Trends in European zoo collections in the 21st century

[pangolin12]

Springhares - Pedetidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 1
# Species kept currently: 2 (+1)
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: 0

A small African family of large kangaroo-like rodents. Originally only a single species was recognized, but this was split in 2 around the start of the century. The southern springhare (Pedetes capensis) has been present as a rare species for decades in Europe, only Zoo Berlin still breeds this species so it's existence in Europe is all but secured.

@Dormitator The survival of springhares in Europe in general is not a given

Species gained

Eastern springhare - Pedetes surdaster B4*♱
This species was first kept in 2004 in Zoo Plzen and hasn’t been kept outside of Czechia. They were kept in Zoo Praha until 2022 and in Zoo Plzen until 2021. The single remaining Plzen individual moved to Zoo Dvur Kralove in 2021, once this animal dies, this species will disappear again from Europe.

@HOMIN96 Like many rodents eastern springhares were a Czech speciality and not able to create a stable zoo population

Progress
16/22 orders completed
62/106 families completed
287-295 species present in 2000
285-287 species present in 2023
89-97 species gained this century
96-99 species lost this century

Out of interest, is the eastern springhare on show at dvur kralove?? on my visit earlier this year the only springhares i saw were labelled as southern and iirc there were two, held with the thick tailed galago?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Out of interest, is the eastern springhare on show at dvur kralove?? on my visit earlier this year the only springhares i saw were labelled as southern and iirc there were two, held with the thick tailed galago?

You saw it, then they have one of each species mixed together.

 

[pangolin12]

You saw it, then they have one of each species mixed together.

ooh, interesting! is there any way to tell them apart as it seems i only have a photo of one individual unfortunately??

 

[lintworm]

Spoiler: Key to symbols & abbreviations

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)

Voles and allies - Cricetidae
849 species across 154 genera
39 species kept this century (5%)

The most speciose rodent family that contains more species than most mammal orders. “Only” 39 species have been kept in Europe this century, of which there is a strong bias towards the large hamsters as opposed to the countless vole species. Today we will cover the 3 least represented subfamilies.

Hamsters - Cricetinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 6
# Species kept currently: 6
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: 1

A familiar subfamily that is relatively well represented in European collections. 6 species have been kept throughout the century, though the smaller species seem to lose some of their popularity. On the other hand the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) is getting some renewed attention in recent years because of its critically endangered status. Multiple zoos have long been involved in captive breeding for reintroduction projects, but this remains a scarce species.

@lintworm Now listed as CR, this species is getting attention from zoos, though the wild Vienna populations are the craze of the day

Species gained but lost

Tibetan dwarf hamster - Urocricetus kamensis A1
The Zoo and Conservation Trust in Southport, UK, received 3 individuals in 2003, which all died in the same year.

Deermice and allies - Neotominae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 2
# Species kept currently: 1 (-1)
# Species gained: 3
# Species lost: 4

A large group of mouse-like rodents from the new world. This is a very rare group in Europe, with only one species that has been maintained in zoos long term: the cactus deer mouse (Peromyscus eremicus).

@Therabu While looking like a true mouse, cactus deer mouse are not one of them

Species gained but lost

White-footed deer mouse - Peromyscus leucopus A2
Shortly kept in Zoo Plzen from 2006-2009.

North-American deer mouse - Peromyscus maniculatus A2
Shortly kept in Zoo Plzen in 2017-2019

Oldfield deer mouse - Peromyscus polyonotus B5*
This species was kept and bred in a few German and English zoos in the 20th and 21st century, the species was in the 20th century kept until 1999. Last confirmed holding was in Zoo Paignton in 2016.

@RatioTile North-American deer-mouse are like most American rodents absent from European zoos

Species lost

White-throated woodrat - Neotoma albigula A3
This species was imported for the Desert in Burgers’ Zoo around 1995, but it wasn’t a good display animal at all, so no effort to keep this species was made, the final individual died in 2002.

