How do you know how long Lisbon will hold them? Doesn't permanently mean until Lisbon Zoo closes down?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
Trends in European zoo collections in the 21st century
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
OkapiJohn
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, I come too late for the survey. My overall guess of the trends is that zoos have been implementing a policy of fewer species, more welfare. I believe that has been the case since the 2000s. Furthermore, I believe the trend to be focused on EEP/sustainable populations over rareties that only one or two institutions have and due to the tiny size of the population will disappear soon.
Here I recognise that it might be an issue of wording (or lack of a better word) but when you mention popularity you are missing some important factors beyond the sheer interest of institutions to hold a species. I just exemplify some points that show that trends are far from being only based on species popularity:
Here I recognise that it might be an issue of wording (or lack of a better word) but when you mention popularity you are missing some important factors beyond the sheer interest of institutions to hold a species. I just exemplify some points that show that trends are far from being only based on species popularity:
- Breeding programmes and Regional collection planning: This is the case for the gaur for example. The diminishing number of animals or institutions is due to a decision from the TAG.
- EU/National policies: There is new legislation regarding species with invasiveness potential, such as coypu, coatis or muntjacs or sika deer. All zoos are forbidden to breed these species, and over time they will disappear, but I doubt that it is because of reduced popularity. Coatis and muntjacs are quite popular. Actually, I do not know how the muntjac EEP will work under these restrictions. France will phase out any cetacean captivity. This will reduce the number of holders of dolphins and orcas. There were mentions (only mentions, fortunately) of the UK banning elephants in zoos. None of these species is less popular today than in the past, rather basically zoos have to follow the rules even against their will.
- Breeding failure/too challenging husbandry. Some species are popular, but they are simply too difficult to breed or keep and imports are forbidden nowadays. While in the past the European population was sustained by imports, once these become forbidden, without breeding the species is doomed. The Kori bustard was already pointed out as an example.
I am sure these factors will be brought up by lintworm when species affected by these factors are brought up in the thread. Edit: it could be argued that these factors still affect the popularity of animals albeit amongst zoos and curators rather than visitors.
Also for the muntjac EEP, considering that most TAGs have new style EEPs planned or already out for species that are not even kept in European zoos (and zoos in general for some species) such as tamaraw, large-antlered muntjac, and extinct pigeons, EAZA probably has something in mind for Reeves’ muntjacs.
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It's a little different. The Reeves' muntjac EEP is actually set up to regulate further breeding with the species and maintain a European ex-situ population despite the invasive species law, because the species has been listed as Vulnerable in its native China. EAZA representatives have therefore negotiated an agreement with EU authorities to get exemptions on the invasive species law for participants of the EEP.
Rest assured, all the points you raise will come up in the thread, it seems merely a difference of interpretation. As @PossumRoach mentioned: you could equally well argue that all the points you raise affect the actual popularity of a species. The definition of popularity you bring up is more something like the hypothetical popularity, if zoos could operate in a world without any constraints. For sure we would then have plenty of giant pandas and indris. But it is the constraints you mention, among others, that shape how popular animals actually are/can be in zoos and how that changes over time. I see that there are alternative words for the category, but I am not going to change anything going forward, as I think it covers it well enough and I have described clearly what I mean with it before.
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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)
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)
Today a bit of a longer post to finish up the marsupials and you'll have to enjoy it for a little while as there will be no more posts the coming 2 days as I will be away.
Bettongs and allies - Potoroidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 2
# Species kept currently: 3 (+1)
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: -
This are basically nocturnal pocket-sized kangaroos and seem to be somewhat more common now than 25 years ago. The long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) was common in the UK at the start of the century, but very rare on the mainland, but has since spread more towards other countries too. On the mainland the brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) is the most common species and they also seem to be gaining a bit in popularity, their critically endangered status is an asset.
Species gained
Rufous bettong - Aepyprymnus rufescens C2*↑
Hamerton Zoo imported 2.4 from Australia in 2018 and that was the basis for a rapid spread to first Czechia and then the rest of Europe. With 10 current holders and successful breeding in multiple zoos this is a species that is rapidly losing its extreme rarity status.
