the future of roger williams park zoo

[15399]

Elegant crested tinamous, maned wolves, red-crested cardinals, and Chilean flamingoes are all species that aren't naturally found in or are only in small pockets of tropical rainforests. Not including them is purely just my preference. Trogons aren't my favorite, either, for no particular reason (I know its odd).

It's not odd, everyone has animals they prefer over other animals, and oftentimes it's not in obvious ways. You're definitely a lot more pedantic in your views of what species should be included in a Rainforest exhibit than I am, I'm a lot more okay with stretching the boundaries of what to include in a themed exhibit. Either way, I think both of us can agree we'd like to see the zoo incorporate some new species into the Faces of the Rainforest exhibit, even if we disagree over some of what we'd like to see.

I think using it for tapirs, capybaras, and other animals' holding would be better, but I guess that technically agrees with your thoughts.

Yeah, I'd rather the building be re-opened to house smaller species (overall I'm not super big into charismatic megafauna, and prefer when zoos focus on a bigger collection of smaller species), but using it as holding space for new outdoor exhibits would be another nice use for the space. Contrasting Faces with a second Rainforest from another continent would be a really unique way to round out the section, either focusing on Southeast Asia or the Congo, featuring more primates, birds, herps, and fish from a different Rainforest.

 

[15399]

I didn't know that peccaries are that aggressive. I figured that warthogs are fine in many enclosures, so peccaries would also be. Of course, I didn't take into account how destructive and antagonistic red river hogs can be, either. Would this enclosure work if the suiformes were removed and no other changes were made?

I doubt it. Generally speaking, mixing flamingos with mammals is a bad idea, and I also wouldn't trust Spider monkeys in an exhibit with birds. You'd be better off designing two separate mixed-species exhibits, one of which could hold the tapirs, capybara, anteater, and Spider monkeys, and the other holding Flamingos, waterfowl, and spoonbill (you could also mix in some other birds to this mix if you wanted). Red brocket wouldn't be a feasible species to acquire, and I'd also much prefer seeing the zoo join a Spider Monkey SSP (e.g. Geoffroy's Spider Monkey) instead of getting a rare species that isn't TAG-recommended. The mammal mix would be heavily dependent on the individuals, so while it could be done successfully, there's an equally high chance of the mix not succeeding depending on individual personalities and temperaments.

 

[wild boar]

I don't really see how having multiple similar species "hinders educational prospects"? It's also extremely easy to tell the three species apart as they are all different colors, but I digress.

I am not really sure how it does, but a member of the education department who was stationed in Faces of the Rainforest during one of my more recent visits explained their removal that way. The troupials really do look almost nothing like yellow-rumped caciques, and certainly not oropendolas. I never saw any troupials in the building, but perhaps the sunlight affected proper visibility to distinguish their orange from yellow? As for the oropendolas and caciques looking similar, it makes sense. These animals hung/hang out up at the ceiling on the industrial ducts and shafts. From below they did look somewhat similar, as both species have the yellow patch of feathers on the underside of their tail.

Helmeted curassows were replaced with the piping guans, and I'd prefer the zoo stick with the latter.

What do you mean by "replace"? Could the zoo not have had both? I too prefer the piping guans over helmeted curassows, because the curassows are so common. I also think the piping guans are just more interesting. Given that this is the only bird species that the zoo has had success in breeding since Faces of the Rainforest opened, they should be kept. I am not sure if they have two again, yet, though.

Does anyone know what other species were/are at the zoo for breeding purposes? I believe yellow-rumped caciques have been nesting, and the motmots were too (that is until staff discovered that the birds were both females by one killing the other).

I disagree on those two duck species as they are ridiculously common, non-SSP species that take up valuable space from species more deserving of space in zoos. Brazilian teal would be a better choice, or an even better one would be to drop the South American exclusivity and get some Madagascar Teals.

I love Madagascar teals, but you know me, I wouldn't want them to be kept in this zoo zone. I have been writing up other plans for other parts of the zoo that would include them, though. I suggested Brazilian teals for the building replica that would be across from the original. I can't think of any other small waterfowl that would fit my preferences. Birds found in the Caribbean could work, but would be better suited in an islands area.

I'd also like to see tinamous return, but that's extremely unlikely given the current state of the US population.

I have seen mention of it not doing well, but what exactly is plaguing the population from being successful?

I wouldn't trust toucanets, or any Piciformes, in a walk-through setting.

Why? Aren't Asian barbets and green aracaris frequently in walk-throughs?

All of the AZA holders of Brazilian tapirs should have aging individuals that are not breeding.

I am fairly certain there was a calf born at Brookfield last year.

I also wouldn't consider Wildlife World or Metro Richmond to be reputable, and both regularly associate with some of the worst of the worst of the private zoo world (especially Wildlife World, which has been involved in wildlife trafficking).

Metro Richmond participates in a number of SSPs and I think has mostly decent or great enclosures. This zoo may not be the most respectable, but there are some good things about them.

