Starting Your Own Zoo

LizardInsanity may I suggest that for the bamboo you choose a clumping kind of bamboo. Clumping bamboo will stay more of were you want it instead of spreading like the regular running bamboo. I am growing some clumping bamboo in my peafowl aviary and it needs some more fertilizer right now and it is still young, but it is growing very nicely and is one of the best beautiful bird proof plants.
 
By bamboo I meant the dry cut kind, but for the ground I would use clumping bamboo around paths, aviaries, and paddocks and along the borders and buildings I would probably put the spreading kind
 
Pets in ZOO

My Uncle has a plan to build a mini Zoo,But the Problem is Its hard to have some animals especially endangered species.So he decided to start a domestic animals.And i want to help him..Any advice...:) And i am also planing to buy a ferrets to put my own pets in his mini ZOO.
 
petbuddy said:
My Uncle has a plan to build a mini Zoo,But the Problem is Its hard to have some animals especially endangered species.So he decided to start a domestic animals.And i want to help him..Any advice...:) And i am also planing to buy a ferrets to put my own pets in his mini ZOO.
Click to expand...

Well finding places that breed these animals and sell them to institutions isn't all that hard just ask me what you are looking for in particular and I can help you. Ferret's are nice out reach animals for programs but they don't make very a very interesting exhibit.
 
My thoughts on owning our own Zoo...

Hi all.

Thanks to kbaker116 for starting this thread. Reading it is what inspired me to join up. Like a lot of others here, my wife and I have visted many zoos and wildlife parks since we got together and like a lot of you we have talked about the possibility of owning our own and "doing it better".

My experience is in Business, not with animals, and my wife's is in Training, Management and now Sales. This gives us a very broad array of business skills which is essential in any commercial operation, however I agree with other posters that I will need to hire an experienced Zoologist. (I also identified the need to get a Marketing/Sales Manager but that is a string my wife is now adding to her bow!)

In developing a business plan there's a few thoughts I had on the business side which I would like feedback on from the gang here...

Time in Park.
One of the objectives I have set is to ensure that the visitor experience exceeds 3 hours in duration. We have visited a number of Zoos and Wildlife Parks and the ones that kept us there longer usually ended up selling us something... if your hours are 10am to 4pm any 3 hour visit would include a meal break of some kind - morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea. This adds to your profit per visitor.

Upkeep.
We have visited a number of parks in various states of disrepair. This defiantly impacts on the visitor experience... Australia Zoo is a great example of what to do right - although some areas needed a lick of paint, the whole place was clean and in good repair. It really enhanced the experience which would make me want to go back.

Interactivity.
This is not meant to be a promo for Australia Zoo, but the chance to feed the Elephants was a magical experience. At Canberra Zoo we did the Keeper tour and I got to feed honey to a bear, who licked it off my fingers. At Sea World on the Gold Coast we swan with Dolphins. All of these are cherished memories and I remember all these venues fondly. They also ignited my passion for animals and animal welfare over and over again - this is the benefit of having interactive displays. (Plus I bought photo's ect from each one adding to the park coffers)

Breed for Food/Sale
Not sure if this is a popular one, but my thought were always to breed certain species for display and meat. Deer in particular, but also kangaroo and pigs... apart from labor costs, feeding the animals is one of the higher expenses (especially for the big carnivores) and growing your own food would seem a logical solution (Plus you can supply your own Cafe).There are also a number of opportunities to breed snakes, rats and insects for display and the pet trade as food sources/pets... even help as source of food for own exhibits etc.

Location, location, location.
We have identified a family tourism area which doesn't have a lot of tourist attractions in the area that is till close enough to the city for School Excursions and day trips for Senior Citizens. My plan requires acreage so this suits us best.

My plan is to start with a farm based experience first which would also generate the revenue to progressively add more exhibits before evolving into a proper Wildlife Park/Zoo...

Your thoughts?
 
ronnieb013 said:
Hi all.

Thanks to kbaker116 for starting this thread. Reading it is what inspired me to join up. Like a lot of others here, my wife and I have visted many zoos and wildlife parks since we got together and like a lot of you we have talked about the possibility of owning our own and "doing it better".

