I saw the "Nubian" wild asses at Catskill in 1984; I know they're not pure bred but, I agree, they looked remarkably similar to Nubian wild asses.
Snowleopard's Mammals: A Lifetime List of Species Mammalian and Non-Mammalian
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Wisp O' Mist
Well-Known Member
Incidentally, at least some of the Catskill Game Farm's famed "Nubian" Wild Asses ended up at the Capitol of Texas Zoo. (Albeit in a roundabout manner.)
To my knowledge, there are no Maneless Zebra in North America. And most likely, there have never been.
Historically Grant's, Chapman's, and Burchell's were the Plains Zebra subspecies favored for importation to North American zoos. (I expect because they were simply the easiest to get! Being from African countries with long histories of European colonization, home to semi-stable governments open to selling wildlife overseas and all.)
Nowadays, the North American Plains Zebra population is a definite mix between the three previously mentioned subspecies and has been for quite some time. Even the AZA admits it.
I noticed that the drive-through areas of the monorail ride at Night Safari are not visibly separated from places where the monorail ride is crossed by walking paths. The staff told me that Malayan Tapirs and Sambars in the walk-through areas are all tame! This allows staff to keep them from walking out to the visitor areas!
Interestingly, genetics of domestic and wild African asses is not that well known. It might be possible that some breeds of domestic asses are genetically no different from the extinct Nubian wild asses, but nobody knows that currently. An interesting project waiting to be done.
I am finally home from São Paulo!
Answering @snowleopard 's post about zebras:
I first saw a in 2007, at RioZoo. I am almost completely sure the zebra I saw was Equus quagga burchellii, the most common subspecies in Brazil at the time.
@zooboyabroad
BioParque do Rio, now zebra-less, has also held Grevy's, Grant's and Chapman's zebras, though long before I was born.
I have also seen Burchell's zebras at a few other places, including São Paulo (the zoo), Belo Horizonte, Beto Carrero World and Pomerode. However, the only time I got to touch a zebra was last year, at Hotel Fazenda Cascatinha, in Piraí. They have a male named Gabigol.
I saw my first Grant's zebra in 2021, at Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, where they have a female. I believe she descends from the pair imported to RioZoo from Kenya in 1949 (if I am not mistaken, they sent a zebra to Rio Grande do Sul when FZBRS was inaugurated).
I believe the zebras at ZooParque Itatiba and Animália Park are also pure Grant's. However, they were imported from private breeders in the US, which really makes my work at figuring out their actual purity much more difficult.
(To be honest, this one from Itatiba looks a lot like a hybrid between a Burchell's and a Grant's zebra)
I first saw a Grevy's zebra in 2011, at Zoo Safari (owned by FPZSP). Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo has continuously kept the species since the 1970s, and bred them many times after their arrival. Araras (now closed) and BH have also previously held the species.
Both pictures are from last Friday, when I visited the zoo.
I also saw the species at both the Lisbon zoo and Zoo Santo Inácio in 2018, though they are no longer in Avintes.
I have never seen a mountain zebra, though a closed private zoo in São Paulo did have one in the 1950s, mislabeled as Equus burchellii antiquorum. No wild asses or Przewalski's horses either, though they have been historically held at a few Brazilian zoos.
Somali wild ass are also present at the Buín zoo, in Chile.
Answering @snowleopard 's post about zebras:
I first saw a in 2007, at RioZoo. I am almost completely sure the zebra I saw was Equus quagga burchellii, the most common subspecies in Brazil at the time.
@zooboyabroad
BioParque do Rio, now zebra-less, has also held Grevy's, Grant's and Chapman's zebras, though long before I was born.
I have also seen Burchell's zebras at a few other places, including São Paulo (the zoo), Belo Horizonte, Beto Carrero World and Pomerode. However, the only time I got to touch a zebra was last year, at Hotel Fazenda Cascatinha, in Piraí. They have a male named Gabigol.
I saw my first Grant's zebra in 2021, at Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, where they have a female. I believe she descends from the pair imported to RioZoo from Kenya in 1949 (if I am not mistaken, they sent a zebra to Rio Grande do Sul when FZBRS was inaugurated).
I believe the zebras at ZooParque Itatiba and Animália Park are also pure Grant's. However, they were imported from private breeders in the US, which really makes my work at figuring out their actual purity much more difficult.