@HOMIN96 Jumping all across Europe by now, the rufous bettong
Kangaroos - Macropodidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 13
# Species kept currently: 15 (+2)
# Species gained: 4
# Species lost: 2
Easily the most commonly seen marsupials in Europe, not a zoo thinks it is complete without at least one species of kangaroo or wallaby. Overall many major zoos are slowly moving away from the ubiquitous and easy red-necked wallaby (Notomacropus rufogriseus), but with over 600 holders this is one of the most common zoo animals still.
Species gained
Brown forest wallaby - Dorcopsis muelleri B4*
This is not your typical kangaroo and it was first kept this century in Zoo Prague in 2010. There is some confusion about the taxonomy and most zoos list theirs as Dorcopsis hageni. Currently the species is regularly breeding in both Prague and BestZoo and there are two additional holders. Just as with plenty of other species this is a species that Pairi Daiza is interested in, but unable to breed or maintain long term.
Yellow-footed rock wallaby - Petrogale xanthopus D4*↑
Given their pretty colouration and rock-climbing behaviour it is no surprise this small kangaroo is quickly increasing in popularity. The founder animals of the European population were imported from the USA by Zoo/Citadelle de Besancon in 2008, Zoo Madrid in 2012 and Tierpark Berlin in 2010, 2013 and 2019. With the species declining in numbers in the USA, the European population has quickly become the most important non-Australian reserve population of this vulnerable species.
Dusky pademelon - Thylogale brunii D4*↑
First imported this century by Zoo Plzen, which acquired 1.2 animals from Indonesia via the dubious Terrarium Dubec in Prague. Despite the small founder base these small kangaroos quickly bred and spread to a current 18 holders. Given their vulnerable status and the easiness with which they are mixed with e.g. birds or tree kangaroos it is no surprise an increasing number of zoos is opting for this small kangaroo.
Quokka - Setonix brachyurus A1
After these instagram kangaroos disappeared from Europe in 1996, it took nearly 30 years for them to reappear. In 2023 the Wilhelma, Stuttgart, imported 1.2 animals from David Fleay Wildlife Park in Australia, making them the second zoo outside Australia with this species. Another import is planned for 2024 to broaden the founder base and there will probably be plenty of zoos interested to take up this species.
@Hix one can understand the appeal of yellow-footed rock wallaby: vulnerable as well as pretty
Species lost
Brush-tailed rock wallaby - Petrogale penicillata C4-5?*
Kept in 6 different zoos in the early years of the century and even bred in multiple zoos. South Lakes Wild Animal Park kept the last animals, which were sent to a private keeper in 2007.
Red-bellied pademelon - Thylogale billardieri B5*
Kept in Europe in recent decades from 1980-2006. Kept and bred first in Frankfurt 1980-1990 and then in Augsburg 1990-2006, with other animals being kept in Budapest and Kronberg in the nineties too. By the start of the century they were only left in Augsburg.
@Chlidonias Always rare, now really gone from Europe: the red-bellied pademelon
Species gaining popularity
Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo - Dendrolagus goodfellowi
At the start of the century tree kangaroos were a great rarity, with only four zoos holding them at all. Three zoos held this species back then: Zoo Frankfurt, Zoo Krefeld and Diergaarde Blijdorp. With 11 current holders the number of zoos with this species almost quadrupled. Regular breeding success and additional imports from Australian zoos made this possible. So while the total population is still small, it is moving in the right direction. That cannot be said of a tree kangaroo itself, as they generally opt to not move at all.
Common wallaroo - Osphranter robustus
This species was kept until 2000 in Zoo Cologne and then briefly disappeared from European zoos. In 2001 Opel-Zoo in Kronberg, Germany acquired 1.2 ssp. erubescens from Australia, but that import wasn’t successful in establishing a population, with the last animal dying in 2016. From 2011 the nominate subspecies robustus did however start to spread, first kept in BestZoo in 2011 and quickly after in Tierpark Berlin and Zoo Prague in 2013. By now there are 10 European zoos, mainly in Germany and Czechia, with this species that is also around in private hands.