My experience is in Business, not with animals, and my wife's is in Training, Management and now Sales. This gives us a very broad array of business skills which is essential in any commercial operation, however I agree with other posters that I will need to hire an experienced Zoologist. (I also identified the need to get a Marketing/Sales Manager but that is a string my wife is now adding to her bow!)

In developing a business plan there's a few thoughts I had on the business side which I would like feedback on from the gang here...

Time in Park.
One of the objectives I have set is to ensure that the visitor experience exceeds 3 hours in duration. We have visited a number of Zoos and Wildlife Parks and the ones that kept us there longer usually ended up selling us something... if your hours are 10am to 4pm any 3 hour visit would include a meal break of some kind - morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea. This adds to your profit per visitor.

Upkeep.
We have visited a number of parks in various states of disrepair. This defiantly impacts on the visitor experience... Australia Zoo is a great example of what to do right - although some areas needed a lick of paint, the whole place was clean and in good repair. It really enhanced the experience which would make me want to go back.

Interactivity.
This is not meant to be a promo for Australia Zoo, but the chance to feed the Elephants was a magical experience. At Canberra Zoo we did the Keeper tour and I got to feed honey to a bear, who licked it off my fingers. At Sea World on the Gold Coast we swan with Dolphins. All of these are cherished memories and I remember all these venues fondly. They also ignited my passion for animals and animal welfare over and over again - this is the benefit of having interactive displays. (Plus I bought photo's ect from each one adding to the park coffers)

Breed for Food/Sale
Not sure if this is a popular one, but my thought were always to breed certain species for display and meat. Deer in particular, but also kangaroo and pigs... apart from labor costs, feeding the animals is one of the higher expenses (especially for the big carnivores) and growing your own food would seem a logical solution (Plus you can supply your own Cafe).There are also a number of opportunities to breed snakes, rats and insects for display and the pet trade as food sources/pets... even help as source of food for own exhibits etc.

Location, location, location.
We have identified a family tourism area which doesn't have a lot of tourist attractions in the area that is till close enough to the city for School Excursions and day trips for Senior Citizens. My plan requires acreage so this suits us best.

My plan is to start with a farm based experience first which would also generate the revenue to progressively add more exhibits before evolving into a proper Wildlife Park/Zoo...

Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

That's great! I'm glad you guys are enjoying this thread!

The hours seem good, especially for a new zoo. I think those hours would work great especially since you have morning and afternoon tea. In the United States 12-5 may be a better choice for hours.

Animal interactions can make great exhibits and also to make some extra money. A zoo I work for is planning to open up a small budgie aviary and a kangaroo walk-through exhibit to build up some cash before opening.

I'm not sure about breeding Kangaroo's for meat or any exhibit animal for that matter. I know some visitors have a hard time when finding out a baby goat that they were petting in the petting zoo will be fed to the lions one day. If the media finds out it could ruin you.

I plan on having almost half of my park being reptiles. There is definitely a market for captive bred reptiles and especially when dealing with color morphs you can make money of them. I would encourage you to investigate the reptile market more if you are interested.

Overall I really like your ideas and I learned a thing or two from your post. If you like, post a more detailed description of your dream zoo. I would be interested in reading it.
 
Thanks for the feedback.

Thank KB.

The hours nominated reflect the hours of most Zoos and Wildlife Parks in our region... we don't have the extreme weather conditions here in Victoria other areas do, so these are ok in our climate.

My thoughts are that raising animals of the "farm" side, people would expect them to be sent to slaughter eventually... and in fact we'll educate them to that fact. Produce grown on the farm will also be served in the Cafe as well, herbicide and pesticide free (we are aiming to be "green").

Just to clarify, Kangaroos won't be bred for a food source, but used as such if they need to be culled.

I see that the best way to start the project will be with a visitor farm, then expand into Native Wildlife, then full zoo. The farm will ultimately be the secure food source for the zoo (after paying off some of the land!) where I will be able to control food quality etc. Given a lion for example consumes 25kgs a week of meat this will be important. We don't have access to the required funds to start a Zoo straight away so this seems the way to go (supported by comments on this site).

Running the visitor farm will also help us get the animal handling, husbandry and tourism management experience without a huge initial outlay. This will also give us time to develop and document the policies and processes needed to become accredited with ARAZPA, which in turn will give us access to their programs, support, animals etc. (We plan to raise chocolate labs there as well which will help with managing carnivores to a small degree.)