(To be honest, this one from Itatiba looks a lot like a hybrid between a Burchell's and a Grant's zebra)
I first saw a Grevy's zebra in 2011, at Zoo Safari (owned by FPZSP). Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo has continuously kept the species since the 1970s, and bred them many times after their arrival. Araras (now closed) and BH have also previously held the species.
Both pictures are from last Friday, when I visited the zoo.
I also saw the species at both the Lisbon zoo and Zoo Santo Inácio in 2018, though they are no longer in Avintes.
I have never seen a mountain zebra, though a closed private zoo in São Paulo did have one in the 1950s, mislabeled as Equus burchellii antiquorum. No wild asses or Przewalski's horses either, though they have been historically held at a few Brazilian zoos.
Somali wild ass are also present at the Buín zoo, in Chile.
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Wisp O' Mist
Well-Known Member
If they really were imported from the US (And from a private breeder no less!), then no, they aren't purebred Grant's.
There aren't even purebred Grant's in AZA accredited zoos, nevermind the private trade.
I guess besides the Grevy's in São Paulo and the Grant's in Sapucaia do Sul (if I am correct about its origins), the only purebred zebras in Brazil are the Burchell's. I believe the current population originates from wild-caught animals plus a few imported to Brasília from Lisbon in the late 1990s.
Wisp O' Mist
Well-Known Member
That in of itself would be dependent on where the foundation stock for those Burchell's were imported from.
The wild stock came from South Africa, but I believe four were imported from Lisbon in 1998. I am not sure if they mixed both populations, so I am quite sure they are indeed purebred.
Wisp O' Mist
Well-Known Member
South Africa is known for it's wildlife farming, and Burchell's are apparently the subspecies of choice for the raising of consumption there, so...
Those are probably good.
No idea about Lisbon, though. That's Portugal, right? I'm not as familiar with the history of the various zebra species and subspecies in Europe as I am with the US. I'm also clueless and about how the EAZA manages them, both historically and contemporarily, so you're on your there, friend.
If Lisbon got their zebras from Angola or Mozambique (former Portuguese colonies), it is quite likely they are purebred Burchell's. On the other hand, I believe Spanish zoos also have Burchell's zebras as their most popular species.
The Tapirs and Deer are contained by cattle grids embedded in the road. But the animals are indeed fairly tame as well.
No, @biggest_dreamer I did not see the "Nubian Wild Asses" at Capital of Texas Zoo when I visited in 2015; perhaps they didn't have them back then.
No, @Tim May I never visited Catskill Game Farm and I've never seen a maneless zebra either.
After a couple of big posts about Malayan Tapirs (49 zoos) and South American Tapirs (35 zoos), it's time to discuss TWO species today and finish off tapirs. Unless a 5th species is ever officially recognized.
I mentioned how I saw more Malayan Tapirs in Asia than anywhere else and that species dominates the zoological landscape there. South American Tapirs are everywhere in Europe, and Baird's Tapirs are a species that I've seen almost exclusively in American zoos. It seems that each of these 3 tapir species has their own separate continent for captive specimens. Of the 44 current holders of Baird's Tapirs on Zootierliste, 34 of them are in North America and only 2 are in Europe.
As for Mountain Tapirs, I've been to a trio of zoos with the species but on one occasion I did not see any as they had a multi-acre, forested yard that made viewing almost impossible. But, I'm still happy to have come across this species at two different zoos in my lifetime. There's currently only 3 zoos on Zootierliste with this species.
I've seen Baird's Tapirs at 22 zoos:
1- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2006
2- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2006
3- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
4- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
5- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
6- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
7- Zoo Miami (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
8- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
9- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
10- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
11- Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
12- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
13- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
14- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2011
15- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
16- Brevard Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
17- Palm Beach Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
18- Hattiesburg Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
19- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2014
20- Houston Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2015
21- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Baird’s Tapir – 2019
22- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Baird’s Tapir – 2019
AND...
I've seen Mountain Tapirs at 2 zoos:
1- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Mountain Tapir – 2008
2- Mountain View Conservation Centre (Canada) – Mountain Tapir – 2008 (did not see)
3- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Mountain Tapir – 2010
My first time seeing a Baird's Tapir, sometimes called a Central American Tapir, was at San Francisco Zoo (USA) in 2006.
