Trends in European zoo collections in the 21st century

DIPROTODONTS - DIPROTODONDTIA
151 species across 11 families
35 species kept this century (23%)

This is the largest marsupial order, containing the majority of its families and some of the most recognizable Australian fauna. While kangaroos (Macropodidae) make up almost half of all species kept in Europe this century, there is quite a diverse cast around thid century.


Cuscuses & brushtail possums - Phalangeridae (31 species)
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 2
# Species kept currently: 4 (+2)
# Species gained: 2
# Species lost: -

This family has seen a clear increase in representation when it comes to species, but it is still a somewhat uncommonly seen group in Europe. The largely nocturnal habits of the species involved don’t help, but they are often fascinating to watch. The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is the most commonly seen species in Europe and in recent years has become somewhat more common after a slump mid-century. They are among the most cuddly looking possums, which helps them to hide their bad habits in New Zealand where they are invasive. The New Guinea ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis) has long been a relatively common UK staple, but is now as common on the mainland as it is on the island, though still relatively rare overall.

full

@ro6ca66 Not so innocent

Species gained

Common bear cuscus - Ailurops ursinus B4*
First kept by the now closed Rare Species Conservation Centre (RSCC) in the UK in 2012. But the first real success was gained in Zoo Wroclaw where the species was bred multiple times. High mortality at multiple holders means that the overall population is still very small, with only three holders. It is only the Wroclaw pair, now in Tierpark Berlin that has had breeding success. So while an EEP was created, it isn’t clear whether this species will be around long-term.

Common spotted cuscus - Spilocuscus maculatus A4♱
A number of animals were imported by RSCC in 2014, of which the remaining 1.1 were then sent to Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen, the Netherlands, in 2015. Within the year they were down to a single animal that is still going strong. No breeding was ever achieved and this species will soon disappear from Europe again.

full

@Tomek Common spotted cuscus on the ejection seat, the final individual will probably be gone within a few years


Ringtail possums - Pseudocheiridae (20 species)
# Species kept 1-1-2000: -
# Species kept currently: 1 (+1)
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: -

Another unique looking branch of the marsupial tree of which only a single species has been kept in recent decades in Europe.

Species gained

Eastern ring-tailed possum - Pseudocheirus peregrinus A2*

One of the multiple Australian species that were imported to Hamerton Zoo in small numbers in the past years, at least 1.1 arrived in 2018. In 2022 the first European zoo breeding was achieved and breeding happened again in 2023, but the population remains very fragile and tiny. So it is questionable whether this family can be maintained in Europe long term.

full

@hmb_zoo Common ring-tailed possums are one of the biggest oddities that have popped up in recent years

Progress
3/22 orders completed
5/106 families completed
6 species present in 2000
13 species present in 2023
13 species gained since 2000
6 species lost since 2000
 
According to ZTL, Madrid (Faunia) had a southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in 2011. This is the only bandicoot ZTL lists for the 21st century. There were more species in earlier centuries.
 
Dassie rat said:
According to ZTL, Madrid (Faunia) had a southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in 2011. This is the only bandicoot ZTL lists for the 21st century. There were more species in earlier centuries.
Click to expand...

It doesn't actually say that per se - looking at the entry in question it merely cites a message received from a keeper in 2011 as a source without saying the species was present at the time. I doubt the species was ever present at Faunia to be honest, and suspect it's likelier that (if the species was ever imported into Spain at all) the report pertains to a significantly earlier import into Madrid Zoo, which has been misconstrued as a Faunia holding due to the source of the information.

It is even likelier to be complete misinformation however.
 
lintworm said:
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is the most commonly seen species in Europe and in recent years has become somewhat more common after a slump mid-century. They are among the most cuddly looking possums, which helps them to hide their bad habits in New Zealand where they are invasive.
Click to expand...
In case no one can tell by my username, I really do appreciate the small increase of interest this perfection species has had in the last few years. Brushtail possums could definitely use some of that exposure. They are basically a staple in the lives of Australians just as much as raccoons are in North America yet they don’t get as much recognition. They literally look like cats, which everyone loves, yet they are ridiculously unknown to the general public.