@Giant Eland Also known as pack rats, white-throated woodrats weren't a successful addition to European zoos

Cotton rats and allies - Sigmodontinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 2
# Species kept currently: 1 (-1)
# Species gained: 0
# Species lost: 1

Another large sub-family of New World mouse-like rodents. Only a single species, the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is currently kept in Europe and this species has likely been present throughout the century. A second species was lost around the start of the century.

@Javan Rhino As America's answer to grass rats, hispid cotton rats make for attractive display animals

Species lost

Common pericote - Graomys griseoflavus B3*
This species was kept and bred in Tierpark Berlin between 1995-2000. 2 other zoos also (shortly) kept this species in the 1990s.


Progress
16/22 orders completed
66/106 families completed
300-308 species present in 2000
299-301 species present in 2023
104-112 species gained this century
110-113 species lost this century

 

[HOMIN96]

ooh, interesting! is there any way to tell them apart as it seems i only have a photo of one individual unfortunately??

As seen on my picture in this thread (I think?), the female has eyesight issues.

 

[lintworm]

Voles - Arvicolinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 16
# Species kept currently: 11 (-5)
# Species gained: 9
# Species lost: 14

A large subfamily of mostly small species, mostly voles and lemmings. This is another group where short live spans and limited interest from zoos mean that the number of species tends to fluctuate a lot.

@Daniel Sörensen Apart from lemmings this subfamily consists of a lot of relatively similar-looking rodents, such as this Brandt's vole, though there is a lot of diversity if you look more closely

Species gained

Balkan snow vole - Dinomys bogdanovi A3*
This species has been kept since at least 2017 in Zoo Zagreb, whose animals are part of a research project in cooperation with the University of Zagreb. This is a vulnerable local endemic, so this is a species where zoos could play an important role in their conservation.

Short-tailed field vole - Microtus agrestis B?
This species is kept in 2 UK zoos currently and was probably first kept around 2010 on the mainland, but details are unclear.

Liechtenstein’s pine vole - Microtus liechtensteini B2*
The Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus) is one of the rarest mammals of the continent, which was thought to be extinct at one point, whose tiny range is very near the Alpenzoo Innsbruck. The Alpenzoo acquired 3 wild caught animals in 2021 and first bred the species in 2022. Fortunately captive breeding is going well and Tierpark Berlin received an offspring pair in 2022, as well as Haus des Meeres in Vienna in 2023. Breeding doesn’t seem to be an issue in the other zoos either. However one genetic study found relatively small genetic differences between Bavarian pine voles and Liechtenstein’s pine voles, so they are lumped in the ASM Mammal Diversity Database, which is something the cited study didn’t even argue for.

@remar Species or not, Bavarian pine voles are among the rarest mammals of Europe

Species gained but lost

Grey red-backed vole - Craseomys rufocanus A?
This species was kept at least until 2017 in Ranua Wildlife Park in Finland.

Yellow steppe lemming - Eolagurus luteus B2
Kept in Zoo Riga 2011-2014 and in the Manfred Kranzin Schulzoo in Berlin in 2011.

Cabrera’s vole - Microtus cabrerae B3*
Kept in Zoo Jerez, Spain from 2005-2013/4 and bred there. Also kept at least 2013 in the Canada Real Open Center in El Escorial, Spain.

Mediterranean pine vole - Microtus duodecimcostatus A?
Species probably kept around 2012 in the Canada Real Open Center in El Escorial, Spain

Common pine vole - Microtus subterraneus A2*
Kept in Zoo Plzen 2010-2012, where it bred in 2010.

Northern red-backed vole - Myodes rutilus B?
Species kept in Zoo der Minis in Aue, Germany in the 2000s and acquired by both Skansen Zoo, Stockholm and Universeum in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2012, but also not kept long in both places.

