Mustelids - Mustelidae
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 23
# Species kept currently: 25-26 (+2 / +3)
# Species gained: 7
# Species lost: 4-5
With a total of 66 species this is easily the most speciose family in the carnivore order and unsurprisingly this will be a long post too. This family includes everything from small weasels to bulky badgers and some species do, if active, belong to the most entertaining zoo animals of them all. Unfortunately the larger public seems only to have discovered the otters, though zoos are offering a whole lot more these days.
@Brayden Delashmutt Europe's favourite mustelid is the Asian small-clawed otter, which has its genus name seen changed to Lutra, just like several other Old World otters.
Species gained
Tayra - Eira barbara D5*↑
It is hard to imagine this species wasn’t kept at the start of the century, but while it was present in Kilverstone until the early 1990s, it was Zoo Berlin in 2003 that became the first holder again of this species. In 2004 Zoo Prague joined and their impressive breeding results, among others, are one of the main reasons why this large marten is spreading quickly in recent years with already close to 30 holders.
Greater grison - Galictis vittata C4*
This species first re-appeared in 2010 in Uilen- en Dierenpark de Paay in Beesd, the Netherlands, which kept the species until 2017. The population increased when Hamerton Zoo Park imported this species from Peru in 2015 and started breeding regularly. The whole current European population derives from this import.
Spotted-necked otter - Hydrictis maculicollis B4*♰
Bioparc Valencia imported this species in 2008 and bred in the beginning, but the population is now down to 2 animals, 1 in Valencia, 1 in Zoo Belfast. This means that while American zoos have a stable population of this species, it’s appearance in Europe will be a temporary one.
Striped weasel - Ictonyx lybicus B4*
After a stint in Poznan Nowe Zoo in the 1990s, this species reappeared in Zoo Plzen from 2008-2015 and in a small zoo in Reuver, the Netherlands, around 2010. It then disappeared again until Tiergarten Nuremberg acquired 2.2 animals in 2019 and bred them in 2021 and 2023. A second holder in the UK was added recently of a species that is also around in the private trade.
Smooth-coated otter - Lutra perspicillata D4*↑
First imported by the RSCC from Cambodia in 2008 and they appeared in Zoo Belfast in 2009. These otters quickly started breeding and have become an interesting alternative for small-clawed otters or European otters when zoos are looking for an endangered and less widely kept alternative. The current number of holders is now well into the double digits and new holders are added regularly.
@Michal Sloviak While many mustelids kept in zoos are diurnal, striped weasels certainly aren't
Species gained but lost
Chinese ferret-badger - Melogale moschata A4
A rarity in Europe that was in recent decades only kept in Zoo Prague, which imported a pair in 2005, of which the final animal died in 2014, without any breeding.
@Deer Forest Ferret badgers of all species have been very rare in Europe
Species lost
Lesser grison - Galictis cuja B5
This species was kept 1987-2001 in Zoo Berlin and later a single animal was kept in Uilen- en Dierenpark de Paay in Beesd, the Netherlands, from at least 2017-2022.
Fisher - Pekania pennanti B5
A great rarity in European zoos, it was in recent decades kept in Zoo Berlin from 1987-???? And in Zoo Prague from 1979-2004.
Steppe polecat - Mustela eversmanni B?
This species was kept in 3 zoos this century, but exact holding dates are unclear. It is likely the last holding was in the Lake District Wildlife Park in Bassenthwaite until 2011/2012.
@Therabu At first glance grisons are South America's answer to honey badgers, though the size difference is huge
Status unclear
Sable - Martes zibellina A?
This marten that occurs mainly in Russia is kept in multiple Russian zoos, but there is also a claim on Zootierliste for a holding in a small Finnish zoo the Kiteen Elainpuisto Oy (Kitee Zoo), in Puhos, with information from 2019. The website still lists a marten, with a picture of a sable, but with the scientific and common name of the pine marten (
Martes martes), a species more widely kept in Finland. An obscure Youtube video from 2019 does however show a sable, which was also signed as one at that time (Soopeli instead of Näätä for connoisseurs
). So this species was kept there until at least 2019. But when this species arrived there (a 2013 Youtube video shows a pine marten in the same enclosure, so will be after then) and whether it is still kept is unclear.
