Snowleopard's Mammals: A Lifetime List of Species Mammalian and Non-Mammalian
- Thread starter snowleopard
- Start date
As a species hunter, it’s fun to see @snowleopard realise there’s more to zoo visiting than making pictures of exhibits 
I’ve started zooing properly in about ~2007, but I only catalogued my mammals seen in captivity since ~2016ish. Hence I’m pretty sure I’m missing some rodents (and perhaps bats) of the early years.
I’m also not a big taxonomy buff, which means that sofar I’m following Zootierliste as reference. Purely out of ease. I also log subspecies, but I don’t count them.
Here’s some stats;
- 93 zoos in 23 countries
- 481 mammal species
- 60 rodents (and likely missing a few)
- primates: 128 (including lemurs)
- cats: 28
- canids: 17 (counting african golden jackal as a subspecies)
I didn’t think it was that much, until I read that Europe only holds ~680 odd species.
Let’s see how the list holds up
I also wonder if this will add something to your next Zoo visiting experience, @snowleopard
I’ll keep lurking in the thread
I’ve started zooing properly in about ~2007, but I only catalogued my mammals seen in captivity since ~2016ish. Hence I’m pretty sure I’m missing some rodents (and perhaps bats) of the early years.
I’m also not a big taxonomy buff, which means that sofar I’m following Zootierliste as reference. Purely out of ease. I also log subspecies, but I don’t count them.
Here’s some stats;
- 93 zoos in 23 countries
- 481 mammal species
- 60 rodents (and likely missing a few)
- primates: 128 (including lemurs)
- cats: 28
- canids: 17 (counting african golden jackal as a subspecies)
I didn’t think it was that much, until I read that Europe only holds ~680 odd species.
Let’s see how the list holds up
I also wonder if this will add something to your next Zoo visiting experience, @snowleopard
I’ll keep lurking in the thread
Jonny Bloxham
Active Member
I've seen Small-clawed Otters at 82 zoos. For all the talk from zoos about saving animal biodiversity, it's fascinating that 80% of all the zoos I've seen with otters have had the two most popular species. Seeing any other type of otter is a rare occurrence.
While I only ever came across North American River Otters in a single European zoo, with Small-clawed Otters it's a grand total of 41 zoos in Europe. Exactly 50% of my sightings were on my two European zoo treks. This species is ridiculously common in Western European nations, and in many cases they are combined with other animals in mixed-species exhibits. One thing I'll highlight in this post is that the vast majority of North American zoos keep otters alone and with no other species, while in Western Europe there's a long list of animals mixed with Small-clawed Otters. From a visitor's perspective, it's incredibly engaging and a far superior method of showcasing animals that would already associate with each other in the wild. However, some European zoos might take it too far, with geographical accuracy tossed out the window.
Otter Countdown:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
Next otter species - ??
It's great that you're compiling all these lists, it's enjoyable to see as a former zookeeper the interest people have in zoos and conservation. And you're absolutely right about mixed exhibits, when done well they are such a valuable asset to conservation and education
It's a difficult one for otters and I suppose a lot of species, or family of species rather where one or two species a more commonly kept and there are other species that are as equally as endangered who are not kept in zoos.
I think part of the issue is that (as we all know) zoos came into holding species by taking them from the wild (originally when zoos weren't really conservation focused at all, but more recently with conservation and as a prevention of complete extinction as a result of a population crash in the wild). And perhaps some species were represented more than others. To some extent that still happens today, but on a much smaller scale, and I think part of that is due to external pressures from people who would lose their heads if they caught wind of animals being taken from the wild to boost populations and supplement wild numbers. This isn't as simple as catching some animals and sending them to zoos, there is a 'harvesting procedure' in place (although I cannot find the document now to link it) that takes numerous factors into consideration before executing such a procedure such as, what potential impact would taking 'X' amount of species from the wild have on the extant population there. Largely, perhaps modern zoos don't quite have the PR capabilities to deal with those external pressures just yet.
But, in my opinion, this harvesting of wild specimens (and fresh genetics) is something that should be considered and encouraged for the preservation of species without the fear of backlash.
Some examples. Sea otters. We know that all sea otters in zoos and aquariums are rescues that can't be released in the wild and I'm pretty certain collections that agree to house them also agree not breed them as part of the agreement of receiving sea otters. We know that there are two zoos in southeast asia that, as of recently, now house hairy-nosed otters that I believe were destined for the pet-trade. Maybe there will be conversations about trying to create a founding population of a breeding programme (who knows).
Non-otter species. The Vaquita porpoise. They tried bring them into captivity when it was already too late. They are, unfortunately, at five minutes to midnight so to speak. The population of vaquita that they tried bringing into human care was already critically low and so when the ones in captivity didn't survive and thrive, it dealt a blow. But if they had considered bringing them into human care earlier, when they could have afforded the losses (for lack of a better way of phrasing it), there would have been a bit of wiggle room for trial and error and the future of the vaquita might have looked a bit different. We can and hopefully should learn from this example. It would be nice for the public blessing to take these actions, but zoos shouldn't necessarily be waiting for it (and I'm not saying that they are, it's also not a quick process). And I'm sure this community is certainly supportive of zoos and their role within conversation. They're not the whole answer, but they are certainly part of the answer. Perhaps we need to have more platforms and time for long meaningful conversations between conservationists and those who aren't directly involved in conservation.
Eastern black rhino, we know the population within zoos is more genetically diverse than the wild population because they were bought into human care before the population crashed in the wild. So in terms of releasing them, they are genetically viable to go, and there is plenty of good rhino habitat. We just need the poaching to stop.
The Mishmi Takin, quite well represented in zoos. Unfortunately, genetics can be traced back to two founding males. Therefore there is consideration of supplementing the ex-situ population with genetic diversity.
Always happy to talk more about this kind of stuff
TWO mustelid species that I've come across in very few zoos will be highlighted in my latest post. I've seen Ratels, commonly called Honey Badgers, in only 5 zoos and Fishers in 13 zoos.
Ratels are known for being ferocious little African critters, not afraid to tackle anything that moves. They are classified as 'Least Concern', but for one reason or another have never been very common in any zoos worldwide.
