Honolulu Zoo Species Present in Hawaiian Zoos

S

Shirokuma

Well-Known Member
In the book 'America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families' it is stated that:
there are strict regulations dictating which animals can be exhibited and bred, both in the zoo and elsewhere in the state.
Click to expand...

Is anyone able to elaborate on this? I'm curious to know which species in particular are unable to be kept in captivity in Hawaii.

I'm not sure if Hawaii has any other major zoos so I have listed this under Honolulu Zoo.
 
I'm not sure what else, but I do know snakes are something of an issue.
 
Thanks for sharing that. In case anyone else is interested this is the list of 'restricted animals for research and exhibition'.

Animals on the Restricted and Conditional Approved Lists require import permits from the Plant Quarantine Branch prior to importation. Microorganisms also require approved permits before being allowed to enter Hawai`i.

For restricted organisms, site inspection and approval is required prior to permit approval and permit is required for possession.
Click to expand...
 
Shirokuma said:
I'm not sure if Hawaii has any other major zoos so I have listed this under Honolulu Zoo.
Click to expand...

There is at least one wildlife park (not counting aquariums or marine centers), I forget the name, but I remember seeing something about their white tiger exhibit.

I do remember reading that Honolulu Zoo had the only snake (either one or two species) legally owned in Hawaii. They are trying to prevent the disaster that Guam experienced with the brown snakes (and that South Florida is quickly developing with Burmese pythons).
 
actually Hawaii has one native sea snake (the yellow-bellied sea snake Pelamis platurus, which admittedly is rare in the islands) and one well-established introduced terrestrial snake (the flowerpot snake Ramphotyhlops braminus which lives entirely underground so is rarely seen by anyone except gardeners and grave-diggers :D).

There is quite a large number of introduced amphibians and lizards that have become established in the islands as well, and snakes are certainly amongst those that turn up, especially common boas. The brown tree snake that devastated Guam has also been regularly recorded at the airports and docks, but no snakes other than the flowerpot snake have yet become established fortunately.
 
Sorry to bump this old thread, but I was curious about how the Honolulu Zoo operates regarding imports of exotic species. I know this is a major issue in Hawaii. This does answer some questions. After visiting Kahului I had thought that was one place that could support a zoo since it is a major tourist area. However, I can see that this could be problematic. Too bad in a way, they could really exhibit tropical species year-round.
 
Honolulu only keeps male meerkats due to fear that, in the event that there was an escape, breeding would take place and that they would become yet another non-native/invasive/alien species in Hawaii.

It's a good thing that they do this, as they did have a few meerkats stolen a couple of years ago now! Had they have been opposite sexes, bred, and then released when the owner couldn't handle them anymore, a real travesty could have unraveled!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top