@alexkant Priced for their fur, sable are kept in a number of Russian zoos, but it is questionable whether any are in captivity elsewhere in Europe
Species gaining popularity
Asian small-clawed otter - Lutra cinerea
This is Europe’s most common mustelid and one of the most common mammals in zoos. Its small size and diurnal habits, as opposed to the more nocturnal European otter, make it the go-to otter for most zoos and that they are listed as vulnerable is only more incentive to add this species, so you can even claim you do something for conservation…
Yellow-throated marten - Martes flavigula
At the start of the century, this was a great rarity that could only be seen in Zoo Dresden. It was not until Allwetterzoo Munster (where the first breeding outside the native range occurred in 2007), Tiergarten Nuremberg, Zoopark Chomutov and Tierpark Berlin acquired this species in the early years of the century that this species took off. The whole European stock derives from Zoo Novosibirsk and the white feet in part of the population are an indication of the relatively high level of inbreeding. Nonetheless this species is doing great and given their beauty and active behaviour they have become increasinly popular, with currently over 20 holders.
Honey badger - Mellivora capensis
A huge rarity at the start of the century, but subsequent imports have made this species more widespread than ever before in European zoos. It is still a rare species, but an increasing number of zoos is interested in keeping this species and multiple zoos are having breeding success. A large number of subspecies are supposedly present in Europe, but their validity is doubtful and they aren't managed separately either.
European mink - Mustela lutreola
As one of Europe’s most endangered mammals, zoos have long been involved in captive breeding and reintroduction programs in multiple countries. Despite not being the best display animals, their status in the wild has convinced enough zoos to start with this species too this century, so that it is now reasonably widespread in larger and smaller zoos.
Giant otter - Pteronura brasiliensis
With only 3 holders at the start of the century, this species was always regarded as a huge rarity with Zoo Dortmund and Tierpark Hagenbeck, Hamburg, being the only regular breeders in the 20th century. In the late 2000s this species started breeding profusely and the animals spread quickly around the continent, to the extent breeding had to be halted temporarily. Exchange with South American zoos also helped. Breeding is now again allowed and there are plenty of zoos interested in acquiring this large, charismatic and endangered otter. With zoos actively being involved in reintroduction projects this species is also a perfect poster boy for the conservation effort of the zoos involved. With 24 current European holders this species has increased their presence 8-fold in just 23 years.
Wolverine - Gulo gulo
This species is so widespread, though never really common, across the continent it is easy to forget most of the spread came about only in the past 25 years. At the start of the century this species was largely confined to Scandinavian zoos and rare outside of it. The dates of first breedings for different countries like Germany (1999),Netherlands (2010), the UK (2012), France (2013), and Czechia (2016) are an indication how recent the spread is. Since 2000 the number of holders has more then doubled to close to 50 zoos now.
Siberian weasel - Mustela sibirica
This species was uncommon most of the century, but in a period from the late 1990s until the early 2010s it was kept in quite a number of zoos. But then the European population quickly collapsed. New interest and imports from Zoo Novosibirsk mean however that the number of zoos with this hyperactive little mustelids is now clearly higher then at the start of the century and far out of the ravine it was in a few years ago. But who knows whether there will be a bust after the current boom…
@Arek Yellow-throated marten are one of several large mustelids that have gained popularity.
Species losing popularity
North American river otter - Lontra canadensis
Being an American lookalike of a native European species is hard work these days and the speed at which these American otters are replaced with European otters is staggering. It is not unlikely that this species will disappear completely from Europe within a decade, as per EAZA’s wish.
@Semioptera The most widely kept mustelid in North American zoos might well be on the way out in Europe
Dead ends
Marbled polecat - Vormela peregusna
This charming little marten used to be uncommonly kept across the continent, but breeding has all but ceased and the population has declined to 2 males in Zoo Magdeburg, which were imported a few years previously from Zoo Novosibirsk. This threatened animal is still present in private hands and I hope this species can find its mojo again in Europe. The recent bounce back of Siberian weasels in Europe is a reason for hope in that regard.
@Rayane Many Zoochatters will hope that one of the most stunning native European carnivores will make a comeback, it's status as vulnerable should be an asset
Progress
19/22 orders completed
89/106 families completed
485-494 species present in 2000
492-495 species present in 2023
215-224 species gained this century
205-209 species lost this century