Fishers used to be trapped by the thousands for their luxurious pelts, and are North American animals also of 'Least Concern' that are rarely located in zoos. There only ever appears to be around a dozen zoos in North America with the species at any one time, and I don't think there's any in Europe at the moment.
Ratels:
1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Ratel – 2008
2- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Ratel – 2010
3- Naples Zoo (USA) – Ratel – 2012
4- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Ratel – 2014
5- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Ratel – 2019
AND...
Fishers:
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Fisher – 1975
2- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 1996
3- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) – Fisher – 2005
4- Minnesota Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2008
5- Charles Paddock Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2011
6- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Fisher – 2012
7- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2014
8- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2014
9- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Fisher – 2014
10- Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) – Fisher – 2014
11- Shalom Wildlife Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2018
12- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2018
13- Zollman Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2018
@gentle lemur
The very first time I ever saw a Ratel was at the San Diego Zoo (USA) in 2008 and there's a photo in the gallery of two of the animals taken by me that year. They used to live in an old-fashioned, small metal cage in one of the canyon lanes. I know that San Diego brought Ratels back to the zoo for the Africa Rocks complex, but that was a short-lived experiment. Whatever happened to them? When I was at the zoo for two days last year, there wasn't a Ratel anywhere. ("Honey Badger Don't Care")
@geomorph
I saw Ratels again two years later, at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo (USA) which is actually a full-sized zoo with a silly name.
The African Journey zone had a Ratel exhibit and here's one at that zoo. Check out the claws! The Ratels are now gone from Fort Wayne, which is a great pity.
@Giant Eland
Another two years went by and I came across Naples Zoo (USA) and there was a Ratel exhibit there. I recall this individual Honey Badger being incredibly active, chewing on items and moving around the enclosure at a good pace.
Here's Matt Fouts, Assistant Director of Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) showing me how to lose a finger. Ha! He was kind enough to tour me around his zoo in 2014, including the off-show areas with 15 Clouded Leopards and 15 Snow Leopards in enclosures all over the place. Matt insisted that Ratels are actually kind-hearted animals if treated with respect.
The green metal gives it away that this image was taken at Berlin Tierpark (Germany) and I saw a Ratel there in 2019. It's the only European zoo I've been to with the species.
@LaughingDove
Onto Fishers...
@RatioTile
As for Fishers, other than seeing some in my childhood zoo growing up in Edmonton, in more recent times I can recall when Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) had two Fisher exhibits but they haven't had any for a few years now.
You can see a Fisher in my image from Minnesota Zoo (USA), in an exhibit with a high, rocky backdrop.
This small-ish cage held a Fisher at Charles Paddock Zoo (USA) in 2011:
Rosamond Gifford Zoo (USA) had Fishers when I was there in 2012:
One major issue with zoos keeping Fishers, such as Bramble Park Zoo (USA), is that in almost every single example the enclosures have been too small. I've written, in my old zoo reviews, of seeing Fishers incessantly pacing around an exhibit. These are highly active, inquisitive mammals that require space to roam and I wish that I'd seen some Fishers in European collections because I would have then seen some large zoo exhibits rather than tiny cages.
What's an active Fisher supposed to do in a puny box like this one at Dakota Zoo (USA)?
Here's a Fisher pacing on cement in a miniscule exhibit at Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA):
And of course Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) never fails to disappoint when you want an example of a junky American roadside zoo exhibit. Another pacing Fisher...
Here are two Fishers on 8 feet of cement inside a corn-crib cage at Shalom Wildlife Zoo (USA):
Holy crap, here's another Fisher exhibit disaster. This time at Special Memories Zoo (USA):
The tall structure on the left was a Fisher exhibit at Zollman Zoo (USA) in 2018. (The trio of exhibits on the right were for Red Fox, Grey Fox and North American Porcupine)
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Ratels are known for being ferocious little African critters, not afraid to tackle anything that moves. They are classified as 'Least Concern', but for one reason or another have never been very common in any zoos worldwide.
Fishers used to be trapped by the thousands for their luxurious pelts, and are North American animals also of 'Least Concern' that are rarely located in zoos. There only ever appears to be around a dozen zoos in North America with the species at any one time, and I don't think there's any in Europe at the moment.
Ratels:
1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Ratel – 2008
2- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Ratel – 2010
3- Naples Zoo (USA) – Ratel – 2012
4- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Ratel – 2014
5- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Ratel – 2019
AND...
Fishers:
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Fisher – 1975
2- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 1996
3- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) – Fisher – 2005
4- Minnesota Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2008
5- Charles Paddock Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2011
6- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Fisher – 2012
7- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2014
8- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2014
9- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Fisher – 2014
10- Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) – Fisher – 2014
11- Shalom Wildlife Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2018
12- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2018
13- Zollman Zoo (USA) – Fisher – 2018
@gentle lemur
The very first time I ever saw a Ratel was at the San Diego Zoo (USA) in 2008 and there's a photo in the gallery of two of the animals taken by me that year. They used to live in an old-fashioned, small metal cage in one of the canyon lanes. I know that San Diego brought Ratels back to the zoo for the Africa Rocks complex, but that was a short-lived experiment. Whatever happened to them? When I was at the zoo for two days last year, there wasn't a Ratel anywhere. ("Honey Badger Don't Care")
@geomorph
I saw Ratels again two years later, at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo (USA) which is actually a full-sized zoo with a silly name.
The African Journey zone had a Ratel exhibit and here's one at that zoo. Check out the claws! The Ratels are now gone from Fort Wayne, which is a great pity.@Giant Eland
Another two years went by and I came across Naples Zoo (USA) and there was a Ratel exhibit there. I recall this individual Honey Badger being incredibly active, chewing on items and moving around the enclosure at a good pace.
Here's Matt Fouts, Assistant Director of Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) showing me how to lose a finger. Ha! He was kind enough to tour me around his zoo in 2014, including the off-show areas with 15 Clouded Leopards and 15 Snow Leopards in enclosures all over the place. Matt insisted that Ratels are actually kind-hearted animals if treated with respect.
The green metal gives it away that this image was taken at Berlin Tierpark (Germany) and I saw a Ratel there in 2019. It's the only European zoo I've been to with the species.
@LaughingDove
Onto Fishers...
@RatioTile
As for Fishers, other than seeing some in my childhood zoo growing up in Edmonton, in more recent times I can recall when Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) had two Fisher exhibits but they haven't had any for a few years now.