Of course the invasive history doesn’t help this animal with the EU interested in putting them to the IAS ban list. Them being cuddly did not stop the US and Japanese governments from causing them to be casted to the shadow realm (unlike house cats but that’s a discussion for another day). I just hope that there are enough holders of brushtail possums in Europe until then. And when that happens it would definitely take a while before zoos use another species of common Australian possums to fill in the gap left by the “sweet” brushtail possum’s departure.
 
Will future posts have the abbreviations key again? I'm already forgetting some of them and having to back track. :confused:
 
PossumRoach said:
To be fair, for the last few years opossums have been getting more famous in the internet amongst younger people. This is probably because of the perception that opossums as misunderstood and also because they have a silly defensive/hissing face that looks like a scream. This comes at the cost of possums getting less limelight since some people don’t bother to refer opossums with an O .

Of course I wouldn’t expect zoos to bring in more Virginia opossums just to appease late Millennials and Zoomers. I just wanted to point out that the perception towards opossums is changing and some people will love them even if they don’t do much.
Click to expand...
Opossums remain considerably underrated in Europe. Few people know really these species, as they don't expect the presence of marsupial species out of Oceania. It isn't like the Raccoons that nearly everybody knows.
Generally, North American wildlife (mammals) is rare within European zoos if you except the Bison, the Puma, the Northern Raccoon, the Black-tailed Prairie Dog, a couple of Deer, Bear and Wolf species / subspecies and the Californian Sea Lion.
 
Last edited:
Jurek7 said:
Sustainable population of any echidnas is great. Even if Australian and Tasmanian subspecies are likely more suitable to climate of Europe.

Super-interesting thread! Talking about Australia made me also curious, how the popularity of animals changes geographically? Australian animals have been always difficult to obtain, and zoos are dominated by species from Asia and Africa. In a finer scale, I suspect West and Central African animals lose popularity and South African and Madagascar animals are becoming more common. It would be interesting to see a more detailed analysis.
Click to expand...
South African animals are increasingly common because this country hosts many large, spectacular animals expected by the public when they think to African wildlife, even if most large mammals are less threatened in this country than in other parts of the continent.
Madagascar raises curiosity for its uniqueness and because the various lemur species are sympathetic (and endangered in most cases).
This is not the case for West/Central African species that are hardly available nowadays and less typical, with a few exceptions : Gorilla, Chimp, Pygmy Hippo, Okapi and a handful of antelope species. I add that I write from France, where the presence of species from these countries was historically prevalent for historical reason.

About Australia, I can say that the drastic restrictions to wildlife exports, plus biological requirements of some species (the short lifespan of the Dasyurids, the expensive food of the Koalas...) prevented for a long time the constitution of good Australian collections within European zoos, the sole species to be commonly present were a few Kangaroos/Wallabies, Emus, Black Swans, some parrots and herps that are easy to breed.
 
Last edited:
lintworm said:
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is the most commonly seen species in Europe
Click to expand...

A bit of controversial animal, like the African pygmy goat. Cute like hell, but it is invasive in New Zealand who shoot thousands of them as threat to native plants and birds.

Happily, there are many other cute possums and cuscuses, also in Indonesia which has more normal export laws, some endangered.
 
Fallax said:
Will future posts have the abbreviations key again? I'm already forgetting some of them and having to back track. :confused:
Click to expand...

I will put them in the next post, my plan was to put them in the first post of each page, but I forgot to do so yesterday...
 
Number of zoos kept (current and former during the holding period):
A 1 zoo
B 2-5 zoos
C 6-10 zoos
D >10 zoos


Time period kept:
1 < 1 year
2 1-5 years
3 6-10 years
4 11-20 years
5 > 20 years

* Species successfully bred
♱ Dead end (in case of species gained)
↑ Species gaining popularity (in case of species gained)


Gliders and striped possums - Petauridae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 4
# Species kept currently: 2 (-2)
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: 3

The only species of this small family that has been constantly present in European zoos, is one of the most commonly kept marsupials: the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). None of the other family members has ever been a common sight in captivity, and despite breeding successes, multiple species were lost this century.

