Trends in European zoo collections in the 21st century

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)

RODENTS - RODENTIA
2652 species across 35 families
251 species kept this century (9%)

With 41% of all extant mammal species this is by far the largest mammal order of them all. Unsurprisingly it is also the most species rich order in this survey, though in 2000 there were more primate species kept then rodents. Currently rodents are the most speciose order of mammals in European zoos though. But European rodent collections are quite fluid with recent entries and departures of species. Especially for murine rodents it is a few zoos that drive most of the trends when it comes to diversity.

Dormice - Gliridae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 6-7
# Species kept currently: 7 (- / +1)
# Species gained: 2-3
# Species lost: 2

This is a group of squirrels that is camouflaged as nocturnal mice. They are a very attractive group with a high cuteness factor, but their nocturnal habits make them more complicated display animals. Renewed interest in a few native European species has meant that some species are increasing in popularity.

full

@Glutton The edible dormouse is the largest native dormouse and is probably more common on zoo grounds as a wild animal, then it is as a captive species.

Species gained but lost

Lorraine African dormouse - Graphiurus lorraineus A?
This species was kept at least in 2010 in the Schulzoo in Herford, Germany, which closed in 2014. There are no other dates known for this species in the Schulzoo, despite being visited at earlier dates by Zootierliste users who have made entries for other species. So it is likely this species was only kept for a few years.

Nagtglas’s African dormouse - Graphiurus nagtglasii A3
This species has in recent decades only been kept in Zoo Plzen from 2001-2006.

full

@vogelcommando All African dormice of the genus Graphiurus all look remarkably similar

Status uncertain

Eurasian forest dormouse - Dryomys nitedula
It is unclear whether this species was already present in Europe in 2000, if it was very rare just as now. There are known holdings in the 1990s until at least 1996 and the first known holding in the 21st century is Zoo Plzen in 2002. But it isn’t unlikely there were some individuals already at the start of the century. It is currently held in 2 zoos which acquired their stock in recent years.

full

@Dormitator Eurasian forest dormice are also held in Russian zoos, picture from Moscow Zoo

Species gaining popularity

Garden dormouse - Eliomys quercinus
While not endangered on a continental scale, this species has suffered great declines in parts of its range, and as such there are projects in multiple countries that involve reintroduction. As such this species has come to the attention of zoos and for example Gaiazoo, Kerkrade, in the Netherlands has an off-show breeding centre for reintroduction purposes. This species is now becoming more common in especially Dutch and German zoos given their local conservation status. It isn’t entirely clear whether this species was kept at the start of the century in zoos, with the first definite holding starting in 2002, but given this species was present at least in 1996, I assume it was around. It is currently the most widely held native dormouse, though still uncommon overall.

Hazel dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
This species has been bred for reintroduction purposes in multiple UK zoos for years, but is now also spreading on the mainland. It is still an uncommon species in captivity, but it is becoming less so.

full

@HOMIN96 A rather chubby hazel dormouse in Plzen

Species losing popularity

Black-tailed garden dormouse - Eliomys melanurus
At the same time that the native garden dormouse is spreading, the always rare in captivity, but similar looking, black-tailed garden dormouse is slowly becoming more uncommon, despite breeding successes in Zoo Frankfurt to this day. At the start of the century there were several European holders with multiple breeding groups. Nowadays only 2 zoos remain (Frankfurt & Zagreb), with multiple (Eastern) European zoos losing this species in the past few years.

full

@ThylacineAlive Cute but losing the battle against the natives: black-tailed garden dormouse

Progress
16/22 orders completed
45/106 families completed
224-230 species present in 2000
214-215 species present in 2023
50-55 species gained since 2000
61-65 species lost since 2000
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Regarding only mammals, rodents are probably the most difficult group to give an prediction what happened the last years.

I'm really curious what the upcoming posts will tell us about them.
 
Squirrels - Sciuridae
316 species across 63 genera
58 species kept this century (18%)

This is the most speciose family of all the non-murine rodents and as such will be covered in multiple posts, otherwise it would become too long. They will be covered per sub-family/ tribe and there is plenty of diversity to talk about.

Giant squirrels - Ratufinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 0
# Species kept currently: 1 (+1)
# Species gained: 2
# Species lost: 1

The largest arboreal squirrels are something of a rarity outside Asia, part of it certainly has to do with the fact that reproduction in captivity seems hard and is basically non-existent in European zoos.