The much maligned Elephant Odyssey complex at San Diego Zoo (USA) has Baird's Tapirs mixed with other South American mammals such as Capybaras and Guanacos.
@pachyderm pro
Inside the cavernous tropical house called Lied Jungle at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (USA), there's been both Malayan Tapirs and Baird's Tapirs over the years.
@Baldur
The Rainforest of the Americas complex at Los Angeles Zoo (USA) has a long, winding Baird's Tapir exhibit.
@twilighter
A bit of a surprise was seeing a Baird's Tapir in a large, woodland environment at White Oak Conservation Center (USA) in 2008.
Facilities such as White Oak Conservation Center (USA), Zoo Miami (USA) and Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) have all phased out Baird's Tapirs. I'm lucky to have seen so many when I did!
I saw Baird's Tapirs at Mesker Park Zoo (USA) inside the all-indoor Amazonia: Forest of Riches tropical house in 2010.
My image from Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) shows a Baird's Tapir surfacing in its pool. It was sharing an exhibit with Alpacas, Llamas, King Vultures, Red-footed Tortoises and Yellow-footed Tortoises.
A rather lovely exhibit for Baird's Tapirs was to be found at Nashville Zoo (USA) in 2010, within the Bamboo Trail loop.
Baird's Tapirs, Llamas, Capybaras, Rheas, Coscoroba Swans and Crested Screamers were all together at BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) in 2010.
A fantastic South American Pampas exhibit at Audubon Zoo (USA) had Baird's Tapirs, Guanacos, Capybaras, Rheas and at least 10 additional bird species in 2010.
A mountain of mock-rock dominates a couple of Baird's Tapirs within the Tropical Forest building at Franklin Park Zoo (USA) in 2012.
A range of South American species, including Baird's Tapirs, were part of a large exhibit within the Tropics of the Americas complex at Palm Beach Zoo (USA) in 2012.
@BeardsleyZooFan
Baird's Tapirs, Capybaras and Llamas were all together at Hattiesburg Zoo (USA) in 2012.
Houston Zoo (USA) has built a brand-new Pantanal exhibit complex since my two visits (2010 and 2015) and the Baird's Tapirs are now mixed with a variety of South American fauna.
@geomorph
I was shocked to see a Baird's Tapir at Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) in 2019, with it being an older exhibit but nevertheless one with an indoor pool with underwater viewing.
Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) maintains Baird's Tapirs in the South American House, which was built in 1927. Back in the day, it housed elephants, hippos and tapirs, but these days it's down to Baird's Tapirs (Wuppertal had a European first breeding in 1998), Collared Peccaries, Two-toed Sloths and Chacoan Maras.
@Baldur
The only other European zoo where I've seen Baird's Tapirs is Berlin Zoo (Germany).
@gulogulogulo
As for Mountain Tapirs, seeing them at Los Angeles Zoo (USA) was a real delight. I've been to that zoo twice (2008 and 2017).
@Blackduiker
I've also visited Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) twice (2010 and 2014) and seeing Mountain Tapirs at a high altitude has been a neat experience.
Perissodactyla: 11 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
No, @Tim May I never visited Catskill Game Farm and I've never seen a maneless zebra either.
After a couple of big posts about Malayan Tapirs (49 zoos) and South American Tapirs (35 zoos), it's time to discuss TWO species today and finish off tapirs. Unless a 5th species is ever officially recognized.
I mentioned how I saw more Malayan Tapirs in Asia than anywhere else and that species dominates the zoological landscape there. South American Tapirs are everywhere in Europe, and Baird's Tapirs are a species that I've seen almost exclusively in American zoos. It seems that each of these 3 tapir species has their own separate continent for captive specimens. Of the 44 current holders of Baird's Tapirs on Zootierliste, 34 of them are in North America and only 2 are in Europe.
As for Mountain Tapirs, I've been to a trio of zoos with the species but on one occasion I did not see any as they had a multi-acre, forested yard that made viewing almost impossible. But, I'm still happy to have come across this species at two different zoos in my lifetime. There's currently only 3 zoos on Zootierliste with this species.