You can see a Fisher in my image from Minnesota Zoo (USA), in an exhibit with a high, rocky backdrop.
This small-ish cage held a Fisher at Charles Paddock Zoo (USA) in 2011:
Rosamond Gifford Zoo (USA) had Fishers when I was there in 2012:
One major issue with zoos keeping Fishers, such as Bramble Park Zoo (USA), is that in almost every single example the enclosures have been too small. I've written, in my old zoo reviews, of seeing Fishers incessantly pacing around an exhibit. These are highly active, inquisitive mammals that require space to roam and I wish that I'd seen some Fishers in European collections because I would have then seen some large zoo exhibits rather than tiny cages.
What's an active Fisher supposed to do in a puny box like this one at Dakota Zoo (USA)?
Here's a Fisher pacing on cement in a miniscule exhibit at Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA):
And of course Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) never fails to disappoint when you want an example of a junky American roadside zoo exhibit. Another pacing Fisher...
Here are two Fishers on 8 feet of cement inside a corn-crib cage at Shalom Wildlife Zoo (USA):
Holy crap, here's another Fisher exhibit disaster. This time at Special Memories Zoo (USA):
The tall structure on the left was a Fisher exhibit at Zollman Zoo (USA) in 2018. (The trio of exhibits on the right were for Red Fox, Grey Fox and North American Porcupine)
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
I don't know about special memories I think terrible nightmares would be more appropriateSpecial Memories Zoo never fails to create some “special” memories in this thread
Surely this can’t be all mustelidae?
Edit: i guess you’re not done yet
Martens are essentially smaller versions of Fishers, with lighter-coloured neck and throat areas. Also, while Fishers are monotypic in terms of taxonomy, there are several types of Martens and I've done my best with the breakdown of the different species.
I've seen Martens at 13 zoos and that includes 14 exhibits (8 Yellow-throated, 3 American, 2 European Pine, 1 Stone)
Of note is that, excluding my childhood zoo, all my Marten sightings have been in the last decade. When I was visiting a lot of big AZA zoos on 4 summer road trips in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, I never saw the species even once. AZA isn't interested in hardly any of the animals from the Mustelid family; Europe is the zoo nerd destination for Martens.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – American Marten – 1975
2- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – American Marten – 2014
3- Dakota Zoo (USA) – American Marten – 2014
4- Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2018
5- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
6- Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
7- Wildpark Gangelt (Germany) – European Pine Marten – 2019
8- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
9- Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
10- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
11- Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) – European Pine Marten, Stone Marten – 2019
12- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
13- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2022
Yellow-throated Martens are wonderfully charismatic species, practically unheard of in North American zoos and yet easily seen in European collections. There are many zoo nerds in Canada, the USA and Mexico who will likely never see this species.
@Fat-tailed dwarf lemur
@Rhino00
European Pine Martens look much different in appearance:
@Giant Eland
A small-ish cage for American Martens was at Bramble Park Zoo (USA) in 2014:
Dakota Zoo (USA) had an American Marten exhibit almost identical to their Fisher exhibit when I toured that zoo in 2014. How many zoos of the world have both Fishers and Martens?
I was genuinely shocked to see a Yellow-throated Marten at Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) in 2018, a new species to me. Little did I know that the following summer I would see this species a half-dozen times in a month while in Europe.
First up was Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) in an old-fashioned cage:
@vogelcommando
Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) also had Yellow-throated Martens:
A very different fencing design keeps European Pine Martens inside their enclosure at Wildpark Gangelt (Germany). Seeing animals at this typical German 'Wildpark' wasn't difficult, even with the natural-looking surroundings, because feeding of the animals is encouraged via bags of food at the entrance.
@16217
Two rather poor adjoining exhibits for Yellow-throated Martens awaited me at BestZOO (Netherlands). This was certainly not the 'best' zoo I saw on my 2019 trip.
Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) had Yellow-throated Martens in this exhibit when I toured the zoo in 2019:
@Morgan
But, as of last year, Ouwehands opened a new exhibit for the species:
@MennoPebesma
Yellow-throated Martens have a lush, spacious enclosure at Berlin Tierpark (Germany):
@lintworm
Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) is unique of the zoos in this post in that I saw TWO species of Marten there during my visit. The Weasel House had Wolverine (outdoors), Stone Marten, European Pine Marten and Domestic Ferret.
I saw an incredibly active European Pine Marten zooming up and down the stairs and throughout this barn-themed exhibit inside Olderdissen's Weasel House. Perhaps it was looking for a tractor license?
Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) had two nicely landscaped exhibits for Yellow-throated Martens when I was there in 2019. Here are my photos:
Initially thinking I was looking at an Amur Tiger or Brown Bear exhibit, I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of Yellow-throated Martens running around their massive habitat at Ree Park Safari (Denmark). A Scandinavian zoo giving Martens an enclosed forest shouldn't be a shock at this point in the thread.
Last year, while at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA), I saw an American Marten exhibit but it was temporarily empty and so I didn't include this zoo in my list. But it's notable to even have a North American zoo with the species.
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
I've seen Martens at 13 zoos and that includes 14 exhibits (8 Yellow-throated, 3 American, 2 European Pine, 1 Stone)
Of note is that, excluding my childhood zoo, all my Marten sightings have been in the last decade. When I was visiting a lot of big AZA zoos on 4 summer road trips in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, I never saw the species even once. AZA isn't interested in hardly any of the animals from the Mustelid family; Europe is the zoo nerd destination for Martens.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – American Marten – 1975
2- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – American Marten – 2014
3- Dakota Zoo (USA) – American Marten – 2014
4- Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2018
5- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
6- Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
7- Wildpark Gangelt (Germany) – European Pine Marten – 2019
8- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
9- Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
10- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
11- Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) – European Pine Marten, Stone Marten – 2019
12- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2019
13- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Yellow-throated Marten – 2022
Yellow-throated Martens are wonderfully charismatic species, practically unheard of in North American zoos and yet easily seen in European collections. There are many zoo nerds in Canada, the USA and Mexico who will likely never see this species.