Species gained

Sri Lankan giant squirrel - Ratufa macroura C4*?
9 different zoos have kept this species this century, all based on imports from Sri Lanka, but this species bred maybe once, so most zoos only kept them for a few years. Zoo Leipzig is the only "long-term" holder where a single animal from the 2013 import remains alive (out of 6 imported). The species has maybe bred once in Brno, but that could be conceived in Sri Lanka. Best Zoo in the Netherlands recently acquired 4 squirrels from Sri Lanka, but unless a major leap in giant squirrel husbandry happens, this will be a dead end too.

full

@ronnienl The final Sri Lankan giant squirrel in Zoo Leipzig

Species gained but lost

Black giant squirrel - Ratufa bicolor B3
This species was kept for short periods in Uilen- en Dierenpark de Paay in Beesd, the Netherlands 2012-2014, in Parco Gallorose, Cecina Italy at least 2013-2016 and in Zoo Wroclaw 2012-2019. But it wasn’t bred anywhere.

full

@Chlidonias A black giant squirrel in the wild

Flying squirrels - Pteromyini
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 2
# Species kept currently: 3 (+1)
# Species gained: 2
# Species lost: 1

While these squirrels can’t actually fly they are still fascinating. The downside is that they are mainly nocturnal, which means that seeing more than a head or a ball of fur counts as an achievement. Only a single species of this family has been kept continually this century in European zoos. This is the native European flying squirrel (Pteromys volans), whose popularity is always changing, though in recent years it seems to have become slightly more common again.

full

@Daniel Sörensen Successful breeding in Tiergarten Schönebeck will certainly have helped the recent spread of European flying squirrels in Europe

Species gained

Northern flying squirrel - Glaucomys sabrinus B2
This species was first kept somewhere around 2020 in the Berkshire College Animal Management Centre in Maidenhead, UK, which doesn’t exactly sound like a zoo. From there animals were sent ot Tropiquaria Zoo in Washford in 2021.

Red-and-white giant flying squirrel - Petaurista alborufus B3
This species was first imported by the RSCC in 2010, where the species was kept until its closure in 2015. The current animals are also all sourced from the same person, who until recently was the owner of the Feral Animal Project. I am not aware of any breeding in European zoos. Currently the species is kept in 4 European zoos.

full

@Jakub The red-and-white giant flying squirrel has been imported in substantial numbers this century

Species lost

Southern flying squirrel - Glaucomys volans B5
Although it is not completely clear whether this species was kept at the start of the century, it seems likely as the species was present in the later years of the 1990s. This species was kept the longest by Zoo Plzen which held the species from 2001-2020, where the passing away of the final individual also meant the end of European holdings.

full

@CMP To see southern flying squirrels one has to go to the US again

Progress
16/22 orders completed
45/106 families completed
226-232 species present in 2000
218-219 species present in 2023
51-59 species gained since 2000
63-67 species lost since 2000
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Neil chace said:
To whomever decided to give two flying squirrels in different genera the same species name, I ask why? Why do you make things unnecessarily confusing?
Click to expand...
They are 2 different genuses. Pteromys is Eurasian, while Glaucomys is American.
I admit it creates a bit of confusion.
 
lintworm said:
Red-and-white giant flying squirrel - Petaurista alborufus
This species was first imported by the RSCC in 2010, where the species was kept until its closure in 2015.....I am not aware of any breeding in European zoos.
Click to expand...
This species, red-and-white giant flying squirrel, was bred at London Zoo in 1966.
 
Neil chace said:
To whomever decided to give two flying squirrels in different genera the same species name, I ask why? Why do you make things unnecessarily confusing?
Click to expand...
Their species' name is not the same, it is different. A species' scientific name is always composed of 2 names, the generic (=genus) and the specific name. They have different names and according to the rules of zoological nomenclature, perfectly functional names. There is no rule within zoological nomenclature that forbids the use of the same specific name for 2 species of different genera and each scientist that describes a species is completely free to choose whatever name it wants, as far as it follows the rules. Will you ever refer to one of those species as only volans? Even P. volans or G. volans are different enough for me.
 
Neil chace said:
To whomever decided to give two flying squirrels in different genera the same species name, I ask why? Why do you make things unnecessarily confusing?
Click to expand...
It seems that you have to ask Linnaeus himself (the father of the scientific nomenclature) why he gave those names to those species.
 