I've seen Baird's Tapirs at 22 zoos:
1- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2006
2- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2006
3- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
4- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
5- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
6- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
7- Zoo Miami (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2008
8- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
9- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
10- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
11- Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
12- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
13- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2010
14- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2011
15- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
16- Brevard Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
17- Palm Beach Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
18- Hattiesburg Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2012
19- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2014
20- Houston Zoo (USA) – Baird’s Tapir – 2015
21- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Baird’s Tapir – 2019
22- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Baird’s Tapir – 2019
AND...
I've seen Mountain Tapirs at 2 zoos:
1- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Mountain Tapir – 2008
2- Mountain View Conservation Centre (Canada) – Mountain Tapir – 2008 (did not see)
3- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Mountain Tapir – 2010
My first time seeing a Baird's Tapir, sometimes called a Central American Tapir, was at San Francisco Zoo (USA) in 2006.
The much maligned Elephant Odyssey complex at San Diego Zoo (USA) has Baird's Tapirs mixed with other South American mammals such as Capybaras and Guanacos.
@pachyderm pro
Inside the cavernous tropical house called Lied Jungle at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (USA), there's been both Malayan Tapirs and Baird's Tapirs over the years.
@Baldur
The Rainforest of the Americas complex at Los Angeles Zoo (USA) has a long, winding Baird's Tapir exhibit.
@twilighter
A bit of a surprise was seeing a Baird's Tapir in a large, woodland environment at White Oak Conservation Center (USA) in 2008.
Facilities such as White Oak Conservation Center (USA), Zoo Miami (USA) and Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) have all phased out Baird's Tapirs. I'm lucky to have seen so many when I did!
I saw Baird's Tapirs at Mesker Park Zoo (USA) inside the all-indoor Amazonia: Forest of Riches tropical house in 2010.
My image from Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) shows a Baird's Tapir surfacing in its pool. It was sharing an exhibit with Alpacas, Llamas, King Vultures, Red-footed Tortoises and Yellow-footed Tortoises.
A rather lovely exhibit for Baird's Tapirs was to be found at Nashville Zoo (USA) in 2010, within the Bamboo Trail loop.
Baird's Tapirs, Llamas, Capybaras, Rheas, Coscoroba Swans and Crested Screamers were all together at BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) in 2010.
A fantastic South American Pampas exhibit at Audubon Zoo (USA) had Baird's Tapirs, Guanacos, Capybaras, Rheas and at least 10 additional bird species in 2010.
A mountain of mock-rock dominates a couple of Baird's Tapirs within the Tropical Forest building at Franklin Park Zoo (USA) in 2012.
A range of South American species, including Baird's Tapirs, were part of a large exhibit within the Tropics of the Americas complex at Palm Beach Zoo (USA) in 2012.
@BeardsleyZooFan
Baird's Tapirs, Capybaras and Llamas were all together at Hattiesburg Zoo (USA) in 2012.
Houston Zoo (USA) has built a brand-new Pantanal exhibit complex since my two visits (2010 and 2015) and the Baird's Tapirs are now mixed with a variety of South American fauna.
@geomorph
I was shocked to see a Baird's Tapir at Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) in 2019, with it being an older exhibit but nevertheless one with an indoor pool with underwater viewing.
Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) maintains Baird's Tapirs in the South American House, which was built in 1927. Back in the day, it housed elephants, hippos and tapirs, but these days it's down to Baird's Tapirs (Wuppertal had a European first breeding in 1998), Collared Peccaries, Two-toed Sloths and Chacoan Maras.
@Baldur
The only other European zoo where I've seen Baird's Tapirs is Berlin Zoo (Germany).
@gulogulogulo
As for Mountain Tapirs, seeing them at Los Angeles Zoo (USA) was a real delight. I've been to that zoo twice (2008 and 2017).
@Blackduiker
I've also visited Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) twice (2010 and 2014) and seeing Mountain Tapirs at a high altitude has been a neat experience.
Perissodactyla: 11 total species so far
Plains Zebra - 153 zoos
Grevy's Zebra - 49 zoos
Malayan Tapir - 49 zoos
South American Tapir - 35 zoos
Przewalski's Horse - 28 zoos
Baird's Tapir - 22 zoos
Onager - 15 zoos
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra - 11 zoos
Somali Wild Ass - 7 zoos
Kiang - 3 zoos
Mountain Tapir - 2 zoos
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biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
Mountain tapirs are a top 5 must-see species for me. I can't make it back out to Colorado soon enough.