@Fat-tailed dwarf lemur
@Rhino00
European Pine Martens look much different in appearance:
@Giant Eland
A small-ish cage for American Martens was at Bramble Park Zoo (USA) in 2014:
Dakota Zoo (USA) had an American Marten exhibit almost identical to their Fisher exhibit when I toured that zoo in 2014. How many zoos of the world have both Fishers and Martens?
I was genuinely shocked to see a Yellow-throated Marten at Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) in 2018, a new species to me. Little did I know that the following summer I would see this species a half-dozen times in a month while in Europe.
First up was Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) in an old-fashioned cage:
@vogelcommando
Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) also had Yellow-throated Martens:
A very different fencing design keeps European Pine Martens inside their enclosure at Wildpark Gangelt (Germany). Seeing animals at this typical German 'Wildpark' wasn't difficult, even with the natural-looking surroundings, because feeding of the animals is encouraged via bags of food at the entrance.
@16217
Two rather poor adjoining exhibits for Yellow-throated Martens awaited me at BestZOO (Netherlands). This was certainly not the 'best' zoo I saw on my 2019 trip.
Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) had Yellow-throated Martens in this exhibit when I toured the zoo in 2019:
@Morgan
But, as of last year, Ouwehands opened a new exhibit for the species:
@MennoPebesma
Yellow-throated Martens have a lush, spacious enclosure at Berlin Tierpark (Germany):
@lintworm
Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) is unique of the zoos in this post in that I saw TWO species of Marten there during my visit. The Weasel House had Wolverine (outdoors), Stone Marten, European Pine Marten and Domestic Ferret.
I saw an incredibly active European Pine Marten zooming up and down the stairs and throughout this barn-themed exhibit inside Olderdissen's Weasel House. Perhaps it was looking for a tractor license?
Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) had two nicely landscaped exhibits for Yellow-throated Martens when I was there in 2019. Here are my photos:
Initially thinking I was looking at an Amur Tiger or Brown Bear exhibit, I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of Yellow-throated Martens running around their massive habitat at Ree Park Safari (Denmark). A Scandinavian zoo giving Martens an enclosed forest shouldn't be a shock at this point in the thread.
Last year, while at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA), I saw an American Marten exhibit but it was temporarily empty and so I didn't include this zoo in my list. But it's notable to even have a North American zoo with the species.
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
Last edited:
Considering Stone Martins are an introduced species in Wisconsin and Illinois I'm a little surprised I've never run into a roadside zoo with one. In fact, I still haven't seen any kind of marten.
I wish Omaha still kept Ratel, it was one of those species that I took for granted back in the day. The zoo kept the ratel in the old Giraffe House and was so overlooked by anyone that entered that building because they were way more enamored with an animal that they recognized.
Also to note, Bramble Park does not have American Marten or Fisher anymore. At least neither were on exhibit or signed when I visited in 2020.
Also to note, Bramble Park does not have American Marten or Fisher anymore. At least neither were on exhibit or signed when I visited in 2020.
I have visited 17 zoos with Wolverines, and here is a species that is very well known but rare in captivity. Whether it is the supposed ferocity of the animal, or the Marvel 'X-Man' character, I find that regular zoo-going Muggles know what a Wolverine is but not a great number of zoos have the species.
Other than Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Detroit Zoo, the Wolverine exhibits I've seen in North American zoos have all been too small. Wolverines are large, powerful carnivores and it's in Europe where they are given bear-like exhibits in terms of size and spatial complexity.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Wolverine – 1975
2- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) – Wolverine – 2005
3- Minnesota Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
4- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
5- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
6- Zoo Montana (USA) – Wolverine – 2010
7- Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2014
8- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2017
9- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Wolverine – 2019
10- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
11- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Wolverine – 2019
12- Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
13- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
**14- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
15- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
16- Nordens Ark (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
**17- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Wolverine – 2022
** I've seen Wolverines at 15 zoos, because I remember for sure NOT seeing any at these two locations. They are the two zoos on the list with the largest Wolverine exhibits I've ever seen!
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) phased out Coyotes and introduced Wolverines into a larger habitat a number of years ago. There's a shaggy black dot in this photo (left of center) that is a Wolverine feasting on some meat. This image is from last year and it shows off a world-class exhibit that is a fenced-off slice of forest.
Minnesota Zoo (USA) has had success breeding Wolverines and there's often been two exhibits with the species.
Showcasing their bear-like heads, this photo is from Detroit Zoo (USA), which has held the species for many years.
@Lucas Lang
Columbus Zoo (USA) has had a cabin viewing area for Wolverines for a long time.
@Moebelle
I saw Wolverines on both my visits to Zoo Montana (USA) years ago, in an exhibit with tall mock-rock walls.
A small-ish Wolverine exhibit surprised me at Henson Robinson Zoo (USA), an Illinois facility that's not very well known. This enclosure is far too tiny for such large mammals.
Another small, somewhat inadequate exhibit for Wolverines is at San Francisco Zoo (USA) in an enclosure that at one point held Grey Seals. Wolverines were added in 2014.
@TheoV
GaiaZOO (Netherlands) has a substantial Wolverine exhibit, full of mature trees and undergrowth. Here is a zoo that consistently has above-average quality animal habitats.
@Mr Gharial
You can see a Wolverine on a log at Duisburg Zoo (Germany):
@Green_mamba
When visiting Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands), I saw a Wolverine in an exhibit that is a little bit separate from the rest of the zoo and next to a parking lot a block away. Sometimes European zoos have captive animals that can be seen by the public before entering, similar to the Andean Bear situation at Berlin Tierpark (Germany) when I was there in 2019.
@KevinB
Tall coniferous trees at Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) are the backdrop while visitors peer down in search of Wolverines.
While at Osnabruck Zoo (Germany), in the Kajanaland area that is home to the hybrid Polar/Grizzly Bear habitat, I saw a Wolverine feasting on a big chunk of meat. A very common occurrence for me while touring European zoos was seeing various stinky carcasses inside carnivore enclosures. Sometimes an entire horse skeleton could be seen!
This vast, partially forested enclosure at Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) used to hold Grey Wolves, before the zoo had a tragic accident when a staff member was attacked and killed by the pack. The zoo also used to have guided tours where visitors could pay extra to enter the wolf habitat, but of course that was a very risky idea even by relaxed European standards. Now this huge space, probably several acres in size, is a Wolverine exhibit and I failed to see any Wolverines at this zoo.