@Glutton Yellow steppe lemming are one of multiple lemming species to have disappeared this century

Species lost

Root vole - Alexandromys oeconomus B3*
Both Zoo Plzen and Zoo Prague acquired this species in 1999 and was bred in both. Last kept in Zoo Plzen in 2005. This species was also kept and bred in the 1990s in other zoos.

Gobi Altai mountain vole - Alticola barakshin B4*
This species was kept and bred in a few German zoos, most notably Zoo Magdeburg, and Zoo Plzen in the 1990s and the early 2000s. The last animals were kept in Zoo Plzen in 2010.

Allen’s mountain vole - Alticola semicana B5*
This species was kept and bred in Tierpark Berlin from 1981 to 2004. A few other zoos also kept this species at the start of the century, but none did so long term.

Eastern mole vole - Ellobius tancrei B2*
Both Schulzoo Leipzig and Tierpark Berlin acquired this species from China in 1998, but the species wasn’t maintained long term with the last animals until at least 2002 in Tierpark Berlin, where the species did breed.

Norway brown lemming - Lemmus lemmus B5*?
This species was kept in a few Scandinavian zoos and individuals were present in Ranua Wildlife Park, Finland until at least 2017.

Altai vole - Microtus obscurus A2
Kept in Zoo Plzen 1999-2001.

Social vole - Microtus socialis B2*
Kept in the 1990s in Zoo Riga and Novy Dvur Arboretum in Czechia. Zoo Plzen acquired this species in 1999, where the final animal passed away in 2000.

Wood lemming - Myopus schisticolor A2*
Kept and bred in Nordens Arks, Hunebosstrand in Sweden at least 1999-2001.

@baboon The distinct looking mountain voles, such as this Gobi Altai mountain vole are now absent from European zoos

Progress
16/22 orders completed
67/106 families completed
316-324 species present in 2000
310-312 species present in 2023
113-121 species gained this century
124-127 species lost this century

 

[birdsandbats]

Spoiler: Key to symbols & abbreviations

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)

Voles and allies - Cricetidae
849 species across 154 genera
39 species kept this century (5%)

The most speciose rodent family that contains more species than most mammal orders. “Only” 39 species have been kept in Europe this century, of which there is a strong bias towards the large hamsters as opposed to the countless vole species. Today we will cover the 3 least represented subfamilies.

Hamsters - Cricetinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 6
# Species kept currently: 6
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: 1

A familiar subfamily that is relatively well represented in European collections. 6 species have been kept throughout the century, though the smaller species seem to lose some of their popularity. On the other hand the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) is getting some renewed attention in recent years because of its critically endangered status. Multiple zoos have long been involved in captive breeding for reintroduction projects, but this remains a scarce species.

@lintworm Now listed as CR, this species is getting attention from zoos, though the wild Vienna populations are the craze of the day

Species gained but lost

Tibetan dwarf hamster - Urocricetus kamensis A1
The Zoo and Conservation Trust in Southport, UK, received 3 individuals in 2003, which all died in the same year.

Deermice and allies - Neotominae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 2
# Species kept currently: 1 (-1)
# Species gained: 3
# Species lost: 4

A large group of mouse-like rodents from the new world. This is a very rare group in Europe, with only one species that has been maintained in zoos long term: the cactus deer mouse (Peromyscus eremicus).

@Therabu While looking like a true mouse, cactus deer mouse are not one of them

Species gained but lost

White-footed deer mouse - Peromyscus leucopus A2
Shortly kept in Zoo Plzen from 2006-2009.

North-American deer mouse - Peromyscus maniculatus A2
Shortly kept in Zoo Plzen in 2017-2019

Oldfield deer mouse - Peromyscus polyonotus B5*
This species was kept and bred in a few German and English zoos in the 20th and 21st century, the species was in the 20th century kept until 1999. Last confirmed holding was in Zoo Paignton in 2016.