Eastern grey kangaroo - Macropus giganteus
Long a relatively rare kangaroo that was mainly bred in Zoo Neuwied and Zoo Krefeld, both in Germany. From there this species has started to spread already before this century, put the pace has been higher in recent decades. Additionally Copenhagen Zoo imported Tasmanian grey kangaroo (ssp. tasmaniensis) in 2015 and these are now kept in 3 other zoos too.
Swamp wallaby - Wallabia bicolor
At the start of the century there were only 4 holders of this hardy wallaby. It was an even greater rarity in the decades prior, with Zoo Zurich being the main keeper of this species for a long time. By now there are almost 30 different European zoos with swamp wallaby and they make a good replacement for red-necked wallaby for a zoo that wants a relatively easy switch to another medium-sized kangaroo that can tolerate bad weather.
@Therabu The perfect bad-weather kangaroo, so extremely well suited to Northern Europe: the swamp wallaby
Species losing popularity
Agile wallaby - Notomacropus agilis
This was never a common species, but has been maintained at a number of zoos for many decades. Currently there are only two groups left, one in Tierpark Hellabrunn in Munich, which has kept this species for decades and one in Zoo Duisburg, which acquired the species in 2022. The species loses out against other small kangaroos that are managed as part of an EEP.
Tammar wallaby - Notomacropus eugenii
While uncommon for most of the century, the population has near-collapsed in recent years with long-term holders dropping out and their ESB being discontinued in favour of the far more common, but very similar, parma wallaby (Notomacropus parma). Unless something changes, this species will probably die out in Europe within the coming decade or two
Dead ends
Matschie’s tree kangaroo - Dendrolagus matschiei
This species was kept and bred in multiple European zoos in the 70s and 80s of the 20th century. The remnant of that population died in Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich, in 1996. Zoo Cologne imported animals from the USA in 1999 and Zoo Duisburg also imported 1.1 from the USA in 2000. Zooparc de Beauval started with two animals from Duisburg and Cologne. But there were only two breeding events, one in Duisburg and one in Beauval. Which means there is currently only one geriatric animal behind the scenes in Beauval left. EAZA and AZA decided that European zoos should focus on Goodfellow’s tree kangaroos and American zoos on Matschie’s tree kangaroos. That decision is paying off for the Goodfellow’s and means the now inevitable disappearance of Matschie’s. While it means we will lose one attractive species in Europe, this makes a lot of sense from a population management perspective as Goodfellow’s were also really struggling until not too long ago.
@Andrew_NZP Soon to be gone, but to see one, one has to go to the US already, the Matschie's tree kangaroo
That is marsupials done
Progress
4/22 orders completed
12/106 families completed
28 species present in 2000
37 species present in 2023
21 species gained since 2000
12 species lost since 2000
Bit late to the party with this one, but apparently Usti is currently negotiating import of more Bear cuscuses
I do wonder if the increased interest towards Eastern greys will ever compromise the number of Western greys being held.
Eastern quoll - Dasyurus viverinnus C4*
The European population of this species is fully dependent on the breeding of Zoo Leipzig. Leipzig imported 3.3 animals from Melbourne in 2011 and 3.3 animals from Trowunna in 2019. The past 12 years over 100 eastern quoll were successfully raised here. Offspring has been sent to a dozen other zoos, of which only a few ever managed to breed. But none have been able to sustain frequent enough breeding to create their own population. Only Frankfurt has come somewhat close, but is also dependent on offspring from Leipzig.
@Therabu Instead of a lion factory Zoo Leipzig now runs an eastern quoll factory, though that is a far lesser business model these days
Berlin zoo is the newest holder. They got 1.4 animals from Leipzig and the species is on display at the Nocturnal house.
As regards Tammar and Agile Wallaby....
Both of these species would (although still doubtless reduced in numbers due to changes in zoo "fashion" and the eventual removal of their respective EEPs) have been significantly more numerous now were it not for the actions and incompetence of their former studbook keeper, a certain David Gill of South Lakes Wildlife Park he had a distinct tendency to kill his own stock off rapidly, demand that other holders of species for which he held studbooks send animals to him, before then killing those animals off too - with the result that he reduced the European population of both species at an accelerated rate!
