitors. There's actually two monkeys together in this photo.

Zooming in, one can see a pair of Giraffes in the next exhibit:

San Francisco Zoo (USA) has Patas Monkeys in a nicely vegetated habitat that is surrounded by 'brutalist architecture' in the shape of an old-fashioned primate complex.

@TheoV

Some zoos have Patas Monkeys in grassy exhibits that are enclosed via concrete bowls, like Houston Zoo (USA):

You can see a Patas Monkey sitting on top of the rocks in this exhibit at Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) in 2011. This is one of the better enclosures I've seen for the species, but they haven't been at that zoo for years now. Long gone.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo (USA) has kept Patas Monkeys entirely indoors for many years, although in the warmer months those monkeys rotate with other primates into a large outdoor space.

But they spend most of their days and nights in here:

@TinoPup

The less said about Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) the better, with these two cages holding two Patas Monkeys and one African Crested Porcupine during my visit in 2015:

Franklin Drive Thru Safari (USA) had two or three Patas Monkeys in this tiny cage, with no space, zero branches to climb on, and just that tiny yellow box at the back for a shelter. I'm not sure how this 'exhibit' meets any kind of woeful animal legislation laws.

Another zoo, another terribly small cage. This photo was taken at Capital of Texas Zoo (USA):

Sierra Safari Zoo (USA) had a big male Patas Monkey sitting on his cage's single branch, with a couple of stuffed animals in the dirt when I visited in 2015.

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) is infamous for its junky primate cages and this photo was just taken last year. Sure enough, Patas Monkeys are kept inadequately here too.

A bit better, but still not great, is the Patas Monkey exhibit that I saw at Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) in 2022:

Munkholm Zoo (Denmark) has the species in a cage loaded with climbing opportunities, but there's not much space and aren't Patas Monkeys notably savanna animals? C'mon zoos, you can do better!

Patas Monkeys have been poorly treated in zoos, with many of the places I've been to having them in tiny cages with hardly any enrichment opportunities. No wonder that Woodland Park Zoo (USA) remains the cream of the crop when it comes to this species.

My Mammal Lists:

Gibbons - 143 zoos and 192 exhibits (9 species: 64 White-handed, 62 Siamang, 36 Northern White-cheeked, 12 Yellow-cheeked, 7 Southern Grey, 5 Pileated, 3 Silvery, 2 Agile, 1 Eastern Hoolock, with some zoos having multiple species)

Elephants - 104 zoos (61 Asian, 53 African, including some zoos with both)

Spider Monkeys - 91 zoos and 95 exhibits (5 species: Black-headed, Colombian Brown, Geoffroy's, Red-faced Black, White-bellied)

Macaques - 80 zoos and 113 exhibits (12 species: 25 Lion-tailed, 23 Japanese, 16 Barbary, 13 Sulawesi Crested, 10 Pig-tailed, 9 Rhesus, 7 Crab-eating, 4 Bonnet, 2 Stump-tailed, 2 Toque, 1 Booted, 1 Tonkean, including some zoos with multiple species)

Squirrel Monkeys - 78 zoos (multiple species)

Colobus Monkeys - 72 zoos (3 species: Angolan, King, Mantled Guereza)

Gorillas - 74 (2 species: Western Lowland, plus 1 Eastern Lowland at Antwerp Zoo)

Orangutans - 74 (2 species: Bornean, Sumatran)

Capuchins - 71 zoos and 81 exhibits (7 species: 44 Tufted, 19 White-faced, 9 Golden-bellied, 5 White-fronted, 2 Crested, 1 Hooded, 1 Wedge-capped, with 10 zoos having two species)

Chimpanzees - 64

Langurs - 48 zoos (6 species: 17 Francois', 9 Dusky Leaf, 8 East Javan, 6 Hanuman, 6 Silvery Lutung, 2 Red-shanked Douc)

Baboons - 41 zoos and 49 exhibits (4 species: 31 Hamadryas, 11 Olive, 6 Guinea, 1 Yellow, with some zoos having multiple species)

Mandrills - 41

Mangabeys - 30 zoos (5 species: 11 Red-capped, 9 Black Crested, 6 Golden-bellied, 3 White-naped, 1 Sooty)

Douroucoulis - 22 zoos (5 species: Grey-legged, Humboldt's, Nancy Ma's, Southern Bolivian, Three-striped)

Patas Monkeys - 20 zoos

Titi Monkeys - 19 zoos (3 species: 11 White-eared, 7 Coppery, 1 Red-bellied)