@RatioTile North-American deer-mouse are like most American rodents absent from European zoos

Species lost

White-throated woodrat - Neotoma albigula A3
This species was imported for the Desert in Burgers’ Zoo around 1995, but it wasn’t a good display animal at all, so no effort to keep this species was made, the final individual died in 2002.

@Giant Eland Also known as pack rats, white-throated woodrats weren't a successful addition to European zoos

Cotton rats and allies - Sigmodontinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 2
# Species kept currently: 1 (-1)
# Species gained: 0
# Species lost: 1

Another large sub-family of New World mouse-like rodents. Only a single species, the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is currently kept in Europe and this species has likely been present throughout the century. A second species was lost around the start of the century.

@Javan Rhino As America's answer to grass rats, hispid cotton rats make for attractive display animals

Species lost

Common pericote - Graomys griseoflavus B3*
This species was kept and bred in Tierpark Berlin between 1995-2000. 2 other zoos also (shortly) kept this species in the 1990s.


Progress
16/22 orders completed
66/106 families completed
300-308 species present in 2000
299-301 species present in 2023
104-112 species gained this century
110-113 species lost this century

Interesting way to look at this, the American-made animal books I had as a kid all said that it was Old World mice that were not the "true" mice.

 

[Chlidonias]

Interesting way to look at this, the American-made animal books I had as a kid all said that it was Old World mice that were not the "true" mice.

In taxonomy "true" means the type, so "true mice" are those of the genus Mus (and by extension others of the family Muridae), "true toads" are those of the genus Bufo, etc.

 

[lintworm]

True mice - Muridae
842 species across 163 genera
75 species kept this century (9%)

This is the second most speciose mammal family of them all, though it is much better represented in European zoos than the similar-sized Cricetidae. No doubt because the majority of Cricetids are New World species, whereas murids are and Old World family. While domesticated mice and rats make up the bulk of this family in Europe, there is a variety of wild species around.

Spiny mice and allies - Deomyinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 5
# Species kept currently: 7 (+2)
# Species gained: 4
# Species lost: 2

A commonly seen group of old world rodents, allthough only spiny mice are kept in zoos currently, that has a lot of fans in Eastern Europe.

Species gained

Seurat’s spiny mouse - Acomys seurati C5*↑
This species was first acquired by Zoo Plzen in 2000, which has kept and bred this species ever since, which given all the collection changes there is quite the exception. It has since also spread to a few other zoos looking for a rarer spiny mouse.

Southern African spiny mouse - Acomys spinosissimus B4*↑
Another spiny mouse first kept in Zoo Plzen, this time in 2005, and bred there. It has since also spread to a few other zoos.

@HOMIN96 Seurat's spiny mice like other new spiny mice originate from Zoo Plzen

Species gained but lost

Percival’s spiny mouse - Acomys percivali B4*
This species was kept and bred in Zoo Plzen from 2005-2020 and also kept in Zoo Prague at least 2010-2015.

Wilson’s spiny mouse - Acomys wilsoni A3
This species was kept in Zoo Plzen 2002-2010.

@Giant Eland Unlike other spiny mice, Percival's spiny mice did not spread beyond Czechia

Species gaining popularity

Golden spiny mouse - Acomys russatus
While this species was around in the 1990s it used to be a rarity and it was only when both Tierpark Berlin and Zoo Plzen acquired this species in 1999 that this species started to spread. It is currently kept in 10 different zoos.

@Daniel Sörensen Golden spiny mouse probably profit from their bright colouration and diurnal habits

Species losing popularity

Crete spiny mouse - Acomys minous
This species is now down to 2 holders, whereas it has been kept in a much larger number, most notably in Tierpark Berlin which held this species from 1996-2020.

@HOMIN96 Unlike other endemic European rodents Crete spiny mice have seriously declined in European zoos


Progress
16/22 orders completed
67/106 families completed
321-329 species present in 2000
317-319 species present in 2023
117-125 species gained this century
126-129 species lost this century

 

[TeaLovingDave]

This species was kept and bred in Zoo Plzen from 2005-2020 and also kept in Zoo Prague at least 2010-2015.

