UK mammal first breedings: appeal for help

[robmv]

Thanks, as ever, for this info - some comments:

• red-handed tamarin (1951)
This species was apparently bred at Shavington, but I don't have any definite details

• straw-coloured fruit bat Eidolon helvum (1951)
London actually bred them a couple of years earlier in 1949

• impala (1951)
Again, a couple of years earlier - bred at London or Whipsnade in 1947 (mentioned in a Zoo Life article which annoyingly doesn't specify which collection)

• golden spiny mouse Acomys russatus (1953)
This pre-dates our current entry (also London) by 30 years!

• black-pencilled marmoset (1955)
One more crossed of our query list

• saiga antelope (1956)
Woburn managed to breed Saiga way back in 1903

• Kuhl’s deer (1956)
This is our first breeding

• Nilgiri long-tailed tree mouse Vandeleuria oleracea nilagrica (1956) (Described as being new to the collection in the 1955 report)
Likewise, this is our first breeding

 

[Tim May]

Glad some of this was helpful, Rob.

• straw-coloured fruit bat Eidolon helvum (1951)
London actually bred them a couple of years earlier in 1949

Agreed; but according to the 1949 Annual Report, although bred, the offspring did not survive.

 

[robmv]

... according to the 1949 Annual Report, although bred, the offspring did not survive.

Interesting; the quote we found in Zoo Life for the 1949 birth is as follows:

In the Rodent House a collection of six Straw-coloured Fruit Bats (Eidolon helvum) proved to have only one female among them; she chose the only one-eyed male for her mate; and between them they are rearing a sturdy youngster, the first born in the Gardens.​

Obviously didn't stay "sturdy" for very long!

 

[Tim May]

Not sure if the following is any help to your project, Rob.

Flower (1929), as of course you know, lists that fourteen spotted hyena were born at London Zoo between 1868 and 1886; the same volume records that “about fourteen” striped hyena were born at London Zoo between 1840 and 1919.

Flower, though, does not list any brown hyena as being born in London Zoo.

Whilst browsing through “Final Natural History Essays” (Graham Renshaw; 1907) this evening, I came open the following comment about brown hyena:-

Two young specimens were preserved in the British Museum in 1843; they had been born in Liverpool – perhaps in the Zoological Gardens formerly existing there.

Is this the earliest recorded UK birth for brown hyena?

Incidentally, Renshaw’s three volumes of collected essays are fascinating reading and thoroughly recommended-

Natural History Essays (1904)
More Natural History Essays (1905)
Final Natural History Essays (1907)

 

[robmv]

Whilst browsing through “Final Natural History Essays” (Graham Renshaw; 1907) this evening, I came open the following comment about brown hyena:-

Two young specimens were preserved in the British Museum in 1843; they had been born in Liverpool – perhaps in the Zoological Gardens formerly existing there.

Is this the earliest recorded UK birth for brown hyena?

Hmm ... in Where The Lion Trod, Clin Keeling included notes from the 1841 guidebook to the first Liverpool Zoo (1832-1863) which mentioned the breeding of Striped Hyaenas. There appears to be no mention of Brown Hyaenas in the 1838 or 1841 edition of the guide. Is it possible that Renshaw (or the British Museum) made a mistake?

It's actually proved quite difficult to work out which collection was first to breed Striped Hyaena as London bred them in 1840; in addition to the Liverpool guide there is also a 1842 guide to the zoo in Hull which mentions the breeding of this species.

 

[Tim May]

Hmm ... in Where The Lion Trod, Clin Keeling included notes from the 1841 guidebook to the first Liverpool Zoo (1832-1863) which mentioned the breeding of Striped Hyaenas. There appears to be no mention of Brown Hyaenas in the 1838 or 1841 edition of the guide. Is it possible that Renshaw (or the British Museum) made a mistake?

Yes, I have a copy of Clin’s “Where the Lion Trod” so was aware that this book records striped hyenas being born in the old Liverpool Zoo.

Renshaw is normally reliable; it seems unlikely that he would have confused brown and striped hyena but it is obviously possible; few books are entirely error free.

You are right to be cautious. I only came across Renshaw’s comment about brown hyenas a few hours ago and quoted exactly what was written in his book. I haven’t had the opportunity to do any further checking but, as always, it is worth checking the original sources.

 

[Tim May]

Renshaw is normally reliable; it seems unlikely that he would have confused brown and striped hyena but it is obviously possible; few books are entirely error free.

Following on from the previous discussions on this subject, I have had some interesting and helpful correspondence with the Natural History Museum.

Summarising the details provided by the museum:-

The museum records for 1842 show the museum acquired the skin of Hyaena villosa “Bred in the Liverpool Zoological Gardens”. (Hyaena villosa is a synonym for Hyaena brunea.)