I have been researching Herp and Aviculture Societies and looking at what people are into. I think that both reptiles and birds will play a big roll in the developing stages of the business. Establishing good relations with pet suppliers will hopefully allow a barter system to free up cashflow and keep running costs down (snakes for feed etc)

At this point we are only in the planning stages, there is a hell of a lot more work to do before we turn soil on the first exhibit! (We still need to purchase the land yet!)

We are currently looking at several locations. Given here in Victoria we have Zoos Victoria (3 sites), Halls Gap and Mansfield this will be important. NW or SE Victoria are the obvious choices but we need to look at demographics, water supply, cost of land. The land must also support the initial farm enterprise which will focus on free range pork and eggs, maybe goat (we had a growing demand here in Australia) and potentially rabbit. I decided on pigs and goats as I can rotate them through crop paddocks as well (to turn and fertalise soil) and start up costs are lower (although profit margins are too).

Our focus is on families so we will be very kid friendly.

For the visitor farm we will include Alpaca, Cattles, Sheep, Camels, Horses, Ducks, Geese etc but not at any levels that would be commercial, mainily to have at the petting zoo and to educate the kids. (We want lots of school groups through the week!)

When it comes to the wildlife park, and open interactive display of Kangaroos, Emu and wallabys plus parrot avaries, Python display, Koalas, possums etc would be the start of it. Natives are much easier to source and we'd have no issues with climate etc.

Deer would be the first "exotic", and eventually we'll build up other themed areas... we won't go by region (Asia, Africa etc) as the mix of available species here is limited. I was thinking "Lion and Tigers and Bears - oh my!" would be a bachelor pride of 3-4 lions, a breeding pair of Tigers (Maybe 2 if available) and sun/asiatic black bears and link donations back to "Free the Bears". "Monkey Magic" would have a few species of smaller moneys on islands (The man-mad lake to act as a water reservoir as well).

To me monkeys and lions mean "Zoo" rather than Fauna/Wildlife Park.

Other displays will be established base on availabilty of staff/funds/stock etc. I don't want to be chasing specific exhibit animals, I'd rather provide a home for those that need to be relocated or which need to be involved in a breeding program. This would be my objective in relation to conservation.

This is a very long post, but it was good to share. Thank you to anyone who could be bothered reading this far - any thoughts or comments would be appreciated (if positive) or taken with a grain of salt (otherwise!) :D
 
I have done my own zoo myself. Its very rewarding and it very tiring. I read some comments here about having the right partner, its a 24/7 job. It was my dream I have done it and I have no way back. I will not exchange it with all the money in the world. I have had many husles with authorities but finally looks that I amthere now. Good luck who wants to try. be prepared to dumb alot of cash
 
The KCZooman said:
The wait is OVER! Here is a summary of my zoo, HEARTLAND SAFARI.



[ Soon they will encounter emus, waterfowl, and Bennet's wallaby living together in "Canberra" (meeting place).



Your forgetting the jack asses, snakes and monkeys which are quiet frequent to Canberra.


Love your ideas though, keep up the great work and good luck
Click to expand...
 
Hi all,
I am redesigning my elephant breeding center from African to Asian. I have down scaled the barn down from 52,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet. It is actually quite innovative because part of the barn is under ground so the holding yards for the bulls are actually on a hill on top of their stalls.

I was curious to know if I should restrict the elephants ability to go into the forest. E.g. make trails through the forest surrounded by fencing, or just give them free reign.
These trees are about 250 years old, so I think they could handle the elephants!
 
Not an expert on Eli's, but if you want to keep the trees alive you'll probably need to restrict access. I think they can knock over pretty big trees, and even if they can't they'll be able to rip off branches and damage bark. Too much of that will kill a tree.
 
Yes I think elephants will at least be able to rip off the bark of large trees, you might want to protect those nice old trees and leave them with some of the less important ones. I know that at Busch Gardens they have to put fencing around the tree trunks because of giraffes but for the elephants I don't think even that would totally stop them.
 