Unlike other spiny mice, Percival's spiny mice did not spread beyond Czechia

Minor correction - the species was also held at Chester Zoo here in the UK between 2007 and 2014, where it bred quite prolifically until a sudden population collapse. If memory serves me correctly it was even one of the small mammal keepers at Chester who worked out that the species *was* Acomys percivali in the first place; it was originally imported into Europe as a suspected undescribed species colloquially called "Mount Kulal Spiny Mouse" and for a long time was merely listed as Acomys sp.nov on ZTL (and ZIMS I think?).

 

[lintworm]

Gerbils & jirds - Gerbillinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 10
# Species kept currently: 12 (+2)
# Species gained: 19
# Species lost: 17

This is a large group from arid environments that is also quite popular in the private trade. From there new species appear every now and then, often to disappear again too. As a note for this post and the coming 2 posts: there are quite some cases where Zootierliste is inconclusive, with unclear ending or starting dates for certain holdings. So it is sometimes hard to impossible to assess whether a species was present at the start of the century. Fortunately I had help from someone with ZIMS access, so for quite a number of taxa gaps could be filled in, but far from all. So in some cases I have made a choice as to how likely I think that the species was held still/already at 1-1-2000. Given that most rodent holdings at an average zoo last about 2-5 years I have taken that as an indication.

Species gained

North African gerbil - Gerbillus campestris B?
This species was kept first this century in Tierpark Berlin in 2001, where it wasn’t present long. It is currently kept only in Zoo Plzen, which reacquired the species in 2022.

Wagner’s gerbil - Gerbillus dasyurus B5*↑
First kept in Zoo Plzen in 2001, this species is now kept in multiple zoos and has been seeing an increase in popularity in recent years.

Sundeval’s jird - Meriones crassus B5*
Species kept since 2000 in European zoos, it was first kept in Tierpark Berlin, and it is currently only kept in Zoo Plzen and Zoo Prague, which acquired the species (again) in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Tristram’s jird - Meriones tristrami C5*
The species was kept from 2001-2021 in Zoo Plzen, but zoos have kept this species in the 1990s too, it seems however likely that the holding in Plzen was the first in the century. It is currently kept in Zoo Wroclaw and Reaseheath College Zoo.

@HOMIN96 Sundevall's jirds like many of their conspecifics often have a short shelf date in zoos

Species gained but lost

Cape short-eared gerbil - Desmodilus auricularis A1
1.1 arrived in Schulzoo Leipzig in 2002, as transit to Tierpark Berlin, but both animals died the same year.

Highveld gerbil - Gerbilliscus brantsii A2
Species kept in Zoo Plzen 2002-2004, not bred.

Fringe-tailed gerbil - Gerbilliscus robustus B3?
Kept in Schulzoo Leipzig around 2002, in Schulzoo Herford, Germany roughly 2006-2008 and in Zoo Plzen around 2012-2014.

Berbera gerbil - Gerbillus alticola A?
Kept for an unknown period at Noahs Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, UK.

Anderson’s gerbil - Gerbillus andersoni B3*
Kept in Zoo Plzen 2006-2012, where also bred and in the Manfred Kranzin Schulzoo, Berlin 2010-2013.

Cheesman’s gerbil - Gerbillus cheesmani B4*
Kept and bred in Zoo Plzen 2003-2011 and kept in the 2000s in Tiergarten Schoenebeck and Schulzoo Herford.

Algerian gerbil - Gerbillus garamantis A?
Kept in Grugapark, Essen in Germany around 2004.

Baluchistan dwarf gerbil - Gerbillus nanus C4*
First kept in Zoo Plzen in 2006, kept in 7 different zoos this century, last kept in Zoo Wroclaw 2019-2022.