Tim May said:
Linnaeus actually gave
Pteromys volans the name Sciurus volans
Glaucomys volans the name Mus volans
Click to expand...
True, but we know that the generic names (=genus) are changing all the time due to the different rearrangements that happen in taxonomy, which go away from the control of the scientist that describes the species. He still gave volans to both as specific name. But yes it seems that he wanted to call P.volans the flying squirrel and G.volans the flying mouse.
 
OkapiJohn said:
Their species' name is not the same, it is different. A species' scientific name is always composed of 2 names, the generic (=genus) and the specific name. They have different names and according to the rules of zoological nomenclature, perfectly functional names. There is no rule within zoological nomenclature that forbids the use of the same specific name for 2 species of different genera and each scientist that describes a species is completely free to choose whatever name it wants, as far as it follows the rules. Will you ever refer to one of those species as only volans? Even P. volans or G. volans are different enough for me.
Click to expand...
I am aware of how binomial nomenclature works. I still think it is too confusing to have two similar species with the same species part of the name, even if in different genera. Genera also change so frequently that oftentimes it can be confusing to figure out what species is be
OkapiJohn said:
Their species' name is not the same, it is different. A species' scientific name is always composed of 2 names, the generic (=genus) and the specific name. They have different names and according to the rules of zoological nomenclature, perfectly functional names. There is no rule within zoological nomenclature that forbids the use of the same specific name for 2 species of different genera and each scientist that describes a species is completely free to choose whatever name it wants, as far as it follows the rules. Will you ever refer to one of those species as only volans? Even P. volans or G. volans are different enough for me.
Click to expand...
I'm aware of how binomial nomenclature works. I still think it is too confusing to have two similar species with the same species (not genus) name, especially since the frequent changing of genera often makes them problematic from a species-identification perspective.
 
lintworm said:
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)

RODENTS - RODENTIA
2652 species across 35 families
251 species kept this century (9%)

With 41% of all extant mammal species this is by far the largest mammal order of them all. Unsurprisingly it is also the most species rich order in this survey, though in 2000 there were more primate species kept then rodents. Currently rodents are the most speciose order of mammals in European zoos though. But European rodent collections are quite fluid with recent entries and departures of species. Especially for murine rodents it is a few zoos that drive most of the trends when it comes to diversity.

Dormice - Gliridae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 6-7
# Species kept currently: 7 (- / +1)
# Species gained: 2-3
# Species lost: 2

This is a group of squirrels that is camouflaged as nocturnal mice. They are a very attractive group with a high cuteness factor, but their nocturnal habits make them more complicated display animals. Renewed interest in a few native European species has meant that some species are increasing in popularity.

full

@Glutton The edible dormouse is the largest native dormouse and is probably more common on zoo grounds as a wild animal, then it is as a captive species.

Species gained but lost

Lorraine African dormouse - Graphiurus lorraineus A?
This species was kept at least in 2010 in the Schulzoo in Herford, Germany, which closed in 2014. There are no other dates known for this species in the Schulzoo, despite being visited at earlier dates by Zootierliste users who have made entries for other species. So it is likely this species was only kept for a few years.

Nagtglas’s African dormouse - Graphiurus nagtglasii A3
This species has in recent decades only been kept in Zoo Plzen from 2001-2006.

full

@vogelcommando All African dormice of the genus Graphiurus all look remarkably similar

Status uncertain

Eurasian forest dormouse - Dryomys nitedula
It is unclear whether this species was already present in Europe in 2000, if it was very rare just as now. There are known holdings in the 1990s until at least 1996 and the first known holding in the 21st century is Zoo Plzen in 2002. But it isn’t unlikely there were some individuals already at the start of the century. It is currently held in 2 zoos which acquired their stock in recent years.

full

@Dormitator Eurasian forest dormice are also held in Russian zoos, picture from Moscow Zoo

Species gaining popularity

Garden dormouse - Eliomys quercinus
While not endangered on a continental scale, this species has suffered great declines in parts of its range, and as such there are projects in multiple countries that involve reintroduction. As such this species has come to the attention of zoos and for example Gaiazoo, Kerkrade, in the Netherlands has an off-show breeding centre for reintroduction purposes. This species is now becoming more common in especially Dutch and German zoos given their local conservation status. It isn’t entirely clear whether this species was kept at the start of the century in zoos, with the first definite holding starting in 2002, but given this species was present at least in 1996, I assume it was around. It is currently the most widely held native dormouse, though still uncommon overall.