Bonobos - 14
Drills - 8
Geladas - 6

Wildlife World has two Patas enclosures, one is better than the other (as is common at this zoo):

Zoo Tampa also keeps them, but you have to take the safari ride. Interestingly I believe these were that monkeys that Lex bought for Safari Wilderness that escaped when he put them on an island. They were caught and taken to ZooTampa.
@jayjds2 picture:

@BeardsleyZooFan picture:

 

[birdsandbats]

Even AZA zoos seem to struggle to get a good Patas Monkey enclosure. Como Park had a roadside zoo-level indoor cage with no climbing structures other than the cage walls until just a few years ago, when they were upgraded to a mediocre indoor primate exhibit with no outdoor access.

 

[15399]

Rosamond Gifford Zoo (USA) has kept Patas Monkeys entirely indoors for many years, although in the warmer months those monkeys rotate with other primates into a large outdoor space.

But they spend most of their days and nights in here:

@TinoPup

Note that the indoor exhibit often looks better than it does here. There is normally a soft substrate in this exhibit, and the patas monkeys are often foraging through the substrate when I visit. The Rosamond Gifford indoor primate exhibits also have natural lighting, which is super important when keeping primates (and most mammals, for that matter) indoors. Is it a world class exhibit? No, but it is certainly a very respectable one for this species, and it's a decent size. The fact the zoo has a good-sized troop of patas monkeys is also really great to see! I normally see at least three, if not four or five, of these monkeys out when I visit.

I don't think I've ever seen the patas monkeys outside in Primate Park, however this is likely since I've only been a few times when the weather is warm enough for primates to be outside. Just by luck on those visits I've seen siamangs, colobus, and ruffed lemurs with outdoor access (the latter don't rotate through Primate Park, instead having access to the Amur Leopard exhibit when the leopard opts to stay indoors due to heat), but never the patas monkeys. It does seem like the outdoor space is a good set-up for the patas monkeys though, as there's lots of space available for ground-based locomotion.

 

[TinoPup]

Note that the indoor exhibit often looks better than it does here. There is normally a soft substrate in this exhibit, and the patas monkeys are often foraging through the substrate when I visit. The Rosamond Gifford indoor primate exhibits also have natural lighting, which is super important when keeping primates (and most mammals, for that matter) indoors. Is it a world class exhibit? No, but it is certainly a very respectable one for this species, and it's a decent size. The fact the zoo has a good-sized troop of patas monkeys is also really great to see! I normally see at least three, if not four or five, of these monkeys out when I visit.

I don't think I've ever seen the patas monkeys outside in Primate Park, however this is likely since I've only been a few times when the weather is warm enough for primates to be outside. Just by luck on those visits I've seen siamangs, colobus, and ruffed lemurs with outdoor access (the latter don't rotate through Primate Park, instead having access to the Amur Leopard exhibit when the leopard opts to stay indoors due to heat), but never the patas monkeys. It does seem like the outdoor space is a good set-up for the patas monkeys though, as there's lots of space available for ground-based locomotion.

I will take the indoor exhibit at Rosamond over the other places I've seen the species 10 out of 10 times. I've been to the zoo twice and they were outside on one of those visits (the day I took the photo of the exhibit being cleaned, obviously). It was the colobuses the other time.

 

[Dhole dude]

Even AZA zoos seem to struggle to get a good Patas Monkey enclosure. Como Park had a roadside zoo-level indoor cage with no climbing structures other than the cage walls until just a few years ago, when they were upgraded to a mediocre indoor primate exhibit with no outdoor access.

I’m surprised I forgot about that! The Patas Monkeys actually rotated with the Gorillas for about a year (I think they were attempting to mix the species), but that ended up falling through and the monkeys were moved to the old langur exhibit.

 

[Great Argus]

San Francisco Zoo (USA) has Patas Monkeys in a nicely vegetated habitat that is surrounded by 'brutalist architecture' in the shape of an old-fashioned primate complex.

Had, the species left a couple years ago now. Prospects within the AZA aren't promising for this species nowadays sadly.

 

[CMP]

I will take the indoor exhibit at Rosamond over the other places I've seen the species 10 out of 10 times. I've been to the zoo twice and they were outside on one of those visits (the day I took the photo of the exhibit being cleaned, obviously). It was the colobuses the other time.

I struggle to see how that indoor space is functionally better for the species than something like Wildlife world's.

 

[TinoPup]

I struggle to see how that indoor space is functionally better for the species than something like Wildlife world's.

I've never been to wildlife world zoo.