Species gained

Squirrel glider - Petaurus norfolcensis A2*
Another Hamerton Zoo exclusive. The species was imported in 2019 from Australia and first bred in 2020. I am not sure on the numbers currently kept, but this species likely has an uncertain future in European zoos.

full

@gentle lemur One can never import enough Australians seems to be the motto in Hamerton, squirrel gliders can still only be seen there in Europe

Species lost

Torresian striped possum - Dactilopsila trivirgata C5*
Several of these animals were imported in the nineties and this century, but breeding success was rather low. So despite being kept in at least 8 different zoos this century, the final geriatric animal passed away in Zoo Jihlava in 2020.

full

@Dormitator One of the final striped possums at Jihlava Zoo

Leadbeater’s possum - Gymnobelideus leadbeateri B4*
This species was kept and bred in London Zoo for about a decade in the late eighties and in the nineties. The final animals were sent to Poznan Nowe Zoo, where breeding was much less successful and the final animal passed away around 2000.

Savanna glider - Petaurus ariel B5*
Until recently treated as a subspecies of sugar glider, but since a few years recognized as a separate species. This species was kept and bred successfully for decades in Diergaarde Blijdorp in Rotterdam who with the closing of their nocturnal house sent their last animals to Artis in Amsterdam. Here they were kept in the nocturnal house until that closed ±2011 and until the death of the final individual in 2021 this was a sort of enigma in the monkey house. Where as a free-roaming animal it was seldom seen during the day. The species was also allegedly kept in two UK institutions for some time this century.

full

@Vision The Artis enigma, one of the final savanna gliders that were kept in the monkey house

Progress
3/22 orders completed
6/106 families completed
10 species present in 2000
15 species present in 2023
14 species gained since 2000
9 species lost since 2000
 
lintworm said:
I am not sure on the numbers currently kept, but this species likely has an uncertain future in European zoos.
Click to expand...

At least seven or eight individuals across two breeding groups, last I heard.

lintworm said:
The species was also allegedly kept in two UK institutions for some time this century.
Click to expand...

I can personally attest to the former presence of the species at Five Sisters Zoo, at any rate - they had quite a number of them, in fact, but lost the entire group (along with dozens of other animals, some very unusual) when their combined reptile/nocturnal house burned down :(
 
Feathertail gliders - Acrobatidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 1
# Species gained: -
# Species lost: -

A small family with only three extant species. Only a single species is represented on the continent and it is a relative newcomer.

Species gaining popularity

Narrow-toed feather-tailed glider - Acrobates pygmaeus
This hyperactive little marsupial has a common name longer than the actual animal. Still enough zoos are interested in this species, despite its incompatibility with dyslexia. The whole European population derives from the import of 10.10 animals from Taronga Zoo, Sydney, to Poznań Nowe Zoo in 1999. Breeding quickly occurred and by now many hundreds of little gliders have been raised in the Polish zoo. Poznan is still the main source of other zoos to obtain this species and there are now 9 other holders in Europe. In the past a larger number of other zoos have also obtained animals from Poznan, but did not keep the species long-term.

full

@Maguari A feather-tailed glider showing of its acrobatic skills


Pygmy possums - Burramyidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: -
# Species kept currently: -
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: 1

Another small family of small marsupials, of which only a single representative has been kept in Europe this century and not very long at that.

Mountain pygmy possum - Burramys parvus A1/2
While there might be some uncertainty about the exact species, it is certain that a single pygmy possum was confiscated around 2001 in the UK and kept in the Amazon World Zoo Park, Newchurch, until 2001/2.

full

@zoogiraffe The only picture of Europe's only pygmy possum

full

@Najade A western pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus) in Australia showing what pygmy possums should look like.


Progress
3/22 orders completed
8/106 families completed
11 species present in 2000
16 species present in 2023
15 species gained since 2000
10 species lost since 2000
 
Lafone said:
Interesting stuff. The bonus element of this thread is it highlights things it would be amazing to go and see!
Click to expand...

Indeed! Apart from being an excellent thread in its own right (thank you, @lintworm ), it is going to be a great guide for species hunters and 'last chance salooners'.
 