Hazel dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
This species has been bred for reintroduction purposes in multiple UK zoos for years, but is now also spreading on the mainland. It is still an uncommon species in captivity, but it is becoming less so.

full

@HOMIN96 A rather chubby hazel dormouse in Plzen

Species losing popularity

Black-tailed garden dormouse - Eliomys melanurus
At the same time that the native garden dormouse is spreading, the always rare in captivity, but similar looking, black-tailed garden dormouse is slowly becoming more uncommon, despite breeding successes in Zoo Frankfurt to this day. At the start of the century there were several European holders with multiple breeding groups. Nowadays only 2 zoos remain (Frankfurt & Zagreb), with multiple (Eastern) European zoos losing this species in the past few years.

full

@ThylacineAlive Cute but losing the battle against the natives: black-tailed garden dormouse

Progress
16/22 orders completed
45/106 families completed
224-230 species present in 2000
214-215 species present in 2023
50-55 species gained since 2000
61-65 species lost since 2000
Click to expand...
About the rodents, I would notice that although it is the largest order of mammals, few species are really common in zoos in France, but probably in most other countries. I don't know a lot of zoos with many rodent species here : a notable exception could be the Citadelle de Besançon (native species).
Most of them are large, long-lived species : Capybaras, Maras, Agoutis, Brazilian Porcupines and Crested/Indian/South African Porcupines. Plus the fancy Rats and Mice, and a strange, ugly but quite appreciated newcomer : the Naked Molerat.
Most other species are scarce, probably disadvantadged by their short life cycle, biosecurity and/or invasive species concerns, and a general lack of interest of the public.
Some species among others may have a true potential to spread in zoos : the North American Porcupines, Viscachas, Malagasy Jumping Rats, Philippine Cloud Rats, the desert rodents (Jerboas/Gerbils/Gundi) and obviously the large range of our native species, from the tiny Hazel Dormouse to the large Eurasian Beaver.
What about a complex of exhibits displaying ten or more species of European rodents of all sizes, displaying their various adaptations ? (especially in small urban, city-managed zoos like in Lyon or Strasbourg that haven't possibilities of enlargement and that have became unfit for large animals ; then it would increase the interest on native species)
 
Tree squirrels - Sciurini
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 5
# Species kept currently: 8 (+3)
# Species gained: 7
# Species lost: 4

The tree squirrels could also be called the true squirrels as they are the archetypical and most well-known representatives of this family. The most common native European squirrel the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is also by far the most commonly held true squirrel in Europe. There are plenty of subspecies present, with the subspecies leucourous, which is endemic to Great Britain & Ireland, being used in captive breeding programs for reintroduction on the islands. The Siberian subspecies exalbidus, with its distinct winter coat has been gaining popularity but is still rare.

full

@Maguari The very distinct winter coat of the Siberian red squirrel

Species gained

Red-tailed squirrel - Sciurus granatensis B4*
This squirrel was kept from at least 2008 in European zoos when the species was recorded in the Haustierhof Reutemuehle in Germany. In the same period the NOP in Veldhoven, the Netherlands also kept this species. It is currently only kept in the Eekhoorn Experience in Etten-Leur, the Netherlands.

Japanese squirrel - Sciurus lis C4*
The earliest holding this century was in Zoo Leipzig 2007-2008, where the species also bred. It has been kept in a larger number of other zoos since. It is however questionable whether many individuals actually belong to this species or are just a captive-bred colour morph of European red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)...

Variegated squirrel - Sciurus variegatoides C5*↑
Two subspecies of this species are currently kept in Europe, dorsalis was kept first in 2001 in Apenheul, Apeldoorn, and Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich, but it is currently the rarer of the two. Subspecies atrirufus was first kept in Zoo Magdeburg in 2014 and bred there. From there and private holders this handsome subspecies has spread to a number of other zoos.