John Edward Gray (1843) listed that two such specimens arrived from Liverpool. (Presumably this is the source of Renshaw’s information.)

Only one of these specimens can be found in the collection now; the specimen is currently stored under Hyaena hyaena “but there are no notes regarding who re-identified it and whether this is correct or not”.

 

[robmv]

Following on from the previous discussions on this subject, I have had some interesting and helpful correspondence with the Natural History Museum.

Summarising the details provided by the museum:-

The museum records for 1842 show the museum acquired the skin of Hyaena villosa “Bred in the Liverpool Zoological Gardens”. (Hyaena villosa is a synonym for Hyaena brunea.)

John Edward Gray (1843) listed that two such specimens arrived from Liverpool. (Presumably this is the source of Renshaw’s information.)

Only one of these specimens can be found in the collection now; the specimen is currently stored under Hyaena hyaena “but there are no notes regarding who re-identified it and whether this is correct or not”.

VERY interesting, if not a little confusing! It seems highly unlikely that Liverpool would have bred both species in 1841/42 so it comes down to a matter of identification: you would have thought the three species of hyaena are sufficiently distinct that this wouldn't be an issue. I would love to see that specimen in the Natural History Museum.

 

[Tim May]

To add to the discussions on hyena births in the UK:-

In “Menageries, Circuses and Theatres” (1927) E. H. Bostock records spotted hyena being born in April 1869 in a travelling menagerie. Bostock claims it was the first breeding in this country; it wasn’t, Flower (1929) records spotted hyena being born at London Zoo the previous year.

What is remarkable though is that, according to Bostock, the hyenas were born in a beast wagon that their parents shared with a brown Russian bear, a Canadian bear and two Russian wolves - and the young were successfully reared!

Incidentally, in another thread, there was some discussion as to whether the spelling should be “hyena” or “hyaena”. Until recently, I always used the latter spelling; however, I’ve noticed that increasingly the tendency is to spell it “hyena” and since my spell checker always flags “hyaena” as incorrect, I have reluctantly adopted “hyena”.

 

[Chlidonias]

Incidentally, in another thread, there was some discussion as to whether the spelling should be “hyena” or “hyaena”. Until recently, I always used the latter spelling; however, I’ve noticed that increasingly the tendency is to spell it “hyena” and since my spell checker always flags “hyaena” as incorrect, I have reluctantly adopted “hyena”.

I have always used "hyaena". The spelling "hyena" isn't incorrect as such, it being a now-accepted version, but it is such a bastardisation that I will never use it (strident underlining intentional )

 

[robmv]

I have added the following comments under Striped Hyaena in the list:

There is some doubt over the identity of these animals as two skins identified as Hyaena villosa (a synonym of Hyaena brunnea) were presented to the Natural History Museum, London in 1842 with the note "Bred in the Liverpool Zoological Gardens". One of these specimens remains in the collection but was later reclassified as Hyaena hyaena.

 

[Designaka]

'Originally Posted by Tim May
Following on from the previous discussions on this subject, I have had some interesting and helpful correspondence with the Natural History Museum.'

What a brilliant idea to ask the Natural History Museum. Can they help with any other early breedings? Can they tell us whether the remaining hyena is a brown or striped?

 

[pinkback]

Shaldon was,nt the first to breed Azara's agouti. The original animals were bred at Crytal Palace Park Zoo where they were misidentified as golden agouti.

 

[Maguari]

I have always used "hyaena". The spelling "hyena" isn't incorrect as such, it being a now-accepted version, but it is such a bastardisation that I will never use it (strident underlining intentional )

Amen to that!


EDIT: I'm now waiting for someone to trawl the site and find an example of me putting 'hyena' to throw in my face - I'm sure there's at least one out there!

 

[Chlidonias]

EDIT: I'm now waiting for someone to trawl the site and find an example of me putting 'hyena' to throw in my face - I'm sure there's at least one out there!

that was my anticipation also when I wrote my post

 

[robmv]

Shaldon was,nt the first to breed Azara's agouti. The original animals were bred at Crytal Palace Park Zoo where they were misidentified as golden agouti.

Do you know when this was? (even a rough date would be useful)

 

[pinkback]

The agoutis arrived at Shaldon in 1980, The Azaras at Crystal Palace zoo came originally from the animal dealers Ravensden and were certainly breeding there.

 

[robmv]

I'm surprised that it was as long ago as 1980, I think of this species as a recent addition to UK zoos. Thanks for the info.

 

[pinkback]

Shaldon also recently bred Swinhoe's striped squirrel which I don,t think have been kept in a UK collection before, but I,m not sure.

 

[robmv]

Shaldon also recently bred Swinhoe's striped squirrel which I don,t think have been kept in a UK collection before, but I,m not sure.

I'm fairly certain that this is the first breeding in a public collection, but a private keeper bred this species in 1999.