Least gerbil - Gerbillus pusillus B3*
Kept and bred in Zoo Plzen 2010-2016, also kept in Zoo Prague 2013-2016 and in the Manfred Kranzin Schulzoo in Berlin 2011-2013.

Greater Egyptian gerbil - Gerbillus pyramidum A2*
Kept in Zoo Plzen, where also bred, 2004-2006.

Lesser short-tailed gerbil - Gerbillus simoni A3*
Kept in Zoo Plzen 2006-2012, also bred.

Moroccan jird - Meriones grandis A2?
Kept until 2008 in Schulzoo Herford, Germany.

Indian desert jird - Meriones hurrianae B3*
Kept in Zoo Plzen 2006-2011 and bred there, also kept in Zoo Bojnice, Slovakia 2007-2011, where not bred.

Midday jird - Meriones meridionalis A2?
Kept in Schulzoo Leipzig from 2002 until 2006 at the most.

Libyan jird - Meriones lybicus C4*
Species was kept in the 1990s and at least the early 2000s, though it is unclear for each zoo when the holding started, based on ZIMS as additional source it appears this species was temporarily absent at the start of this century. The last animals were kept in Zoo Plzen and Zoo Riga in 2015.

@Giant Eland Baluchistan dwarf jird are one of many jird species to have appeared and disappeared again over the past 2 decades

Species lost

Pleasant gerbil - Gerbillus amoenus B?*
Species was bred in Tiergarten Kleve, Germany, in the early 1990s and kept and bred in Tierpark Berlin at least 1994-1996, final holding was Poznan Nowe Zoo 1998-2001.

Indian gerbil - Tatera indica B4*
Kept and bred in a few zoos in the 1990s, last kept in Zoo Plzen 2001-2008.

Species gaining popularity

Fat sand rat - Psammomys obesus
A rather atypical large member of this subfamily. At the start of the century it was rare, but present. Thanks mainly to the breeding group in Zoo Leipzig this species has been spreading in recent years.

@ronnienl Fat sand rats are somewhat distinct relatives of the jirds and are even suited to walkthrough exhibits

Species losing popularity

Shaw’s jird - Meriones shawi
These jirds were kept in roughly 10 zoos this century, of which most were only short-term holders, currently down to two small zoos.

Lesser Egyptian gerbil - Gerbillus gerbillus
This species wasn’t uncommon in German and Czech zoos, but is currently kept only in Drusillas Zoo Park, UK, where the last information entry was in 2018, so it might be gone already.

@vogelcommando Like many other members of this sub-family, while rare in zoos, Shaw's gerbils are readily available in the private trade

Progress
16/22 orders completed
67/106 families completed
331-339 species present in 2000
329-331 species present in 2023
136-144 species gained this century
143-146 species lost this century

 

[pangolin12]

The Egyptian gerbils at Drusillas were nowhere to be seen as of last wednesday…

 

[lintworm]

True mice and rats - Murinae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 17
# Species kept currently: 21 (+4)
# Species gained: 17
# Species lost: 13

Another large group of small rodents where species come and go frequently. Less then half of the species in the survey have been kept continually in European zoos this century.

@Hix The spinifex hopping mouse is one of the latest Australian species to see a large increase in number of holders

Species gained

Neumann’s grass rat - Arvicanthis neumanni B4*
This species was first kept by Zoo Plzen in 2006, where it bred regularly and the species quickly popped up in multiple other zoos. Currently the population is smaller than a few years ago, but multiple zoos still have breeding groups.

Spinifex hopping mouse - Notomys alexis C2*↑
This species was kept until the late 1990s, and maybe even around 2000 in Europe, though a loss before 2000 seems most likely. The current population derives from an import of 5.5 animals from Australia by Hamerton Zoo in 2019. The population has been growing steadily and there are currently 11 holders.

Mesic four-striped grass rat - Rhabdomys dilectus B5*
This species was first held in Zoo Plzen and Zoo Prague in 2002. Both zoos don’t keep this species anymore, but it should still be present in 3 other zoos.