When I was at Boras Zoo (Sweden) in 2022, the park had THREE separate Wolverine exhibits. Here's an example of one of the steep, forested habitats:
Another massive Wolverine exhibit is to be found at Nordens Ark (Sweden):
@twilighter
Then there's Kristiansand Zoo (Norway), which in its Nordic Wilderness area (6 species) there are exhibits that stretch the very definition of what constitutes a zoo and what is the wild. The Grey Wolf exhibit alone must be at least 10 acres in size, and the entire Nordic Wilderness zone opened in stages between 1992 and 1998 and is a whopping 40 acres! I failed to see any Wolverines while at this zoo. I've been showering many of these Scandinavian zoos with high praise because of their world-class animal exhibits, but at times perhaps a flaw could be that the enclosures are simply too large. Acres of forested exhibits make it difficult for visitors to spot the animals, but when people see the creatures then the experience becomes fantastic.
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Wolverines - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
Other than Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Detroit Zoo, the Wolverine exhibits I've seen in North American zoos have all been too small. Wolverines are large, powerful carnivores and it's in Europe where they are given bear-like exhibits in terms of size and spatial complexity.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Wolverine – 1975
2- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) – Wolverine – 2005
3- Minnesota Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
4- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
5- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
6- Zoo Montana (USA) – Wolverine – 2010
7- Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2014
8- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2017
9- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Wolverine – 2019
10- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
11- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Wolverine – 2019
12- Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
13- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
**14- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
15- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
16- Nordens Ark (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
**17- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Wolverine – 2022
** I've seen Wolverines at 15 zoos, because I remember for sure NOT seeing any at these two locations. They are the two zoos on the list with the largest Wolverine exhibits I've ever seen!
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) phased out Coyotes and introduced Wolverines into a larger habitat a number of years ago. There's a shaggy black dot in this photo (left of center) that is a Wolverine feasting on some meat. This image is from last year and it shows off a world-class exhibit that is a fenced-off slice of forest.
Minnesota Zoo (USA) has had success breeding Wolverines and there's often been two exhibits with the species.
Showcasing their bear-like heads, this photo is from Detroit Zoo (USA), which has held the species for many years.
@Lucas Lang
Columbus Zoo (USA) has had a cabin viewing area for Wolverines for a long time.
@Moebelle
I saw Wolverines on both my visits to Zoo Montana (USA) years ago, in an exhibit with tall mock-rock walls.
A small-ish Wolverine exhibit surprised me at Henson Robinson Zoo (USA), an Illinois facility that's not very well known. This enclosure is far too tiny for such large mammals.
Another small, somewhat inadequate exhibit for Wolverines is at San Francisco Zoo (USA) in an enclosure that at one point held Grey Seals. Wolverines were added in 2014.
@TheoV
GaiaZOO (Netherlands) has a substantial Wolverine exhibit, full of mature trees and undergrowth. Here is a zoo that consistently has above-average quality animal habitats.
@Mr Gharial
You can see a Wolverine on a log at Duisburg Zoo (Germany):
@Green_mamba
When visiting Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands), I saw a Wolverine in an exhibit that is a little bit separate from the rest of the zoo and next to a parking lot a block away. Sometimes European zoos have captive animals that can be seen by the public before entering, similar to the Andean Bear situation at Berlin Tierpark (Germany) when I was there in 2019.
@KevinB
Tall coniferous trees at Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) are the backdrop while visitors peer down in search of Wolverines.
While at Osnabruck Zoo (Germany), in the Kajanaland area that is home to the hybrid Polar/Grizzly Bear habitat, I saw a Wolverine feasting on a big chunk of meat. A very common occurrence for me while touring European zoos was seeing various stinky carcasses inside carnivore enclosures. Sometimes an entire horse skeleton could be seen!
This vast, partially forested enclosure at Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) used to hold Grey Wolves, before the zoo had a tragic accident when a staff member was attacked and killed by the pack. The zoo also used to have guided tours where visitors could pay extra to enter the wolf habitat, but of course that was a very risky idea even by relaxed European standards. Now this huge space, probably several acres in size, is a Wolverine exhibit and I failed to see any Wolverines at this zoo.
When I was at Boras Zoo (Sweden) in 2022, the park had THREE separate Wolverine exhibits. Here's an example of one of the steep, forested habitats:
Another massive Wolverine exhibit is to be found at Nordens Ark (Sweden):
@twilighter
Then there's Kristiansand Zoo (Norway), which in its Nordic Wilderness area (6 species) there are exhibits that stretch the very definition of what constitutes a zoo and what is the wild. The Grey Wolf exhibit alone must be at least 10 acres in size, and the entire Nordic Wilderness zone opened in stages between 1992 and 1998 and is a whopping 40 acres! I failed to see any Wolverines while at this zoo. I've been showering many of these Scandinavian zoos with high praise because of their world-class animal exhibits, but at times perhaps a flaw could be that the enclosures are simply too large. Acres of forested exhibits make it difficult for visitors to spot the animals, but when people see the creatures then the experience becomes fantastic.
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Wolverines - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
Last edited:
Did the wolverine exhibit at Detroit Zoo change at some point? Because I certainly would not call their current exhibit "too small". It's the only place I've ever seen this species, and it was a real treat seeing two very active wolverines scaling the live, mature trees in their spacious habitat. One of my favorite habitats in the entire zoo.I have visited 17 zoos with Wolverines, and here is a species that is very well known but rare in captivity. Whether it is the supposed ferocity of the animal, or the Marvel 'X-Man' character, I find that regular zoo-going Muggles know what a Wolverine is but not a great number of zoos have the species.
Other than Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, the Wolverine exhibits I've seen in North American zoos have all been too small. Wolverines are large, powerful carnivores and it's in Europe where they are given bear-like exhibits in terms of size and spatial complexity.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Wolverine – 1975
2- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) – Wolverine – 2005
3- Minnesota Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
4- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
5- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Wolverine – 2008
6- Zoo Montana (USA) – Wolverine – 2010
7- Henson Robinson Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2014
8- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Wolverine – 2017
9- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Wolverine – 2019
10- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
11- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Wolverine – 2019
12- Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
13- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Wolverine – 2019
**14- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
15- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
16- Nordens Ark (Sweden) – Wolverine – 2022
**17- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Wolverine – 2022
** I've seen Wolverines at 15 zoos, because I remember for sure NOT seeing any at these two locations. They are the two zoos on the list with the largest Wolverine exhibits I've ever seen!
