Species You Wish More Zoos Would Keep
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Wonder if it came directly from the Galapagos or via one of the other known illegal import countries. Seems to be in decent health at least.
I think we all know several cases of marine iguanas in Uganda and Japan. I believe that in this species the barrier of successful captive maintenance has already been overcome. The only problem is that exporting from Ecuador is illegal (it's a big problem, of course). In the case of land iguanas they have even reproduced in captivity, although I think that with marine iguanas it has not yet been achieved, although I'm not sure.
Yeah it seems to be pretty well taken care of, with naturalistic theming applied to the exhibit.
I've heard there's some in Switzerland as well.
It's possible, but I think it may be related to the fact that the owner of the Ugandan iguanas is Swiss and previously had them in Switzerland.
I think that countries where endangered wildlife lives should indeed make some exceptions when zoos are willing to establish a breeding program, although most of the time it's zoos who don't want to engage in such challenging animals: I think I'm not alone when I say that I feel that more and more species are fading from zoos because there's less willingness towards rarer and more difficult breeding programs, everyone just wants to go easy and do not want to risk anymore.
Look at the Sumatran Rhino, Cincinnati and Los Angeles wanted to start the breeding program, no other zoo helped nor tried to hold them (as far as I know); Very few zoos stand as true Wildlife fortresses with less represented and more endangered animals.
Unless a generation of willing people steps in I think we'll see less and less animals in zoos as time passes.
Look at the Sumatran Rhino, Cincinnati and Los Angeles wanted to start the breeding program, no other zoo helped nor tried to hold them (as far as I know); Very few zoos stand as true Wildlife fortresses with less represented and more endangered animals.
Unless a generation of willing people steps in I think we'll see less and less animals in zoos as time passes.
SusScrofa
Well-Known Member
I'd like seeing more ungulate species kept at zoos. A number of them that have successfully bred and are relatively easy to keep are being phased out. It seems ungulate diversity especially in the US is heading to an all-time low which is a shame. But for the average zoo-goer, they don't care about antelope and deer and just want to see the same lions, gorillas, etc so I imagine there's also a business decision to reduce the number of exhibited species.
I'd love seeing more small carnivorans, especially felines (besides the common bobcats, caracal, serval etc), viverrids and mustelids. Many are declining in numbers in the wild and are being passed around the exotic pet trade. I don't know if there is breeding success with these species, however, and they are possibly difficult to keep and easily stressed out. So that may be a reason why they are so scarce in major zoos here.
I'd love seeing more small carnivorans, especially felines (besides the common bobcats, caracal, serval etc), viverrids and mustelids. Many are declining in numbers in the wild and are being passed around the exotic pet trade. I don't know if there is breeding success with these species, however, and they are possibly difficult to keep and easily stressed out. So that may be a reason why they are so scarce in major zoos here.
Unfortunately the ungulate heyday is past and continues to rapidly decline. Many smaller and lesser known species either have failed to establish or are getting the boot because of small population. We will probably never again see the wide variety of ungulates as we used to in AZA facilities.
Randomname0183
Well-Known Member
Woah that is really surprising. I’d guess it’s either a customs seizure or got smuggled like the Uganda Iguanas
Well, any iguana hailing from the Galapagos was illegally exported so your guess is more fact than anything else.
I'd like to see more bats in zoos.
@Dassie rat fruit bats are (or historically were) at almost every zoo I know.
I was thinking about different species, especially microbats
Yellow-Winged Bats Lavia frons would be interesting. They roost in relatively open places in tree crowns where can be seen in daylight, they are relatively colorful, but at the same time very weird. I can imagine them kept in an exhibit with dense vegetation overhanging near the roof, under which the bats would roost, and a mirror on the floor, showing them in reflection.
I would love to see more Smooth-coated and Neotropical River Otters, instead of the very common Small-clawed Otter. Smooth-coated Otter is actually most social of small otter species, so should be especially interesting for a layman visitor.
Central American Squirrel Monkeys and Black Squirrel monkeys - instead of the super common normal ones. It is said that central american squirrel monkeys are illegally caught for pets - so where are those confiscated pets which could form a basis of a zoo population?
I would also love to see Cozumel Raccoons and Coatis, which are endangered and could replace very common ordinary raccoons and coatis.
I would love to see more Smooth-coated and Neotropical River Otters, instead of the very common Small-clawed Otter. Smooth-coated Otter is actually most social of small otter species, so should be especially interesting for a layman visitor.
Central American Squirrel Monkeys and Black Squirrel monkeys - instead of the super common normal ones. It is said that central american squirrel monkeys are illegally caught for pets - so where are those confiscated pets which could form a basis of a zoo population?
I would also love to see Cozumel Raccoons and Coatis, which are endangered and could replace very common ordinary raccoons and coatis.
Indeed been observing this for several years now. I smell a rat in regarding any management "AZA." What certains me is the growing apathy of variety of species over lions, hippos, rhinos, giraffes common species to name a few. Once back in recent past zoo's championed helping save the Arabian Oryx. Now management style or lack there of is will just let odd species regardless of rarely go because we don't care anymore. The prevailing consensus improving zoo's for human species to raise money, money, money for conservation and rapid decline of knowing how to manage species breeding. Hence no room in the ark any more. Heaven forbid with greater emphasis on specialization of themed exhibits gone is ability to zoological understand or cultivate other species deemed now having no display value.
Jambi
Well-Known Member
If it can be done well enough, I wouldn't mind seeing more non-fruit bats such as microbats in zoos. Perhaps they're more difficult to care for compared to fruit bats?
They are.
Also worth noting that several of the bats we have in zoos are microbats - vampire bats, bulldog bats, Seba's and Jamaican fruit bats, and all of the nectar-drinking bats are microbats.