Dallaspachyderm said:
I was curious to know if I should restrict the elephants ability to go into the forest. E.g. make trails through the forest surrounded by fencing, or just give them free reign.
These trees are about 250 years old, so I think they could handle the elephants!
Click to expand...

It's not just that they will peel off the bark if they can and if it is the kind of tree that makes it possible, and they will break off every branch they can reach, they will also damage the soil and root zone.
If the elephants spend any time around the trees, no one will ever say "These trees are about 300 years old." ;)

And then there's the issue of possible toxicity of the leaves, fruit, etc.
 
Here's my zoo/wildlife park idea and species list: (1.1 means 1 male, 1 female, 2.2 means 2 males, 2 females, and so on)

African Savanna:
large flock of Lesser Flamingo
mixed-species habitat for 5.5 Hadada Ibis, 5.5 Waldrapp Ibis, 5.5 Abdim's Stork, and 5.5 Sacred Ibis
1.6 Hamadrayas Baboon
1.6 Olive Baboon
1.2 Nile Crocs
Mixed-species habitat w/ 1.0 River Hippo, 1.1 Egyptian Geese, and 1.1 Goliath Heron.
1.1 Black Rhino
1.4 African Elephants
Naked Mole Rat colony
Meerkat colony
mixed-species habitat consisting of a group of Dwarf Mongoose w/ 1.1 Red-Billed Hornbill
0.3 Bat-Eared Fox (sisters)
1.1 African Crested Porcupine
mixed-species habitat w/ 1.1 Klipspringer & 1.3 Rock Hyrax
0.1 Aardvark
Free-flight aviary w/ 1.1 Kenya Crested Guineafowl, 1.1 White-Headed Buffalo Weaver, 1.1 Violet-Backed Starling, 1.1 Lady Ross Turaco, a same-sex flock of Black-Masked Lovebird, 1.1 Black Crake, and 30 Taveta Weaver
mixed-species habitat w/ 1.0 Kori Bustard, 1.1 Kirk's Dik Dik, and 1.0 African Spurred Tortoise
1.1 Southern Ground Hornbill
Very spacious, mixed-species habitat for 1.3 Giraffe (no preference for subspecies), 1.3 White Rhino, 0.3 Warthog (all sisters), 0.3 Ostrich, 0.3 Common Wildebeest, 1.3 Grant's Zebra, 1.3 Watusi Cattle, 1.6 Waterbuck, 1.4 Sable Antelope, 1.1 Blue/Stanley Crane, 1.2 Greater Kudu, a same-sex flock of Helmeted Guineafowl, 1.1 Marabou Stork, 2.2 White Stork, bachelor herds of Impala, Thomson's Gazelle, and Grant's Gazelle, 1.1 Lappet-Faced Vulture, 1.1 Ruppell's Griffon Vulture, 3.3 African White-Backed Vulture, and 3.3 Spur-Winged Geese (Only 1 pair would use the habitat during breeding/nesting season since they're very territorial during that period)
1.6 Addax
a mixed-species habitat of 1.3 Speke's Gazelle & 1.1 Gray Crowned Crane, a habitat for 1.4 Dama Gazelle (one pair of Spur-Winged Geese will inhabit this habitat for breeding/nesting season)
mixed-species habitat for 3.0 Grevy's Zebra & 3.0 Sable Antelope (a pair of Spur-Winged Geese will inhabit this area for breeding/nesting season)
habitat for 1.3 Grevy's Zebra
brother group of Cheetahs separate from female cheetah (The cheetahs would be together during breeding season)
breeding pack of African Wild Dog
1.2 African Lions
2.0 Spotted Hyenas (brothers)
1 African Leopard
1 Serval
Petting kraal (contact yard) w/ 0.2 Guinea Hogs (sisters) plus same-sex herds of Cameroon Sheep, Nubian Goat & African Pygmy Goat (no intact males)