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (USA) phased out Coyotes and introduced Wolverines into a larger habitat a number of years ago. There's a shaggy black dot in this photo (left of center) that is a Wolverine feasting on some meat. This image is from last year and it shows off a world-class exhibit that is a fenced-off slice of forest.
Minnesota Zoo (USA) has had success breeding Wolverines and there's often been two exhibits with the species.
Showcasing their bear-like heads, this photo is from Detroit Zoo (USA), which has held the species for many years.
@Lucas Lang
Columbus Zoo (USA) has had a cabin viewing area for Wolverines for a long time.
@Moebelle
I saw Wolverines on both my visits to Zoo Montana (USA) years ago, in an exhibit with tall mock-rock walls.
A small-ish Wolverine exhibit surprised me at Henson Robinson Zoo (USA), an Illinois facility that's not very well known. This enclosure is far too tiny for such large mammals.
Another small, somewhat inadequate exhibit for Wolverines is at San Francisco Zoo (USA) in an enclosure that at one point held Grey Seals. Wolverines were added in 2014.
@TheoV
GaiaZOO (Netherlands) has a substantial Wolverine exhibit, full of mature trees and undergrowth. Here is a zoo that consistently has above-average quality animal habitats.
@Mr Gharial
You can see a Wolverine on a log at Duisburg Zoo (Germany):
@Green_mamba
When visiting Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands), I saw a Wolverine in an exhibit that is a little bit separate from the rest of the zoo and next to a parking lot a block away. Sometimes European zoos have captive animals that can be seen by the public before entering, similar to the Andean Bear situation at Berlin Tierpark (Germany) when I was there in 2019.
@KevinB
Tall coniferous trees at Olderdissen Zoo (Germany) are the backdrop while visitors peer down in search of Wolverines.
While at Osnabruck Zoo (Germany), in the Kajanaland area that is home to the hybrid Polar/Grizzly Bear habitat, I saw a Wolverine feasting on a big chunk of meat. A very common occurrence for me while touring European zoos was seeing various stinky carcasses inside carnivore enclosures. Sometimes an entire horse skeleton could be seen!
This vast, partially forested enclosure at Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) used to hold Grey Wolves, before the zoo had a tragic accident when a staff member was attacked and killed by the pack. The zoo also used to have guided tours where visitors could pay extra to enter the wolf habitat, but of course that was a very risky idea even by relaxed European standards. Now this huge space, probably several acres in size, is a Wolverine exhibit and I failed to see any Wolverines at this zoo.
When I was at Boras Zoo (Sweden) in 2022, the park had THREE separate Wolverine exhibits. Here's an example of one of the steep, forested habitats:
Another massive Wolverine exhibit is to be found at Nordens Ark (Sweden):
@twilighter
Then there's Kristiansand Zoo (Norway), which in its Nordic Wilderness area (6 species) there are exhibits that stretch the very definition of what constitutes a zoo and what is the wild. The Grey Wolf exhibit alone must be at least 10 acres in size, and the entire Nordic Wilderness zone opened in stages between 1992 and 1998 and is a whopping 40 acres! I failed to see any Wolverines while at this zoo. I've been showering many of these Scandinavian zoos with high praise because of their world-class animal exhibits, but at times perhaps a flaw could be that the enclosures are simply too large. Acres of forested exhibits make it difficult for visitors to spot the animals, but when people see the creatures then the experience becomes fantastic.
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Wolverines - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
It is true that Detroit Zoo has a good Wolverine exhibit and together with Northwest Trek is an example of an above-average zoo habitat for that species. (I edited my original post) I just looked at your photos of a Wolverine in a tree and that would have been awesome to see. I'm a huge fan of Detroit Zoo, visiting twice (2008 and 2018) and they've had a decent Wolverine exhibit for many years. It's not gargantuan like some of the European examples, but that's not a terrible thing as at least a visitor can see Wolverines while at the zoo.
@pachyderm pro
I think martens, honey badgers and wolverines are underrated. They can be very active, inquisitive and playful, much more than cats and bears. Zoos, unfortunately, often don't prompt them to show it. Honey badgers can use tools. They move rocks, logs or branches as ladders to climb over. AFAIK no zoo made a show of it.
I saw wolverines sharing a large enclosure with brown bears in Amneville. The bears were just lazing, while the wolverines were running around and enjoying the large space much more than the bears. Actually, the home range of a wolverine in the wild is larger than that of a bear.
Maybe my sense of smell is poorer, but carcases which I saw in modern zoos were not actually stinking. Meat was fresh and leftovers were removed next morning at the latest. Perhaps the hordes of wild crows or gulls were more noticeable.
I saw wolverines sharing a large enclosure with brown bears in Amneville. The bears were just lazing, while the wolverines were running around and enjoying the large space much more than the bears. Actually, the home range of a wolverine in the wild is larger than that of a bear.
Maybe my sense of smell is poorer, but carcases which I saw in modern zoos were not actually stinking. Meat was fresh and leftovers were removed next morning at the latest. Perhaps the hordes of wild crows or gulls were more noticeable.
@Jurek7 Two instances where the smell of carcasses was overwhelming would be at Ree Park Safari (Denmark) when a pack of African Wild Dogs was savaging a horse carcass, and at Scandinavian Wildlife Park (Denmark) when the Grey Wolves had some kind of leftover meat.
I agree that Honey Badgers, Martens and Wolverines are underrated. All three can be very active and they seem to always be prowling around, or gnawing on something, or trying to climb up a tree. More zoos should maintain them in captivity as they are engaging animals.
@turkeyfox I don't recall any Wolverines at Milwaukee County Zoo in 2010. Here's the zoo map from my visit:
I agree that Honey Badgers, Martens and Wolverines are underrated. All three can be very active and they seem to always be prowling around, or gnawing on something, or trying to climb up a tree. More zoos should maintain them in captivity as they are engaging animals.