 

[15399]

What do you mean by "replace"? Could the zoo not have had both? I too prefer the piping guans over helmeted curassows, because the curassows are so common. I also think the piping guans are just more interesting. Given that this is the only bird species that the zoo has had success in breeding since Faces of the Rainforest opened, they should be kept. I am not sure if they have two again, yet, though.

The curassows were removed because they were too mean for the walk-through. Piping guans were added to fill the cracid niche after the curassows left. I don't know if the zoo could theoretically have both, but curassows have a reputation for mixed results in walk-through aviaries (sometimes successful, sometimes unsuccessful).

Does anyone know what other species were/are at the zoo for breeding purposes? I believe yellow-rumped caciques have been nesting, and the motmots were too (that is until staff discovered that the birds were both females by one killing the other).

For starters, any of the species that have had births in recent years are there for breeding purposes, so Golden Lion Tamarins, Red Wolves, Southern Tamandua, and Matschie's Tree Kangaroos are all other species the zoo participates as a breeding institution for. I'm sure there are others as well, but since the zoo hasn't discussed it publicly I don't think it's appropriate to speculate what species will or won't be actively breeding.

I have seen mention of it not doing well, but what exactly is plaguing the population from being successful?

Low breeding success, heavy male bias in the population, and a large degree of unknown parentage in the population are the big reasons.

Why? Aren't Asian barbets and green aracaris frequently in walk-throughs?

I think some places do have barbets (I forgot they were Piciformes), and they'd probably be fine. I'm not aware of any place that has successfully had green aracaris in walk-throughs, I'm sure with the right individual it could be done, but I wouldn't risk it with most individuals.

Metro Richmond participates in a number of SSPs and I think has mostly decent or great enclosures. This zoo may not be the most respectable, but there are some good things about them.

I never said the zoo doesn't have any good things about it, I'm just not a fan. You are correct they do participate in at least a few primate SSPs and have cooperated with the AZA in some ungulate programs as well, and it's one of the better non-AZA zoos, but doesn't hit my high bar for non-AZA zoos I'd be willing to support. I wouldn't be too upset with an AZA zoo cooperating with Metro Richmond though under the right circumstances, it's certainly more respectable than the vast majority of unaccredited zoos. I moreso just don't think it's appropriate for an AZA zoo to be taking up valuable tapir holding space for a species that isn't TAG recommended when both TAG-managed tapirs are in need of more institutional support.

 

[wild boar]

For starters, any of the species that have had births in recent years are there for breeding purposes, so Golden Lion Tamarins, Red Wolves, Southern Tamandua, and Matschie's Tree Kangaroos are all other species the zoo participates as a breeding institution for.

I was referring to bird species in Faces of the Rainforest. I'm sorry about that.

I'm not aware of any place that has successfully had green aracaris in walk-throughs, I'm sure with the right individual it could be done, but I wouldn't risk it with most individuals.

Are most Piciformes aggressive around people, or something?

 

[15399]

I was referring to bird species in Faces of the Rainforest. I'm sorry about that.

Most of the birds in Faces are same-sex groups. Scarlet ibises are all females, the hyacinth macaws are also both females, and I want to say so are the boat-billed herons. Wood rail I'm pretty certain is just a single individual, or at least that's all I've ever seen, and I've also only ever seen a single sunbittern (who's on the older side). So to the best of my knowledge, no other birds in the building are reproductive groups.

 

[wild boar]

I will say that I have never talked about on here the import of small carnivores, so I don't know why you're bringing up the bit about being "critical of the concept itself". I believe that AZA Zoos should, as much as feasible, participate in SSPs and other TAG recommended program. Sure, there are specific instances where a program can be individually evaluated and a zoo can make an ethically sound decision to keep a non-recommended species (gaur is a good example of this), but cases where I agree with ignoring TAG recommendations are few and far between.

Importing small carnivores, which Nashville does frequently, was one example that I provided, the other being continuing to manage gaur, which you acknowledged. You did basically answer my question with your statements after that, though.

I'm not aware of any place that has successfully had green aracaris in walk-throughs, I'm sure with the right individual it could be done, but I wouldn't risk it with most individuals.

Philadelphia used to have aracaris in one of their walk-through enclosures, though I didn't see this myself. From what I remember, there is a toco toucan living in the Parker Aviary at the San Diego Zoo. Are toucanets, aracaris, and toucans usually pretty aggressive toward people they aren't familiar with?

Most of the birds in Faces are same-sex groups. Scarlet ibises are all females, the hyacinth macaws are also both females, and I want to say so are the boat-billed herons. Wood rail I'm pretty certain is just a single individual, or at least that's all I've ever seen, and I've also only ever seen a single sunbittern (who's on the older side). So to the best of my knowledge, no other birds in the building are reproductive groups.

I have also only ever seen a single giant wood rail. There is only one sunbittern, as you thought. The boat-billed herons are a brother-sister pair. For some reason, I thought that the keel-billed toucans might breed. Thank you for the information of the scarlet ibises and macaws.