The zoo from hell

[Ebirah766]

I'm assuming the skunks wouldn't have their glands removed, which most zoos do?

A lot of the things mentioned are ones I'd love :3

My list:
Walk-through chimps or bonobos
Definitely the pigeon aviary, they've taken over my apartment complex
Walk-through jungle with lots of loose, angry snakes, cassowary, tons of bugs
Lots of bugs in general
A zoo filled with exhibits that make little children scream with excitement/terror
All primates
A long with poor exhibits in general, ones that aren't cleaned often so are filled with poop
Nocturnal exhibit with hundreds of loose bats and insects

 

[FBBird]

I'm assuming the skunks wouldn't have their glands removed, which most zoos do?

A lot of the things mentioned are ones I'd love :3

My list:
Walk-through chimps or bonobos
Definitely the pigeon aviary, they've taken over my apartment complex
Walk-through jungle with lots of loose, angry snakes, cassowary, tons of bugs
Lots of bugs in general
A zoo filled with exhibits that make little children scream with excitement/terror
All primates
A long with poor exhibits in general, ones that aren't cleaned often so are filled with poop
Nocturnal exhibit with hundreds of loose bats and insects

Skunks in Europe are now left intact -- it's become illegal to remove the scent glands

 

[birdsandbats]

Skunks in Europe are now left intact -- it's become illegal to remove the scent glands

That's interesting. They are common educational animals in North America and make great pets. Obviously neither of those can happen if the scent glands are still on the animal - what's the reason for this?

 

[FBBird]

That's interesting. They are common educational animals in North America and make great pets. Obviously neither of those can happen if the scent glands are still on the animal - what's the reason for this?

I think it was considered to be an unnecessary mutilation. People still have pet skunks over here, and are careful not to upset them

 

[Andrew Swales]

Skunks in Europe are now left intact -- it's become illegal to remove the scent glands

Not in all European countries...

 

[Andrew Swales]

That's interesting. They are common educational animals in North America and make great pets. Obviously neither of those can happen if the scent glands are still on the animal - what's the reason for this?

This is wrong - it is quite possible to keep skunks as educational animals without 'de-scenting' them.

 

[birdsandbats]

This is wrong - it is quite possible to keep skunks as educational animals without 'de-scenting' them.

It isn't the problem of them being able to spray - as noted earlier as long as you keep them on their good side it isn't an issue - it's the fact that they will smell terrible. No one will want to pet a "scented" skunk!

 

[Dassie rat]

Perhaps that can be encouraged in the zoo from hell

 

[TeaLovingDave]

It isn't the problem of them being able to spray - as noted earlier as long as you keep them on their good side it isn't an issue - it's the fact that they will smell terrible. No one will want to pet a "scented" skunk!

You say that, but it is illegal in the UK to de-scent skunks and yet they are rather popular here both as pets and educational animals not to mention that in my opinion, there are much worse smells than the background unagitated smell of a skunk.

 

[Chlidonias]

not to mention that in my opinion, there are much worse smells than the background unagitated smell of a skunk.

One educational skunk to other educational skunk: "What's that smell? Is that you?"
Other skunk: "No, it's those children there..."

 

[FBBird]

You say that, but it is illegal in the UK to de-scent skunks and yet they are rather popular here both as pets and educational animals not to mention that in my opinion, there are much worse smells than the background unagitated smell of a skunk.

Surely it's no worse than any other Mustelid? Some people don't like the smell of ferrets.

 

[FBBird]

Not in all European countries...

Interesting.....do tell!

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Surely it's no worse than any other Mustelid?

Yep, that sounds about right to me although the carnivore pedant in me feels obliged to note that skunks are not actually mustelids.

 

[TinoPup]

Interesting! I was with an educational program skunk the other day and there were two times she definitely would have sprayed if she could have, even with it just being me and her keeper (zoo wasn't open yet).

 

[birdsandbats]

Surely it's no worse than any other Mustelid? Some people don't like the smell of ferrets.

Yep, that sounds about right to me although the carnivore pedant in me feels obliged to note that skunks are not actually mustelids.

It is. They are often (unconsciously, I assume) "leak" the scent.

 

[FBBird]

Yep, that sounds about right to me although the carnivore pedant in me feels obliged to note that skunks are not actually mustelids.

Oh dear. I only know about ducks, and not much about those. What are they then? Always thought they were Mustelids -- am I being like the lay person who thinks rabbits are rodents?

 

[Andrew Swales]

It isn't the problem of them being able to spray - as noted earlier as long as you keep them on their good side it isn't an issue - it's the fact that they will smell terrible. No one will want to pet a "scented" skunk!

Again wrong, I am afraid. They do not smell 'terrible'. Large numbers are commonly kept as pets in the UK where de-scenting is illegal. Of the many animals we have kept none has ever discharged its scent, and under normal conditions they only have a faint musky smell no worse than a Binturong or a Ferret. We have owned just one de-scented animal, specifically de-scented and imported from CZ where the practice is legal.

 

[Chlidonias]

Oh dear. I only know about ducks, and not much about those. What are they then? Always thought they were Mustelids -- am I being like the lay person who thinks rabbits are rodents?

No, it's more the case that they were in Mustelidae but got split off about 20 years ago. There has been a little dispute about whether they should be a separate family or not, but molecular studies show pretty consistently that they are less closely related to the "other" mustelids than raccoons which have always been separate.

 

[FBBird]

Again wrong, I am afraid. They do not smell 'terrible'. Large numbers are commonly kept as pets in the UK where de-scenting is illegal. Of the many animals we have kept none has ever discharged its scent, and under normal conditions they only have a faint musky smell no worse than a Binturong or a Ferret. We have owned just one de-scented animal, specifically de-scented and imported from CZ where the practice is legal.

That's kind of what I thought. Interesting.

 

[FBBird]

No, it's more the case that they were in Mustelidae but got split off about 20 years ago. There has been a little dispute about whether they should be a separate family or not, but molecular studies show pretty consistently that they are less closely related to the "other" mustelids than raccoons which have always been separate.

Interesting, so they're in their own family now?