The African Maned Rat - an enigmatic rodent

[HOMIN96]

whether establishing an ex situ breeding group might be worth a try?

Thank God I am not the only one who actually entertained the thoughts about that, I found about them a couple of months ago and I immediately started dreaming about keeping them

Calling it now: fast forward few years to the future - Welt der Gifte and *insert the name of facility I'll be working in* cooperating together on establishing breeding programme for Maned rats

 

[PossumRoach]

Maned rat's sound like as if they'd be found in Eastern European trade before they reach the west.

 

[Batto]

Maned rat's sound like as if they'd be found in Eastern European trade before they reach the west.

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[PossumRoach]

It's a presumption based on the fact that Czech zoos have species rare or unwanted in Western Europe. The same presumption is also based on the comment section of this picture Western bluebird - male - ZooChat

 

[Batto]

based on the fact that Czech zoos have species rare or unwanted in Western Europe.

First of all, Czechia is a Central European country, not an East European one. Common mistake, but not very popular among Czechs. Secondly: former East Bloc states are not the only ones with a very vivid market for rare exotic wildlife. Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden...all have their fingers in that pie.
Sure, the diversity of species in Czech zoos is remarkable. But one important reason for that is that this is almost kind of a tradition among Czech zoos - and appreciated by both the Czech zoo people and the visitors. Probably it has the same origin as the Czech wanderlust, which is only rivaled by that of the Germans and maybe Austrians.

 

[Batto]

Calling it now: fast forward few years to the future - Welt der Gifte and *insert the name of facility I'll be working in* cooperating together on establishing breeding programme for Maned rats

I like the way you think... ^^

 

[Rayane]

First of all, Czechia is a Central European country, not an East European one. Common mistake, but not very popular among Czechs. Secondly: former East Bloc states are not the only ones with a very vivid market for rare exotic wildlife. Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden...all have their fingers in that pie.
Sure, the diversity of species in Czech zoos is remarkable. But one important reason for that is that this is almost kind of a tradition of Czech zoos - and appreciated by both the Czech zoo people and the visitors. Probably it has the same origin as the Czech wanderlust, which is only rivaled by that of the Germans and maybe Austrians.

Could it also be because it's easier to import animals into Czech republic than let's say in Switzerland?

 

[Batto]

let's say in Switzerland?

With the right connections and financial backup, you can import plenty of animals to Switzerland. Including marine iguana. It just costs more...

 

[HOMIN96]

Sure, the diversity of species in Czech zoos is remarkable. But one important reason for that is that this is almost kind of a tradition among Czech zoos - and appreciated by both the Czech zoo people and the visitors.

Also, our laws about keeping exotics are (so far, the changes are coming though) pretty lenient in terms of fulfilling the needs of animals (especially space requirements and education of the animal owner) which makes getting hold of some animals considerably easier.