Both of these species would (although still doubtless reduced in numbers due to changes in zoo "fashion" and the eventual removal of their respective EEPs) have been significantly more numerous now were it not for the actions and incompetence of their former studbook keeper, a certain David Gill of South Lakes Wildlife Park
he had a distinct tendency to kill his own stock off rapidly, demand that other holders of species for which he held studbooks send animals to him, before then killing those animals off too - with the result that he reduced the European population of both species at an accelerated rate!
Let's hope that zoos have a better grasp of keeping them alive. It feels somewhat dubious to continually import wild caught endangered animals...
The number of western greys seems remarkably steady. I think that grey kangaroos can profit further if more zoos would give up the ubiquitous red kangaroo.
Short-beaked echidna (maybe (some of) the Tierpark Berlin animals) also joined the nocturnal house there very recently. Both pretty good addition
.As regards Tammar and Agile Wallaby....
Both of these species would (although still doubtless reduced in numbers due to changes in zoo "fashion" and the eventual removal of their respective EEPs) have been significantly more numerous now were it not for the actions and incompetence of their former studbook keeper, a certain David Gill of South Lakes Wildlife Park
As we will see later in the thread too, single zoos or single individuals can make all the difference in whether species appear or disappear. With the departure of Kai Perret as director of Zoo Magdeburg a few years back, the number of rarities (and species in general) has collapsed. That meant the loss of one of the final agile wallaby holders (including some very distinct individuals of the New Guinea subspecies).
Didn't David Gill also play an important role in the final demise of the brush-tailed rock wallaby?
He did indeed, through very much the same means and method - I've often suspected that the reason he finally sold the last stragglers to a private keeper was that once there were no more animals to obtain and the species doom was certain, his ego wouldn't allow the last ones to die in his possession
so he flogged them off so that someone else could theoretically be blamed for losing the species.Of course, ultimate blame should also be shared by whichever EAZA decision-maker decided Gill could be trusted with a total of five or six macropod studbooks
Good news. As Muntjaks were since childhood one of my zoo favorites
I assume he wasn't actively culling them, and he wouldn't have been doing something inhumanely because surely he law would've gotten involved, right? so how did he go about killing all his animals?
The South Lakes Safari has 4 species of kangaroos and their relatives but had 7 additional species
Being wildly inefficient did for most of them……particularly noted for inappropriate mixes of species, where things killed each other
How'd that occur, was it genuine neglect of the animal's welfare?
More reckless ‘we should be able to get away with this’.
Others are better placed than me, to comment on the former situation at South Lakes
More reckless ‘we should be able to get away with this’.
Others are better placed than me, to comment on the former situation at South Lakes
It's probably best we end this digression here, to avoid pulling @lintworm 's thread too far off-topic, so I'll close things out by providing a few useful links to news articles and prior discussion threads for WA to read at their own leisure as a "jumping off" point
although I recommend that they do further searching through the back catalogue of threads relating to the collection if they want a more complete picture.THE FULL STORY: Harrowing animal death list revealed ahead of crunch meeting over zoo licence application
Public 'in danger' at Dalton zoo - government inspectors
https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/kadi-sumatran-tiger-cub.323100/
https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/south-lakes-discussion-thread.398135/page-15
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And back onto the subject of species trends:
Short-beaked echidna (maybe (some of) the Tierpark Berlin animals) also joined the nocturnal house there very recently. Both pretty good addition
We can only hope - it would be a pity if those animals remained entirely off-display after the closure of the Pachyderm House, especially as (by echidna standards) they were always fairly showy.
Thanks TLDIt's probably best we end this digression here, to avoid pulling @lintworm 's thread too far off-topic, so I'll close things out by providing a few useful links to news articles and prior discussion threads for WA to read at their own leisure as a "jumping off" point
THE FULL STORY: Harrowing animal death list revealed ahead of crunch meeting over zoo licence application
Public 'in danger' at Dalton zoo - government inspectors
https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/kadi-sumatran-tiger-cub.323100/
https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/south-lakes-discussion-thread.398135/page-15
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And back onto the subject of species trends:
We can only hope - it would be a pity if those animals remained entirely off-display after the closure of the Pachyderm House, especially as (by echidna standards) they were always fairly showy.