Wombats - Vombatidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 2 (+1)
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: -

One of the most well-known Australian creatures, although in real-life they are generally still identified as marmots by the highly intelligent European zoo visitor. While still uncommon zoo animals, you have a better chance to see one nowadays then at the start of the century

Species gained

Southern hairy-nosed wombat - Lasiorhinus latifrons A2♱
After this species disappeared in 1990 from Europe, Longleat in the UK imported a pair from Australia in 2018. But as the male died in 2019, this species is a dead end with only a single female remaining, unless new imports happen

full

@MagpieGoose Home alone, Europe's only hairy-nosed wombat

Species gaining popularity

Common wombat - Vombatus ursinus
Importing wombats from Australia is something that has been happening quite regularly in the past decade or so. Australian zoos count themselves very lucky to receive species like Sri Lankan leopards in exchange for a few of these Australian staples. Most imports happen from Tasmania and these import pairs breed. With regular breeding in Budapest, Hamerton and Copenhagen and successful breeding events in BestZoo, the Netherlands, and ErlebnisZoo Hannover the European population is slowly growing again. Both holders of the mainland subspecies of common wombat, Zoo Duisburg and Hamerton Zoo, have also bred with wombat in recent years. With 8 different zoos holding this species, they aren’t as prohibitively rare anymore as 20 years ago, and both Wilhelma in Stuttgart and Bergzoo Halle will soon enter the fray too.

full

@Therabu A common wombat in Budapest Zoo, where the new era of breeding started


Koalas - Phascolarctidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 1
# Species gained: -
# Species lost: -

A monotypic family containing the most prestigious marsupial for a zoo to acquire. Why the public is so overly interested in these grey eucalyptus fungi is something of a mystery, but they can look cute.

Species gaining popularity

Koala - Phascolarctos cinereus
At the start of the century only three European zoos (Dierenpark Planckendael, Zoo Lisbon and Zoo Duisburg) kept koalas, all on loan from the San Diego Zoo. In fact Lisbon Zoo was the first European zoo to permanently house koalas in recent decades in 1991, so koala too are a relatively recent addition to Europe. The European population only really took of once Zoo Duisburg received koalas in 1994 and managed the first European breeding in 1995. Up until now 11 new holders were found and with Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen, the Netherlands another new holder will start soon. Most zoos keep the Queensland koala (ssp cinereus), though Longleat in the UK has imported southern koala (ssp victor) in 2018 and breeds them too. The end of the rise is not yet in sight, though importing retrovirus laden animals from Australia, to quickly get koala, didn’t prove very successful for multiple zoos with high mortality rates.

full

@WhistlingKite24 People are paying to watch you sleep, what a business model!

Progress
3/22 orders completed
10/106 families completed
13 species present in 2000
19 species present in 2023
16 species gained since 2000
10 species lost since 2000
 
lintworm said:
with only a single female remaining
Click to expand...

And, I believe, suffering from (currently managed) cancer...

lintworm said:
In fact Lisbon Zoo was the first European zoo to permanently house koalas in recent decades in 1991, so koala too are a relatively recent addition to Europe
Click to expand...

Not quite - London Zoo preceded them by two years, having imported a pair of females in 1989, but unfortunately the animals in question died in late 1991, not long after the Lisbon import. Either way, the import was intended to be a permanent one - unlike the diplomatic loan to Dublin which had occurred in 1988, wherein the zoo received stock from San Diego for a fixed six month period, and a similar loan to Tierpark Berlin in the 1990s.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
And, I believe, suffering from (currently managed) cancer...



Not quite - London Zoo preceded them by two years, having imported a pair of females in 1989, but unfortunately the animals in question died in late 1991, not long after the Lisbon import. Either way, the import was intended to be a permanent one - unlike the diplomatic loan to Dublin which had occurred in 1988, wherein the zoo received stock from San Diego for a fixed six month period, and a similar loan to Tierpark Berlin in the 1990s.
Click to expand...

Given the short holding I put it down as a short-term loan, but while intended to be permanent, Lisbon was the first to hold them permanently ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top