@turkeyfox I don't recall any Wolverines at Milwaukee County Zoo in 2010. Here's the zoo map from my visit:
I've seen Tayras at 13 zoos. They've often had poor accommodation, but Sedgwick County, Alexandria and Neuwied would be the trio of exceptions as the exhibits there were all impressive. Tayras are similar to Fishers and Martens in that they can be incredibly active to the point where even obtaining a photo of one can be a challenge.
1- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Tayra – 2008
2- Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago) – Tayra – 2008
3- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2010
4- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2010
5- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2010
6- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2015
7- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2015
8- Indian Creek Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2018
9- Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) – Tayra – 2019
10- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Tayra – 2019
11- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Tayra – 2019
12- De Paay (Netherlands) – Tayra – 2019
13- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Tayra – 2023
@twilighter
@hmb_zoo
In 2008, I saw Tayras at Cincinnati Zoo (USA) inside a Nocturnal House and in a barren little cage at Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago). Two paced incessantly in this wire and cement contraption:
A well-furnished enclosure at Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) held Tayras in 2010:
Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) had Tayras in their Small Mammals building in 2010, as did Birmingham Zoo (USA) in their Predators building that same year.
There's a Tayra on the wire and another on the big rock at the back in this photo from Alexandria Zoo (USA) in 2015. This zoo has consistently had a very impressive collection of South American fauna.
A Tayra can be seen lounging on a branch in this abysmal enclosure at Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) in 2015.
Indian Creek Zoo (USA) had a Tayra exhibit in 2018 that was like a mini version of the 1960s-era Los Angeles Zoo 'roundhouse' enclosures. Here is an all-cement floor and a few branches in a very narrow space.
Definitely better is this Tayra exhibit at Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands).
The best Tayra exhibit I've ever seen has to be the one at Zoo Neuwied (Germany). The relatively new South America House has an extremely long outdoor Tayra exhibit that stretches down the side of the building.
And there's also a substantial indoor area:
Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) had Tayras in this exhibit when I was there in 2019. I seem to recall this privately-owned zoo breeding the species in recent years.
Looking a lot like a small dog in this photo, here's my image of a Tayra at De Paay (Netherlands). Even though I was tempted by the lack of any significant barrier, I did not pet this creature as I'm not sure I would have kept all my fingers!
The 13th and final facility where I've seen a Tayra is at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) just last year. The small outdoor yard is mainly a pile of sand, while the indoor area is a mock-rock disaster. But at least indoors was air-conditioned!
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Wolverines - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
Tayras - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
1- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Tayra – 2008
2- Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago) – Tayra – 2008
3- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2010
4- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2010
5- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2010
6- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2015
7- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2015
8- Indian Creek Zoo (USA) – Tayra – 2018
9- Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) – Tayra – 2019
10- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Tayra – 2019
11- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Tayra – 2019
12- De Paay (Netherlands) – Tayra – 2019
13- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Tayra – 2023
@twilighter
@hmb_zoo
In 2008, I saw Tayras at Cincinnati Zoo (USA) inside a Nocturnal House and in a barren little cage at Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago). Two paced incessantly in this wire and cement contraption:
A well-furnished enclosure at Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) held Tayras in 2010:
Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) had Tayras in their Small Mammals building in 2010, as did Birmingham Zoo (USA) in their Predators building that same year.
There's a Tayra on the wire and another on the big rock at the back in this photo from Alexandria Zoo (USA) in 2015. This zoo has consistently had a very impressive collection of South American fauna.
A Tayra can be seen lounging on a branch in this abysmal enclosure at Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) in 2015.
Indian Creek Zoo (USA) had a Tayra exhibit in 2018 that was like a mini version of the 1960s-era Los Angeles Zoo 'roundhouse' enclosures. Here is an all-cement floor and a few branches in a very narrow space.
Definitely better is this Tayra exhibit at Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands).
The best Tayra exhibit I've ever seen has to be the one at Zoo Neuwied (Germany). The relatively new South America House has an extremely long outdoor Tayra exhibit that stretches down the side of the building.
And there's also a substantial indoor area:
Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) had Tayras in this exhibit when I was there in 2019. I seem to recall this privately-owned zoo breeding the species in recent years.
Looking a lot like a small dog in this photo, here's my image of a Tayra at De Paay (Netherlands). Even though I was tempted by the lack of any significant barrier, I did not pet this creature as I'm not sure I would have kept all my fingers!
The 13th and final facility where I've seen a Tayra is at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) just last year. The small outdoor yard is mainly a pile of sand, while the indoor area is a mock-rock disaster. But at least indoors was air-conditioned!
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Wolverines - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
Tayras - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
Zie-Zoo currently keeps a dad + daughter tayra (not together), so I don't expect any more breeding unless they decide to bring in new blood.
Their tayra enclosure must be the worse enclosure at the zoo and is a relic of the old times before the expansion (the same is true for the otter enclosure). One of the tayras was temporarily kept in what is now the fossa enclosure and that enclosure was a lot better.
I could see Zie-Zoo either phase out this species, or construct something new for them in the future.
Their tayra enclosure must be the worse enclosure at the zoo and is a relic of the old times before the expansion (the same is true for the otter enclosure). One of the tayras was temporarily kept in what is now the fossa enclosure and that enclosure was a lot better.
I could see Zie-Zoo either phase out this species, or construct something new for them in the future.
There's a whole group of Mustelids that have been seen by me at around 10 to 15 zoos and Mink are no different, ending up at 11 zoos. Mustelids all seem rare in captivity, as I've literally only seen three species at more than 15 zoos and the rest all have quite low numbers.
(6 European, 5 American)
1- Zoo Montana (USA) – American Mink – 2010
2- Howell Nature Center: Wild Wonders Wildlife Park (USA) – American Mink – 2018
3- Bear Den Zoo (USA) – American Mink – 2018
4- Shalom Wildlife Zoo (USA) – American Mink – 2018
5- Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (USA) – American Mink – 2018
6- Wildpark Gangelt (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
7- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – European Mink – 2019
8- Opel Zoo (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
9- Tiergarten Monchengladbach (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
10- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
11- AQUA Aquarium & Wildlife Park (Denmark) – European Mink – 2022
AND...
I've seen a Greater Grison at 1 zoo:
1- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Greater Grison – 2023
American Mink:
@vogelcommando
On both my 2010 and 2015 visits to Zoo Montana (USA), I came across a small indoor exhibit for American Mink.
