Spec. Zoo Design questions

[Van Beal]

Question (or questions) about elephants, specifically of the Asian variety.

1. If I had (for example) 2.8 Asian Elephants, I know that I would need three yards minimum to separate the males in musth (one yard per male), but would it be unreasonable or difficult to manage if I were to have a fourth yard and divide the females between the two (four to a yard)?

2. How large would separation yards for the bull elephants need to be? And ideally how large would the yard(s) for the females need to be in order to house the group of eight in a healthy manner?

3. In the situations of breeding, would the bull(s) be integrated into the yards with the females, or would individual females be integrated into the bull separation paddocks?

4. In the scenario that the division of my females be deemed reasonable, would it be reasonable/good for the elephants if I were to rotate the individuals in each of the two female-exclusive yards to allow a more 'complex' social dynamic between the females?

 

[Mr.Ivory]

Question (or questions) about elephants, specifically of the Asian variety.

1. If I had (for example) 2.8 Asian Elephants, I know that I would need three yards minimum to separate the males in musth (one yard per male), but would it be unreasonable or difficult to manage if I were to have a fourth yard and divide the females between the two (four to a yard)?

2. How large would separation yards for the bull elephants need to be? And ideally how large would the yard(s) for the females need to be in order to house the group of eight in a healthy manner?

3. In the situations of breeding, would the bull(s) be integrated into the yards with the females, or would individual females be integrated into the bull separation paddocks?

4. In the scenario that the division of my females be deemed reasonable, would it be reasonable/good for the elephants if I were to rotate the individuals in each of the two female-exclusive yards to allow a more 'complex' social dynamic between the females?

With three yards, I would suggest the matriarchal herd habitat being the largest, say at least 5 acres for yard 1, while for the bulls, at least 2-3 acres. In regard to the separation of the cows, it would depend on how closely related they are to one another, and if you are including a fourth yard with the size being around 3 acres, it can be used for any separation needed with cows; for example, a cow with her two calves could be moved to the fourth yard while the rest of herd stay in yard 1.

In regards to breeding, most zoos' bulls bull with the entire duration of a female's estrus cycle due to most females in the family synchronizing with one another.

 

[Van Beal]

Just a curiosity of mine, how large are zoos in different "categories" (small, medium, large, etc.) generally? Preferably in acreage.

 

[Van Beal]

Another question. Would a 1.5-acre yard be sufficiently sized for Reticulated Giraffe, Soemmerring’s Gazelle, Lowland Nyala, and Common Ostrich? Or would it maybe need to be larger?

 

[Mr Gharial]

Is there a max group size on North American tree porcupines or can they only be held in pairs?

 

[KevinB]

Is there a max group size on North American tree porcupines or can they only be held in pairs?

Perhaps this document could be helpful.

Husbandry Standards For Keeping Porcupines In Captivity

 

[StellarChaser]

Is it realistic to have Shoebill in a Canadian zoo?

 

[KevinB]

Is it realistic to have Shoebill in a Canadian zoo?

They are quite cold sensitive, so the vast majority of Canada wouldn't suit them very well, unless you went for an all or mostly indoor exhibit.

 

[StellarChaser]

They are quite cold sensitive, so the vast majority of Canada wouldn't suit them very well, unless you went for an all or mostly indoor exhibit.

The biggest challenge is where to acquire the Shoebill, weather is not major concern since I can put it in indoor greenhouse.

 

[KevinB]

The biggest challenge is where to acquire the Shoebill, weather is not major concern since I can put it in indoor greenhouse.

Captive breeding of shoebills so far has been limited to one-offs and the captive population is fairly low, so either acquiring one from another zoo or importing directly from the wild would be the only options. It would I guess depend on whether Canada would permit that.

 

[Van Beal]

Not necessarily a question I expect a steadfast answer for, but I'm wondering if anyone has a list of species from Australia and the rest of Oceania that are realistic for a spec zoo outside of said region, or somewhat within the realms of possibility, as such propositions seem to be more-or-less accepted in this forum.
Any help/information is much appreciated!

 

[Van Beal]

Would Channel-billed Cuckoo be a realistic acquisition for a North American zoo?

 

[Great Argus]

Would Channel-billed Cuckoo be a realistic acquisition for a North American zoo?

No, not really.

 

[BenFoxster]

Would it be theoretically possible for Douc Langurs to survive in a zoo located in Southern California, around the Los Angeles and Kern County areas?

 

[Great Argus]

Would it be theoretically possible for Douc Langurs to survive in a zoo located in Southern California, around the Los Angeles and Kern County areas?

Yes - San Diego had them for many years. They've been kept indoors in more northern latitudes as well.

 

[Van Beal]

Would it be theoretically possible for Douc Langurs to survive in a zoo located in Southern California, around the Los Angeles and Kern County areas?

Furthering on this question, would the Douc Langurs be able to survive in a zoo located in the Southeast of the United States, like Florida or S. Carolina?

 

[Mr Gharial]

Furthering on this question, would the Douc Langurs be able to survive in a zoo located in the Southeast of the United States, like Florida or S. Carolina?

If anything, they'd do better. As there's higher humidity

 

[Van Beal]

If anything, they'd do better. As there's higher humidity

I’ll do another expansion question. Does anyone know which species of douc langur is kept in NA, if any? And if not, is it realistic to include such a species in a spec zoo based in North America?

And unrelated question: what is the likelihood of acquiring the following:
Mexican Dwarf Hairy Porcupine/Thin-spined Porcupine
Giant Malagasy Jumping Rat
Any species of weasel/stoat
Sumatran Serow
Rufous Rat-kangaroo

 

[Platypusboy]

I’ll do another expansion question. Does anyone know which species of douc langur is kept in NA, if any? And if not, is it realistic to include such a species in a spec zoo based in North America?

And unrelated question: what is the likelihood of acquiring the following:
Mexican Dwarf Hairy Porcupine/Thin-spined Porcupine
Giant Malagasy Jumping Rat
Any species of weasel/stoat
Sumatran Serow
Rufous Rat-kangaroo

Currently there are no species of douc langur present in North America. Even though a few European establishments have acquired Red-shanked douc langurs in recent decades, I still believe that douc langurs arriving in North America is unrealistic.

 

[Great Argus]

I’ll do another expansion question. Does anyone know which species of douc langur is kept in NA, if any? And if not, is it realistic to include such a species in a spec zoo based in North America?

Red-shanked Douc is the species that was most recently kept. As it stands, not realistic.

And unrelated question: what is the likelihood of acquiring the following:
Mexican Dwarf Hairy Porcupine/Thin-spined Porcupine
Giant Malagasy Jumping Rat
Any species of weasel/stoat
Sumatran Serow
Rufous Rat-kangaroo

Weasel is most likely, with a native species. Porcupine and rat are low likelihood. Serow and rat-kangaroo are unrealistic.