African Forest:
1.3 Bongo w/ 1.1 Black Crowned Crane
1.1 Yellow-Backed Duiker w/ 1.1 Saddle-Billed Stork
1.1 Red-Flanked Duiker w/ 1.1 Yellow-Billed Stork
1.1 Shoebill Stork
0.3 Congo Buffalo
1 Okapi
1.3 Western Lowland Gorilla
Large troop of Chimps
Large troop of Bonobos/Pygmy Chimps
1.3 Eastern Black-and-White Colobus Monkey
1.1 Red River Hog
1.3 Mandrill
1.1 Potto (Only together during breeding season)
1.1 Pygmy Hippo (Only together during breeding season)
1.0 African Rock Python
1.0 Madagascan Tree Boa
1.1 Trumpeter Hornbill
1.0 Dwarf Croc
1.3 De Brazza's Monkey (females would be related to each other)
1.3 Diana Monkey (females would be related to each other)


Asia Trail:
1.4 Asian Elephant
1.1 Indian Rhino
1.3 Gaur
1.1 Malayan Tapir
0.1 Lowland Anoa
1.1 Babirusa
1.2 Orangutan w/ 1.1 Siamang
1.1 White-Cheeked Gibbon w/ 1.1 Asian Small-Clawed Otter
1.1 Binturong
1.1 Sumatran Tiger
Sibling group of Bengal Tiger
Brother pair of Asian Black Bear
1 Sloth Bear
1.1 Sun Bear
1.3 Lion-Tailed Macaque
1 Burmese Python
1.0 Komodo Dragon
1.0 Malayan Water Monitor
1.1 Fishing Cat
0.1 Clouded Leopard
Mixed-species habitat w/ 1.8 Blackbuck, 3.10 Axis Deer & 1.3 Nilgai
Mixed-species habitat w/ 1.0 Reeve's Muntjac, 1.1 Demoiselle Crane, 1.1 Red-Breasted Geese, 1.1 Bar-Headed Geese, and a same-sex flock of Indian Runner Duck
1.1 Red Panda
1.1 Rhinoceros Hornbill
1.1 Great Indian Hornbill
Free-Flight Aviary w/ 2.0 Victoria Crowned Pigeon, 1.1 Nicobar Pigeon, 1.1 Crested Wood Partridge, 1.1 Fairy Bluebird, 1.1 Chestnut-Breasted Malcoha, 1.1 Bali Mynah & 1.1 Azure-Winged Magpie
1.1 Tufted Deer
Large group of Indian & Malayan Flying Fox
1.1 Yellow-Throated Marten (Separate except for breeding season)
1.0 Indian Muntjac w/ 1.1 Sarus Crane
1.2 False Gavial/Tomistoma
1.1 Wrinkled Hornbill
1 Black Giant Squirrel
1 Small Indian Civet
1.1 Indian Crested Porcupine
Possibly 1.1 Giant Panda (only together during breeding season)

Australia:
Mixed-species habitat w/ 1.14 Red Kangaroo, 1.14 Red-Necked/Bennett's Wallaby, 0.2 Emu & 1.1 Black Swan
1 Cassowary
Budgie Free-Flight
Free-Flight Aviary w/ 2.2 Rainbow Lorikeet, 2.2 Red Lory, 1.1 Plumed Whistling Duck, 1.1 Chestnut Teal, 1.1 Wonga Pigeon, 3.0 Crested Pigeon and a flock of Cattle Egrets
1.1 Tawny Frogmouth
1.1 Kookaburra
1.1 Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo
Grey-Headed Flying Fox
Kowari (Are they normally kept in groups, pairs, or alone?)
1 Short-Beaked Echidna

Penguinarium:
Humboldt Penguin w/ Inca Tern
Magellanic Penguin
African Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin

Northwest Passage:
Sibling group of American Black Bear
Sibling group of Grizzly Bear
1.1 Polar Bear (separate except for breeding season)
1.0 American Moose
2.7 Reindeer/Caribou (the bulls will be vasectomized)
1.3 Musk-Ox
1.1 Arctic Fox
1.1 Snowy Owl
1.1 Bald Eagle
6.0 California Sea Lion w/ 3.0 Harbor Seal
Brother group of Sea Otter
0.4 Beluga Whale
Large puffin colony
Sibling pack of Timber Wolf
1.1 North American River Otter

Cold-weather Cats:
1.1 Amur Tiger separate from 0.1 (If one female has cubs, male will be introduced to other female. If both females have cubs. Possible introduction of older litter to father)
1.1 Snow Leopard (Separate except for breeding season)
1 Puma