Black-tailed thallomys - Thallomys nigricauda B4*
First kept in Poznan Nowe Zoo in 2010, where first bred the same year. Several other zoos have since also kept this species, but Poznan is the only current holder. This genus is also known as acacia rats.

Sundevall’s thallomys - Thallomys paedulcus C4*↑
This species was first confirmed in Zoo Plzen and Zoo Prague in 2006. This species has been spreading since it was first kept and is present in ±10 zoos. It was initially identified as Loring’s thallomys (Thallomys loringi), which also occurs in Eastern Africa, but it is quite clearly T. paedulcus based on pelage.

Xeric four-striped grass rat - Rhabdomys pumillio D5*♰
First confirmed holdings in 2002 in Zoo Plzen and Tierpark Berlin. While having a larger number of holders until a few years ago, it is currently only kept in Zoo Praha, where a single animal remained at the start of 2023.

@Therabu While still signed as Thallomys loringi, the grey-yellow pelage is a clear indication this is as Sundevall's thallomys


Species gained but lost

Alpine field mouse - Apodemus alpicola A2
Kept in Zoo Plzen 2015-2020, not bred.

Abyssinian grass rat - Arvicanthis abyssinicus A3*
Kept in Zoo Plzen 2001-2009, bred.

Indo-Malayan pencil-tailed tree mouse - Chiropodomys gliroides A2
This species with a name longer than the actual animal was only kept in the Schulzoo Leipzig 2000-2004, but not bred.

Grey-headed thicket rat - Grammomys caniceps B3
Kept in Schulzoo Herford around 2006-2008 and in Zoo Plzen 2008-2009 and 2009-2013

Northern woodland thicket rat- Grammomys surdaster B2-3
Kept in Schulzoo Leipzig around 2002 and in Schulzoo Herford around 2008.

Single-striped grass mouse - Lemniscomys rosalia B2-3
Kept around 2009 in Schulzoo Herford and 2009–2012/3 in Zoo Plzen.

Edward’s swamp rat - Malacomys edwardsii A2*
Kept, and bred, in Marwell Zoo, Winchester, from 2000-2004.

Namaqua rock rat - Micaelamys namaquensis B3
Kept 2001-2003 and 2004-2008 in Zoo Plzen, as well as in Schulzoo Leipzig for a short period.

Mound-building mouse - Mus spicilegus B?
Kept in Zoo/Citalle Besancon, France, at least 2012-2016 and in Zoo Budapest until 2014.

Algerian mouse - Mus spretus A?
Kept in Schulzoo Herford until around 2008.

Tullberg’s soft-furred mouse - Praomys tullbergi B2*
Kept in Zoo Plzen 2001-2004 and in Tierpark Berlin 2000-2003, bred in the latter.

@Giant Eland The northern woodland thicket rat is the only Grammomys species, a widespread African genus, kept in Europe recenty

Species lost

Hyrcanian field mouse - Apodemus hyrcanicus A2
A single animal was kept at Zoo Plzen from 1999-2001. In 1999 Zoo Plzen also acquired Kohrud field mouse (Apodemus (flavicollis) arianus), which were kept and bred until 2006, but this taxon is currently considered a subspecies.

Southern African mastomys - Mastomys coucha C5*
This species was kept and bred in multiple zoos this century, it was last kept in the Biopark, Tepliche, Czechia until around 2018-2020. The last major zoo with this species was Zoo Dresden in 2015.

Species gaining popularity

Australian water rat - Hydromys chrysogaster
At the start of the century this large rat, also known as rakali, was only kept in Poznan Nowe Zoo and Zoo Frankfurt. Successful breeding in the latter means that this species has spread to 6 other zoos currently. That means this is still a rarity, but much less rarer than 25 years ago.

