Southern White Rhinos in mixed species exhibits

[Sophie Brugmann]

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That's an interesting perspective Sofia thanks for sharing !

Personally even if it could be somewhat workable I just question the need to exhibit the two species in that way as they don't occur in the same habitat.

Regarding otters I can't say that I know much about their interactions with rhino but definitely when it comes to smaller primates it seems like all otters pose a risk.

There have been some notorious examples of otter-primate mixed species exhibits going terribly wrong.

Two that come to mind are the short clawed otters that mobbed and drowned to death a Javan langur at the Bronx and a golden headed lion tamarin which was killed and eaten by a short clawed otter at Bristol (free ranging tamarins rather than mixed species exhibit but still pertinent).

I think there was also some incidents with giant otters and primates being mixed at South Lakes (no surprise there) but not 100 % sure.

I'd like to edit one more thing, because I actually see a benefit.

The zoo I visit regularly had to renovate the polar regions exhibit complex, which also housed Humboldt penguins. During renovations the penguins were housed in the kangaroo moat. Sound super odd, worked very well for all the animals.

And it actually was super educational! Because it so obviously was contrasting people's expectation of "penguins=ice and cold" that it made them look for a sign and actually recognize that there are penguins in temperate and even tropical climates! So you don't really need the geographically perfect mix to send a very important message.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I think one of the major things that make meerkats successful in that mix is that they're ground dwelling. If they would be good climbers in am ape exhibit, the chances are high that they will fit through barriers and actually escape the enclosure. Happened in Heidelberg when they mixed a genet with their gorillas for the same reason.

Interesting I didn't know about that mix.

When were these mixed at Heidelberg ?

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

[


I'd like to edit one more thing, because I actually see a benefit.

The zoo I visit regularly had to renovate the polar regions exhibit complex, which also housed Humboldt penguins. During renovations the penguins were housed in the kangaroo moat. Sound super odd, worked very well for all the animals.

And it actually was super educational! Because it so obviously was contrasting people's expectation of "penguins=ice and cold" that it made them look for a sign and actually recognize that there are penguins in temperate and even tropical climates! So you don't really need the geographically perfect mix to send a very important message.

That's an interesting example and I'm sure there are cases where these kind of mixes do provoke thought and are educational.

I suppose I'm just more into biogeographically correct exhibits and those which have species from the same habitat together.

 

[Sophie Brugmann]

Interesting I didn't know about that mix.

When were these mixed at Heidelberg ?

Early 2000s. I'm not sure about the exact year.

 

[Nix]

Port Lympne keeps Baboons and Rhinos together