Tropical Americas:
1.1 Baird's Tapir w/ 1.1 Capybara
Spider Monkey troop
1.3 Black Howler Monkey
1.10 Squirrel Monkey
1.1 Golden Lion Tamarin w/ 1 Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloth
1.1 Jaguar
1.1 Ocelot (Separate except for breeding season)
1.2 Black Caiman
0.1 Green Anaconda
1.0 Kinkajou
1.0 Coati separate from 0.2 except for breeding season
Marmoset/Tamarin walk-thru w/ 1.1 Common Marmoset, 1.1 Geoffroy's Marmoset, 1.1 Pygmy Marmoset, 1.1 Goeldi's Marmoset/Callimico & 1.1 Cotton-Top Tamarin
1.1 Harpy Eagle
1.1 King Vulture
1.1 Hyacinth Macaw
1 Blue-and-Gold Macaw w/ 1 Scarlet Macaw
1.1 Toco Toucan
1.2 Green Iguana
1 Giant Anteater
1.1 White-Faced Saki Monkey
1 Tamandua/Lesser Anteater
1.2 Azara's Agouti

South American Pampas:
1 Giant Anteater
1.1 Maned Wolf
1.3 Greater Rhea

Nocturnal Hunters:
0.1 Clouded Leopard
0.1 Binturong
1.1 Aardvark (Separate except for breeding season)
1.0 Pygmy Slow Loris
1.1 Potto (Separate except for breeding season)
1.1 Aye-Aye (Separate except for breeding season)
1.1 Fishing Cat
1.1 Black-Footed Cat (Separate except for breeding season)
0.1 Caracal
1.1 Fossa (Separate except for breeding season)
1 Burmese Python
1.1 Tayra (Separate except for breeding season)
1.1 Lesser Bushbaby
Large group of Vampire Bats
1.1 Fennec Fox
0.1 Great Horned Owl
1.1 Sand Cat (Separate except for breeding season
0.2 Ocelot kept separate
0.2 Pallas Cat kept separate
1.0 Margay
1.1 Philippine Tarsier

Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Complex:
1.2 San Esteban Island Chuckwalla
1.1 Chinese Alligator (both in separate enclosures) separate from juvenile group
1.2 American Alligator separate from juvenile group
1.0 African Spurred Tortoise
0.1 Gaboon Viper
0.1 West African Green Mamba
1.1 Armenian Viper
2.1 Ball Python
1.1 Woma Python
1.1 Eastern Blue-Tongued Skink
1.0 Inland Bearded Dragon
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor
1.3 Mexican Beaded Lizard
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eating Spider
0.1 Chilean Rose Tarantula
0.1 Desert Tarantula
1.2 Henkel's Leaf-Tailed Gecko w/ 1.1 Standing's Day Gecko & 1.1 Malagasy Spider Tortoise
4 Australian Snake-Necked Turtle
3.1 Indian Star Tortoise
15 Radiated Tortoise
2.2 Aldabra Tortoise
1.1 Black Tree Monitor
1.2 Green Tree Monitor
1 Bullsnake
2.1 Desert Rosy Boa (all kept separate)
1.1 Japanese Giant Salamander (separate except for breeding season)
2 Red-Eyed Tree Frog
1.2 Desert Tortoise
1.0 Elongated Tortoise
1.3 Gopher Tortoise
1.0 Phillipine Sailfin Lizard
1.0 Rhinoceros Iguana
3 breeding pairs of Dumeril's Ground Boa plus a lone male
1.0 Madagascan Tree Boa
1.0 Corn Snake
1.0 Tiger Salamander
1.2 Couch's Spadefoot Toad
1 Giant Desert Centipede
Emperor Scorpion
African Giant Millipede
Desert Hairy Scorpion
1.4 Angonoka/Ploughshare Tortoise (maybe a few males if possible)
Vietnamese Walking Stick
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
1.2 Dwarf Chameleon
6 species of poison frog: Blue Poison Frog, Yellow-and-Black Poison Frog, Dyeing Poison Arrow Frog, Golden Dart Frog, Green-and-Black Poison Frog, and Yellow-Banded Poison Frog
1.3 Mountain Horned Dragon
1 Blunt-Headed Tree Snake
Malaysian Painted Turtle
1.2 Asian Brown Tortoise
1.0 West African Mud Turtle