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Did @snowleopard visit there though? Also, aren’t they a new addition?
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
@snowleopard also didn't mentioned the Somali wild asses at Franklin Park Zoo which are a new addition plus hasn't gone to Franklin Park Zoo recently. He hasn't seen a lot of animals currently in zoos that he's been through due to zoos continous species changes
Some NA native animals like American Badgers, Red Wolves, Grey Fox, Fisher, Black-footed Ferret and Pronghorn are not kept outside of NA. Klipspringer is phased out in Europe while still held by some US facilities. The US zoos hold more Harpy Eagles, Coquerel's Sifaka and Sea Otters than Europe. Additionally, Mariana Fruit Dove, Guam Kingfisher, Guam Rail, White-eared Titi Monkey, Three-toed Sloth are kept in US but not in Europe
Singapore is the fourth Asian country that holds Okapi, after UAE (Al Bustan), Japan (Zoorasia and Kanazawa) and India (Vantara Jamnagar). Sadly, none of the Canadian facilities is interested in this charismatic ungulate even Canada is neighbor to a country with 29 holders
Zoo Beauval of France will rent 3 Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys from China next year, and there is rumor that 2-3 more European zoos will get GSN Monkeys in the future (if comes true, I highly guess one of them would be Pairi Daiza), so tons of chances for European zoo nerds to see them.
The problem is, the tropical species are much more diverse than northern species, even though zoos in Texas and Florida phase out Amur Tigers, Polar Bears, Snow Leopards, they still have variety of species including African and SE Asian Megafaunas and a lot of tropical primates and critters as choices (like Miami Zoo that keeps two Elephant species, also other African megafauna including Black Rhino, Gorilla, Giraffe, Okapi, Giant Eland etc). However, the zoos in northern NA don't have that many substitution if they get rid of tropical species. Some northern species like Moose, Musk Ox, Wolverines, West Caucasian Tur, Steller Sea Lions are just kept in small numbers by NA facilities, so acquiring these species might be difficult. An example would be that it took several years for Toronto Zoo but still couldn't find a bull Moose for breeding, the two geriatric cow Moose have one passed away this year, the last one will likely also die without offspring in the coming years. Some other species that can adapt to northern climates are also on the way to disappearing or already gone from NA facilities, including Himalayan Tahr, Chamois, Kiang, White-lipped Deer, Japanese Serow, Persian Gazelle, Dholes (I know Granby Zoo in Canada just got new Dholes, but still insufficient to build a stable captive population in NA), Siberian Musk Deer etc.
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Pretty sure Henry Vilas obtained them since @snowleopard last visited.
I visited Nicaragua's National Zoo last months, and I saw no less then 8 enclosures for Bairds tapir! 2 of them had a couple, 6 had a single individual, making for a total of 10 Bairds tapirs! Crazy!
(And yes, photo's of this zoo will eventually be added to the zoochat gallery)
A few days later, I saw the species again in Houston, my first (and only) US zoo. Their pantanal section is truly amazing! (unfortunately I was very pressed for time)
Before that, I saw Bairds tapir in Wuppertal, Berlin and the now closed Simón Bolívar Zoo in Costa Rica.
And I have seen Bairds tapirs in the wild in Costa Rica as well!
As for the mountain tapir, it is also very high on my 'must see some day' list!
(And yes, photo's of this zoo will eventually be added to the zoochat gallery)
A few days later, I saw the species again in Houston, my first (and only) US zoo. Their pantanal section is truly amazing! (unfortunately I was very pressed for time)
Before that, I saw Bairds tapir in Wuppertal, Berlin and the now closed Simón Bolívar Zoo in Costa Rica.
And I have seen Bairds tapirs in the wild in Costa Rica as well!
As for the mountain tapir, it is also very high on my 'must see some day' list!
I've seen Baird's Tapir in several zoos in the US of course, but the best enclosure I've ever seen for them was at ZooAve in Costa Rica. Just a slice of jungle, it's an incredible enclosure that probably didn't take much effort to make.
While I never got to see the species itself in the wild while I was down there, I did find an abundance of their tracks and trails in the alpine oak forests.
While I never got to see the species itself in the wild while I was down there, I did find an abundance of their tracks and trails in the alpine oak forests.