Significantly larger is this outdoor American Mink exhibit at Howell Nature Center: Wild Wonders Wildlife Park (USA):
Somewhat incredibly, I then saw THREE American Mink exhibits within two weeks and all in the state of Wisconsin.
This 4-foot wide slab of cement was the cage for an American Mink at Bear Den Zoo (USA):
You can see an American Mink curled up in this god-awful cage at Shalom Wildlife Park (USA). With an all-wire base, this cruel little enclosure is worse than what I've seen on a mink farm. When I was a teenager, I had a buddy who worked at a mink farm and the animals were bred for their pelts and kept in awful conditions. I visited only once and was surprised at how fierce the mink were, as they would attack any part of one's anatomy that came near their cage.
Between 2022 and 2023, Canada phased out the remaining mink farms and there's not a single one left in the nation. That's a far cry from the days of fur traders and a prosperous fur economy that stretched across the country.
An all-indoor, tiny glass-fronted enclosure for American Mink at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (USA). I wonder if that wheel is possibly just for decorative purposes.
The exhibits for Mink in Western European zoos are substantially larger and all outdoors. Wildpark Gangelt (Germany) has an outdoor European Mink exhibit:
@16217
There's THREE European Mink exhibits all near each other at GaiaZOO (Netherlands) and it would be interesting to know how many animals the zoo has at any one time.
@Mr Gharial
@Sicarius
European Mink exhibit at Opel Zoo (Germany):
Here's yet another European Mink exhibit with a long set of glass viewing windows, but at Tiergarten Monchengladbach (Germany) there's also a lot of concrete in the background.
Raccoons and European Mink together at Osnabruck Zoo (Germany):
AQUA Aquarium & Wildlife Park (Denmark) has a spacious European Mink exhibit:
@Toddy
As for Grisons, when I was at De Paay (Netherlands) I saw an enclosure with a label for a 'Greater Grison', but I did not see the animal and later on I found out it was actually a Lesser Grison. I obviously am not counting this badger-lookalike in my list, but here's the creature in question:
@MagpieGoose
And the exhibit at De Paay is nothing too memorable:
@vogelcommando
However, last year at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) I saw a Greater Grison poke its head out of its sandbox:
And here's the bizarre indoor area (90% cement):
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Wolverines - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
Tayras - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Mink - 6 zoos
American Mink - 5 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Greater Grison - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo
(6 European, 5 American)
1- Zoo Montana (USA) – American Mink – 2010
2- Howell Nature Center: Wild Wonders Wildlife Park (USA) – American Mink – 2018
3- Bear Den Zoo (USA) – American Mink – 2018
4- Shalom Wildlife Zoo (USA) – American Mink – 2018
5- Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (USA) – American Mink – 2018
6- Wildpark Gangelt (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
7- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – European Mink – 2019
8- Opel Zoo (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
9- Tiergarten Monchengladbach (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
10- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – European Mink – 2019
11- AQUA Aquarium & Wildlife Park (Denmark) – European Mink – 2022
AND...
I've seen a Greater Grison at 1 zoo:
1- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Greater Grison – 2023
American Mink:
@vogelcommando
On both my 2010 and 2015 visits to Zoo Montana (USA), I came across a small indoor exhibit for American Mink.
Significantly larger is this outdoor American Mink exhibit at Howell Nature Center: Wild Wonders Wildlife Park (USA):
Somewhat incredibly, I then saw THREE American Mink exhibits within two weeks and all in the state of Wisconsin.
This 4-foot wide slab of cement was the cage for an American Mink at Bear Den Zoo (USA):
You can see an American Mink curled up in this god-awful cage at Shalom Wildlife Park (USA). With an all-wire base, this cruel little enclosure is worse than what I've seen on a mink farm. When I was a teenager, I had a buddy who worked at a mink farm and the animals were bred for their pelts and kept in awful conditions. I visited only once and was surprised at how fierce the mink were, as they would attack any part of one's anatomy that came near their cage.
Between 2022 and 2023, Canada phased out the remaining mink farms and there's not a single one left in the nation. That's a far cry from the days of fur traders and a prosperous fur economy that stretched across the country.
An all-indoor, tiny glass-fronted enclosure for American Mink at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (USA). I wonder if that wheel is possibly just for decorative purposes.
The exhibits for Mink in Western European zoos are substantially larger and all outdoors. Wildpark Gangelt (Germany) has an outdoor European Mink exhibit:
@16217
There's THREE European Mink exhibits all near each other at GaiaZOO (Netherlands) and it would be interesting to know how many animals the zoo has at any one time.
@Mr Gharial
@Sicarius
European Mink exhibit at Opel Zoo (Germany):
Here's yet another European Mink exhibit with a long set of glass viewing windows, but at Tiergarten Monchengladbach (Germany) there's also a lot of concrete in the background.
Raccoons and European Mink together at Osnabruck Zoo (Germany):
AQUA Aquarium & Wildlife Park (Denmark) has a spacious European Mink exhibit:
@Toddy
As for Grisons, when I was at De Paay (Netherlands) I saw an enclosure with a label for a 'Greater Grison', but I did not see the animal and later on I found out it was actually a Lesser Grison. I obviously am not counting this badger-lookalike in my list, but here's the creature in question:
@MagpieGoose
And the exhibit at De Paay is nothing too memorable:
@vogelcommando
However, last year at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) I saw a Greater Grison poke its head out of its sandbox:
And here's the bizarre indoor area (90% cement):
Mustelidae:
North American River Otters - 115 zoos
Small-clawed Otters - 82 zoos
American Badgers - 31 zoos
Sea Otters - 15 zoos
Wolverines - 15 zoos
Fishers - 13 zoos
Giant Otters - 13 zoos
Tayras - 13 zoos
European Otters - 10 zoos
Spotted-necked Otters - 10 zoos
Yellow-throated Martens - 8 zoos
European Mink - 6 zoos
American Mink - 5 zoos
European Badgers - 5 zoos
Ratels - 5 zoos
American Martens - 3 zoos
European Pine Martens - 2 zoos
African Clawless Otters - 1 zoo
Greater Grison - 1 zoo
Neotropical Otters - 1 zoo
Stone Martens - 1 zoo