Aquarium Complex:
4.12 Bottlenose Dolphin
Touch pool w/ Cownose Rays
Touch pool w/ White-Spotted Bamboo Sharks
Mixed-species tank of Cownose Rays, Bat Rays, Southern Stingrays, Spotted Eagle Rays, Round Stingrays, Nurse Sharks, Bowmouth Guitarfish (Shark Rays), Some butterflyfish, angelfish, damselfish, tangs
1 Giant Pacific Octopus
Weedy Seadragon
Leafy Seadragon
a few seahorse & pipefish species
Red Piranha
South American Freshwater Stingrays
I feel like the aquarium complex might need some work (thought about Australian, South America, & African Lungfish in single-species tanks, Spotted Gar coming to mind right now)
 
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My Zoological collection:)

I will start of with a few small enclosures home to:
0.1 Weasel-in the first enclosure(do not wish to breed them)
1.1 North American Mink-in the second enclosure(breeding pair)
1.0 Eurasian Ermine-in the third enclosure(do not wish to breed them)
1.1 Pine Marten-in the fourth enclosure(breeding pair)
0.2 European Polecat(educational purposes)
Next is the Mountain Bongo paddock with offshow facilities,hardstanding areas and grazing opportunies(1.2-male to be moved to another collection if he breeds with both females on numerous occasions.
Passing the Bongos is two indoor aviarys home to Northern Three-Toed Woodpeckers(1.1)and White Tailed Sea Eagle(1.1) the outdoor facilities for these are offshow possibly to become on show in the future,Hopefully both breeding pairs.
After witnessing the Woodpeckers and Eagles we come to the Tropical House which is quite a large building housing over 20 species including a variety of Mammals,Birds and Reptiles and a couple of species of Amphibians here is the list which it is home to:
0.0.1 Red kneed Tarantuala
2.2 Central American Agouti(2 breeding pairs in two seperate enclosures)
1.1 Northern Helmted Cussarow(Breeding pair)
0.1 Slender Loris(educational purposes)
1.1 Siberian Crane(Breeding pair)
0.0.1 Fire Salamander(dont wish to breed these)
1.1 Thorny Devil(breeding pair in two seperate enclosures)
1.1 Garter Snake(we wish to breed these)
1.1 Caiman Lizard(wish to breed)
2.0 Crocodile Monitor(dont wish to breed one next to Cussarows and the other next to Caiman Lizards.
1.0 Black Mamba(dont wish to breed)
1.1 Chinese Alligator(wish to breed,two seperate enclosures but next to each other)
0.0.1 Horseshoe Crab(dont wish to breed)
2.0 Reeves Muntjac Deer(brothers hopefully bring a female for both and build a new enclosure for one of the brothers and his female companion)
1.1 Chinese Goral(breeding pair)
1.1 Red Panda(breeding pair)
0.2 Common Wombat(old female educational purposes)
1.1 Koala(breeding pair)
12.32 Rodrigues Fruit Bat
2.1 Golden Lion Tamarin
there is a few more species i would like to add to the Tropical house.
Next is a mixed enclosure consiting of:
3.0 Vicuna batchelor group(there is also a breeding group other side of the zoo)
1.1 Capybara(breeding pair)
0.2 Red crowned Crane(educational purposes.
The enclosure has several nice things about it has hiding places so the animals can get away from the public eye,a water filled pool,resting platforms,grazing opportunaties and also an indoor den.
Next is the Big Cat dens home to 3 big cat species as well as a breeding herd of Greater Kudu(1.3)species in the big cat dens are;
1.1 African Leopard(breeding pair two enclosures,put together every 15 days)
2.4 African Lion(breeding pride)
3.1 Northern Cheetah(3 enclosures altogether-female enclosure,males enclosure and an offshow enclosure for vet check ups and all.
Part 2 to come shortly.
 
