I don’t like red pandas. I know they are endangered but I think they take away the public’s chance to meet a new small carnivore.
Species you hate to see in zoos
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At the same time they are an endangered small carnivore that's very popular with guests. We all always complain that Meerkats aren't replaced with an endangered species that can be commonly kept, well here's an example of just that. That said, Nepali Red Pandas are so common they do become tiresome, similar to the ASCO situation. I do, however, quite love Chinese Red Pandas.
~Thylo
How do you tell the difference?
I forgot which is which, but one has a white forehead while the other has red forehead.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
As we were discussing in the gallery earlier meerkats in zoos could well be replaced with Euplerids that have a greater requirement for ex-situ management like the boky-boky or the vontsira.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Well, that escalated quickly. Which seems to be all too common when it comes to the controversial topic of cetacea in captivity.
Let's just hope nobody here comes in suggesting to ban bats or snakes from zoos.
I propose we ban snakes and bats from zoos !
Nah, just kidding
Like others, I hate seeing meerkats in zoos. I’d take any other mongoose any day over meerkats. Same with ring tailed lemurs & white tailed deer.
New Zealand already did ban snakes!I propose we ban snakes and bats from zoos !
Nah, just kidding
Jake1508
Well-Known Member
Send some WhiteTails over to Australia please!
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Was just joking with my comment in reply to Batto.
I didn't know that about New Zealand but if it is a law specifically to prevent escape and establishment of invasive species then all I can say is good for them.
The Kiwis are miles ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to invasive species IMO.
I believe that is the exact reason, safe guarding all the rare birds they've managed to save. Given the enormous mess the various introduced species have made in both NZ and Australia I don't blame them for having such strict import laws.
Sort of. In general, Chinese Red Pandas are a lot darker and deeper red in color than Nepali, which are much paler and more orange with whiteish fur mixed in.
For example, Chinese:
Nepali:
I'm not sure how hard and fast of a rule this is, though. There appear to be some very "Nepali"-looking Chinese out there. For instance, Prospect Park's pair is Chinese according to the studbook, however as the below images show, one of their pair looks a lot more typical for Nepali than Chinese:
That said, looking at all these images side-by-side now, I think the size and surrounding fur color of the white cheek spots may be a distinctive feature as well. Note how all the Chinese animals shown, including the lighter colored individual, all have notably smaller cheek spots than the Nepali, and all have more black climbing up their neck and encroaching on the cheek spots.
~Thylo
What do people think of the Red Panda split? Is it a valid one?
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
No me either, and I wish them all the luck in the world in their efforts to permanently remove invasive species.
I think so. I've encountered studies that even say that they should be split into two species! I've also read that other differences between them is that A. f. styani has a larger skull and teeth and longer winter coat, although it would be almost impossible to distinguish that without getting a really up close look.
I personally am not a fan of those Lorrikeet feeding exhibits. I dont know, I just feel like whenever I go in one It feels cheap. It does not really have the same effect with being close to a Nicobar pigeon in a jungle aviary. It just feels a lot more natural with other birds like Sunbittern, and Lorrikeets just kinda feel lazy.
I agree. I feel this concept is a little overdone, however, it's probably a good way for zoos to get a little more money.
The species level split is what I was I was referring to.
The 2020 study found that the two taxa have been separated for more than 250,000 years. That said, I believe the study has been criticized for not using samples from animals living at the (sub)species boundary in their analysis and for focusing more on phylogenetics.
As it stands I follow it but further study is probably necessary to know for sure.
~Thylo
The same always bugs me when it comes to ring-tailed and ruffed lemurs, African penguins and Asian short-clawed otters. These species face serious trouble in the wild but zoo populations are doing great. We should celebrate the "commonness" of these species instead of wishing they were replaced by something more obscure (which very often is not much more endangered!)