Yucatan squirrel - Sciurus yucatanensis B4*
Yucatan squirrels were first imported from Zoo Belize by Papiliorama in Kerzers, Switzerland, in 2011. The species has bred there successfully and has spread to 2 other zoos since then.

full

@Daniel Sörensen From Belize with love: the Yucatan squirrel

Species gained but lost

Eastern fox squirrel - Sciurus niger B4?
This species appears irregularly in European zoos, presumably from private keepers, but is not kept long term. The last known holding was in Tiergarten Kleve until ±2020.

Peters’s squirrel - Sciurus oculatus A2
This species was kept ±2016-2020 in Borkop Zoo in Skaerup, Denmark. The final animal died of old age.

Douglas’s squirrel - Tamasciurus douglasii A2
These squirrels were kept in Heythrop Zoo, UK, from 2011-2013.

full

@birdsandbats Eastern fox squirrels have disappeared again from European zoos

Species lost

Guayaquil squirrel - Sciurus stramineus B3
This species was kept 1997-2001 in London Zoo and 1998-2001 in Marwell Zoo at the start of the century. Later the species was briefly kept at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park from 2009-2010/1

full

@Giant Eland Guayaquil squirrels are commonly seen wild in several South American zoos, but are currently absent from European ones

Progress
16/22 orders completed
45/106 families completed
231-237 species present in 2000
226-227 species present in 2023
58-66 species gained since 2000
67-71 species lost since 2000
 
I recall with primates it was interesting to see where the species lost caught up and exceeded species gained ... so maybe soon enough it may reverse?
 
Mammals are technically mostly rodents with some additional bits.
There is more species in two families of mice and hamsters than all primates, ungulates, carnivores and sea mammals combined. So what happens with countless species of mouse, grebils and hamsters trumps all bigger animals.

I feel intuitively that the trend is shrinking of animals - large species are replaced by small ones.
 
Beautiful squirrels - Callosciurinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 7-8
# Species kept currently: 8-9 (0/+1/+2)
# Species gained: 2-3
# Species lost: 1-2

As if other squirrels are not beautiful, but with species like the always popular Prevost's squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) there is a reason why this group has gotten this name. That is not to say there are no drab squirrels in this sub-family. The animals listed as Perny’s long-nosed squirrel (Dremomys pernyi) that are currently around in the Netherlands are however not long-nosed squirrels, but a Callosciurus species, though it seems unclear which species exactly.

full

@hmb_zoo A Prevost's squirrel showing off

Species gained

Grey-bellied squirrel - Callosciurus caniceps B3*
This species was first kept in Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, in 2006. That holding only lasted for several months though. There are multiple other former holders, but currently the species is only listed for Glad Zoo in Lintrup, Denmark.

Himalayan striped squirrel - Tamiops mecclellandii B4*
This species was first kept in the Zoo der Minis in Aue, Germany from 2008-2011. Many zoochatters will have seen this species when kept in Tierpark Berlin 2013-2021. It is currently kept in 3 German zoos, and bred in Tiergarten Schoenebeck, which is Germany’s rodent capital.

full

@Hix A grey-bellied squirrel in the wild

Species lost

Black-striped squirrel - Callosciurus nigrovitattus A2?
Zoo Plzen acquired 3 individuals in 1999, but it is unclear until when they were kept. The holding likely didn’t last longer than a few years only. As all animals were female, no breeding occurred.

full

@Chlidonias A black-striped squirrel showing it's black stripe

Status unclear

Northern palm squirrel - Funambulus pennantii A2
This species is allegedly kept in the Mini Zoo Rosite in Skredeli, Latvia, but no evidence after 2018 is given. This species was possibly still present in Odense Zoo at the start of the century, but no evidence after 1998 is available.

full

@J I N X Northern palm squirrels are invasive in Israel and as such are kept there in larger numbers then in Europe

Species gaining popularity

Swinhoe’s striped squirrel - Tamiops swinhoei
There is probably no other mammal species that has spread as quickly as this tiny hyperactive squirrel in recent years. As a small, active, cute and fast-breeding species it is clear that this squirrel has a lot going for it. But in recent years the number of holders has boomed and it won’t be long until it joins the club of 100 holders. It is suited to mixes with birds and is a popular addition for both small and large-sized zoos. As they are often kept in larger groups, there is always action and these animals are crowd favourites.

full

@Maguari Still most prevalent in Germany, but now a common species in more countries

Progress
16/22 orders completed
45/106 families completed
238-245 species present in 2000
234-236 species present in 2023
60-67 species gained since 2000
68-73 species lost since 2000
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top