beckiv1234 said:
I will start of with a few small enclosures home to:
0.1 Weasel-in the first enclosure(do not wish to breed them)
1.1 North American Mink-in the second enclosure(breeding pair)
1.0 Eurasian Ermine-in the third enclosure(do not wish to breed them)
1.1 Pine Marten-in the fourth enclosure(breeding pair)
0.2 European Polecat(educational purposes)
Next is the Mountain Bongo paddock with offshow facilities,hardstanding areas and grazing opportunies(1.2-male to be moved to another collection if he breeds with both females on numerous occasions.
Passing the Bongos is two indoor aviarys home to Northern Three-Toed Woodpeckers(1.1)and White Tailed Sea Eagle(1.1) the outdoor facilities for these are offshow possibly to become on show in the future,Hopefully both breeding pairs.
After witnessing the Woodpeckers and Eagles we come to the Tropical House which is quite a large building housing over 20 species including a variety of Mammals,Birds and Reptiles and a couple of species of Amphibians here is the list which it is home to:
0.0.1 Red kneed Tarantuala
2.2 Central American Agouti(2 breeding pairs in two seperate enclosures)
1.1 Northern Helmted Cussarow(Breeding pair)
0.1 Slender Loris(educational purposes)
1.1 Siberian Crane(Breeding pair)
0.0.1 Fire Salamander(dont wish to breed these)
1.1 Thorny Devil(breeding pair in two seperate enclosures)
1.1 Garter Snake(we wish to breed these)
1.1 Caiman Lizard(wish to breed)
2.0 Crocodile Monitor(dont wish to breed one next to Cussarows and the other next to Caiman Lizards.
1.0 Black Mamba(dont wish to breed)
1.1 Chinese Alligator(wish to breed,two seperate enclosures but next to each other)
0.0.1 Horseshoe Crab(dont wish to breed)
2.0 Reeves Muntjac Deer(brothers hopefully bring a female for both and build a new enclosure for one of the brothers and his female companion)
1.1 Chinese Goral(breeding pair)
1.1 Red Panda(breeding pair)
0.2 Common Wombat(old female educational purposes)
1.1 Koala(breeding pair)
12.32 Rodrigues Fruit Bat
2.1 Golden Lion Tamarin
there is a few more species i would like to add to the Tropical house.
Next is a mixed enclosure consiting of:
3.0 Vicuna batchelor group(there is also a breeding group other side of the zoo)
1.1 Capybara(breeding pair)
0.2 Red crowned Crane(educational purposes.
The enclosure has several nice things about it has hiding places so the animals can get away from the public eye,a water filled pool,resting platforms,grazing opportunaties and also an indoor den.
Next is the Big Cat dens home to 3 big cat species as well as a breeding herd of Greater Kudu(1.3)species in the big cat dens are;
1.1 African Leopard(breeding pair two enclosures,put together every 15 days)
2.4 African Lion(breeding pride)
3.1 Northern Cheetah(3 enclosures altogether-female enclosure,males enclosure and an offshow enclosure for vet check ups and all.
Part 2 to come shortly.
Click to expand...

Your zoo seems pretty cool. However, I have a few ideas for you-

I would recommend replacing Siberian Cranes w/ maybe Demoiselle or Black Crowned Cranes
Your Koalas will need to be kept separate except for breeding season
I had the idea of Chinese Alligators but you're right that they're more solitary than the American Alligators
I think the Red-Crowned Cranes should be replaced with Rheas since they fit with the South American Pampas idea housed alongside Vicuna and Capybara
The Goral could possibly replaced w/ Serow
I prefer Indian Muntjac over Reeve's for a Tropical House but Reeve's are fine
I think the Tropical House needs some work on species but its a good start
I do commend u for knowing male Croc Monitor are very territorial
 
I think I want to start off with a nice big greenhouse with lots of tropical plants and birds. I want just a bird zoo and lots of plants.
 
There would also be a Madagascar area:
1.1 Fossa (separate. They're gonna be here not at Nocturnal Hunters)
Same-sex troop of Ring-Tailed Lemur
1.0 Madagascan Tree Boa
2 pairs of Dumeril's Ground Boa (Only 1 pair plus lone male at Reptile Complex)
1 Small Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec
10 Radiated Tortoise

I thought about adding 1.1 Mandarin Ducks and 5.0 Indian Blue Peafowl to the Asian free-flight and 1 Canada Lynx to Northwest Passage. I'm also adding 1.3 Przewalski's Horses somewhere

I'm also think of adding an enclosure for 9.9 Painted Storks at Asia Trail
 
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