Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I'm sure it will be eventually
and perhaps this is only the case in your particular State of the US because I've seen some pretty strong evidence of it in American zoos in the Zoochat gallery.The Perfect Zoo
- Thread starter pendraig_milnerae
- Start date
I'm sure it will be eventually
and perhaps this is only the case in your particular State of the US because I've seen some pretty strong evidence of it in American zoos in the Zoochat gallery.
Not really. Meerkats are hard to obtain in the private trade because they are federally considered as invasive so not only crossing them across state lines is tough, AZA also has a monopoly on them.I'm sure it will be eventually
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Well I think that can only be considered a good thing IMO.
If they were easily obtainable in the private trade then I have no doubt that they would eventually end up as an invasive somewhere like Florida or Texas along with all the other non-native species.
Also, Meerkats don't take up very much space - a Meerkat exhibit is only one small exhibit space "wasted" not something that could be turned into multiple exhibits like a White-tailed Deer exhibit is.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, I know it doesn't take much space (though there are evidently some larger meerkat enclosures out there).
However, for me personally it is a waste of space because this area could equally be given over to a species of small mammal of conservation concern which doesn't require much space either.
For example : three banded armadillo, narrow striped mongoose, Malagasy giant jumping rat, long nosed potoroo etc.
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Or keep them with another more significant species (several zoos keep meerkats with porcupines, for example)
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I suppose for me it all comes down to the conservation status of a species in captivity and the necessity for it to be there. I'm probably a bit too adamant about that but to be honest thats just what my thoughts are regarding zoos.
I know that meerkats could be considered a "crowd pleaser" and therefore strategically important to keep in order to encourage visitation. However, I do think that many endangered small mammal species could also have this potential too if we just raise awareness of them through greater representation in zoos and education programs.
Forget meerkats the real animal that is in countless zoos (particularly in the uk) despite its least concern status is the white-faced saki.
The only people who wnat to see withe tailed deer, are the like 100 weird ungulate fanatics in the world like you. Pretty much every other single deer species would be more intersting (endangered, bigger, more impresive and more unique or a native species). I can understand why like every zoo on earth has meerkats, prarie dogs, plains zebras or african lions. Because people care about them. I wouldnt mind to see ring tailed lemurs the millioned time, but even imagen a zoo would waste any money for this species makes my blood boil.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I didn't know that, but well if that is the case then perhaps UK zoos should begin focusing on more threatened New world primates. There are plenty to choose from.
Zoos need more focus on other saki species (e.g. monk or white-nosed), ukaris and titis
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Whoah there , calm down
..."weird ungulate fanatics" ? 
I am not even that interested in ungulates to be honest with you and I've seen the white tailed deer in captivity and the wild on numerous occasions.I wasn't saying that I want to see white tailed deer in zoos I was using the species as a comparison because birds and bats mentioned that he / she felt that they were present in too many zoos in the US.
I was suggesting that this same attitude held by him / her for that particular deer species may be held by people who are rather tired of seeing the ubiquity of meerkats in zoos.
My problem with White-tailed Deer is that:
A. They are as common as dirt. I guarantee there is not one person in eastern North American who has not seen hundreds of wild White-tailed Deer.
B. They take up massive amounts of space that could be used for other species.
C. I have visited Bruemmer Park Zoo.
A. They are as common as dirt. I guarantee there is not one person in eastern North American who has not seen hundreds of wild White-tailed Deer.
B. They take up massive amounts of space that could be used for other species.
C. I have visited Bruemmer Park Zoo.
He.Whoah there , calm down
I wasn't saying that I want to see white tailed deer in zoos I was using the species as a comparison because birds and bats mentioned that he / she felt that they were present in too many zoos in the US.
I was suggesting that this same attitude held by him / her to that deer species may be held by people who are rather tired of seeing the ubiquity of meerkats in zoos.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, I agree but I imagine part of the problem is that many of these species are very difficult to source.
You're all going on about white-tailed deer, yet there's virtually no white-tailed deer over here in the UK, soooo....
I'm never going to say no to any type of animal (except for tarantulas), so seeing a meerkat is never going to bother me.
Also, for the record, the UK has quite a number of New World Primate species in zoos, many of them threatened. We don't do too badly.
I'm never going to say no to any type of animal (except for tarantulas), so seeing a meerkat is never going to bother me.
Also, for the record, the UK has quite a number of New World Primate species in zoos, many of them threatened. We don't do too badly.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
That was my point in my earlier comment that in other parts of the world where there is a scarcity or absence of a particular species in a zoo there may be more desire to see it in captivity than somewhere where it is common.
But anyway, enough of white tailed deer and meerkats.
Cant argue with that. I was surprised by how many uk zoos keep lion tamarins (golden and golden-headed). It’s more than I thought it was
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
A lot of zoos worldwide keep these species, yes, which I think is a good thing personally.
Both are endangered species (golden headed lion tamarin to a much lesser extent) and in the case of the golden lion tamarin it is not only still conservation dependant but also one of those rare success stories in conservation.
It could be said that keeping these species does have some value for education too.