@HOMIN96 Large, conspicious and active, these animals make for attractive display animals, especially when kept with underwater viewing

Progress
16/22 orders completed
67/106 families completed
348-356 species present in 2000
350-352 species present in 2023
153-161 species gained this century
156-159 species lost this century

 

[PossumRoach]

Species gaining popularity

Australian water rat - Hydromys chrysogaster
At the start of the century this large rat, also known as rakali, was only kept in Poznan Nowe Zoo and Zoo Frankfurt. Successful breeding in the latter means that this species has spread to 6 other zoos currently. That means this is still a rarity, but much less rarer than 25 years ago.

While I do appreciate that there has been an overall increase of holders of rakalis I am a bit bugged by the fact five of the former holders of this species obtained rakalis past the year 2000. Getting and losing five holders after 2000 wouldn’t be as concerning if rakalis weren’t as rare as they are.

 

[lintworm]

While I do appreciate that there has been an overall increase of holders of rakalis I am a bit bugged by the fact five of the former holders of this species obtained rakalis past the year 2000. Getting and losing five holders after 2000 wouldn’t be as concerning if rakalis weren’t as rare as they are.

This is extremely common with rodents and many other smaller animals (we will see this with birds too). Many zoos fail to hold small species for more then a few years, often despite breeding them. With their short lifespans they are often prone to boom-and-bust situations and contrary to larger species smaller ones are often seen as more expandable. Exhibit complexes are mostly designed around star species like elephants, lions, bears etc., but for the side exhibits it often doesn't matter whether it holds mouse X or mouse Y. The same goes for nocturnal houses. as long as it houses a variety of species all is fine for many zoos.

It also doesn't help that when it comes to EEPs small animals are extremely poorly represented, whereas bears or rhinos have their own TAGs all small mammals (except marsupials) are lumped in one TAG. Which also means that there are far less EEPs, which zoos often take as indication of what to focus on. Many rodents appearing and disappearing in zoos are also of Least Concern and often commonly kept in the private trade, so plenty of opportunity to source something and often little incentive to invest in a specific species.

It doesn't have to be, I would prefer a situation where different zoos would focus on a select number of species they really want to invest in, which means on-show as well as off-show holdings and keeping multiple breeding groups/pairs. An example is how Burgers' Zoo does this with their North-American rodents such as the Merriam's kangaroo rats and cactus deermice. Both species are represented in large numbers to ensure continuous breeding so that the species can be kept long term. Some zoos are now moving in that direction with birds, but for small mammals that seems far less common.

 

[remar]

Some zoos are now moving in that direction with birds, but for small mammals that seems far less common.

Well, i would say that at least for native and endangered species something is moving in the right direction. (Innsbruck, Budapest, Zagreb)

 

[Philipine eagle]

Well, i would say that at least for native and endangered species something is moving in the right direction. (Innsbruck, Budapest, Zagreb)

Agree. I saw a lot of Eurasian harvest mouse, fat dormouse and hazel dormouse on my latest trip.

 

[PossumRoach]

Agree. I saw a lot of Eurasian harvest mouse, fat dormouse and hazel dormouse on my latest trip.

Are European hamsters and sousliks also getting an increase?

 

[Haliaeetus]

Well, i would say that at least for native and endangered species something is moving in the right direction. (Innsbruck, Budapest, Zagreb)

I would also add Besançon and Mulhouse in France, curiously in the North-Eastern corner of the country, for the conservation of native rodents and especially murids lato sensu.

 

[Batto]

I would prefer a situation where different zoos would focus on a select number of species they really want to invest in, which means on-show as well as off-show holdings and keeping multiple breeding groups/pairs.

Unfortunately, continuity isn't a strong suit in many zoos. Once the driving force behind the breeding project leaves the zoo / retires, the new director/curator/senior keeper usually tries to install his/her favourite species instead. On his final day at work after accepting a job in another zoo, a good friend of mine already saw his rodent breeding project moved out before he had actually left.