Underrepresented Habitats
- Thread starter JVM
- Start date
I would say Philippine is an interesting and underrated theme, you can have Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Palawan Binturong, North Luzon Giant Cloud Rat, King Cobra, Reticulated Python, Bleeding-heart Dove, Philippine Crocodile, Philippine Sailfin Lizard, Visayan Warty Pig and some rarities like Palawan Porcupine, Palawan Leopard Cat, Visayan Hornbill, Philippine Tarsier (held by two Russian zoos) and Visayan Spotted Deer (it is not rare in EAZA, but absent in AZA). You also can have aquarium tank to display marine species around the Philippine islands. But Plzen is the only Western zoo I know to have a dedicated Philippine theme.
Toronto Zoo used to have Wisents and Chamois, now it still holds European Mouflons.
Aardwolfs don't live in Arabia, you probably mean the Striped Hyena.
In perspective of North American facilities, the European fauna overlap too much with North American fauna, but less diverse than NA (especially for Herptiles), so most zoos rather have NA theme which can have more species choices. Many European fauna have very similar counterparts in NA like Brown Bear, Wolves, Wolverines, Beavers, Otters, Moose, Lynxs, Foxes, Bisons, Golden Eagles, Great Grey Owl, Grey Seal, even Badgers, Golden Jackal vs Coyote. An European theme that contains Barbary Macaque, Alpine Ibex, Caucasian Leopard, Chamois, Common Genet might work, but Barbary Macaque, Common Genet and Caucasian Leopard here are not endemic to Europe, the zoos may tend to place them in other continent's themeSure I should have specify I was just thinking outside of EuropeOf course you can expect European zoos to have a good representation of their own fauna.
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On the subject of European wildlife, how common is it on the continent for the large mainstream zoos to have a section dedicated to European species.
In the UK there are several collections specialising in European wildlife and smaller collections will often have some species. Among the larger mainstream zoos the only one I can think of with a dedicated themed European section is Whipsnade.
In the UK there are several collections specialising in European wildlife and smaller collections will often have some species. Among the larger mainstream zoos the only one I can think of with a dedicated themed European section is Whipsnade.
You can find "Europe" as a section in major "geo-zoos" such as Munich (currently under construction), Paris-Vincennes or Plankendael. Then there's Alpenzoo Innsbruck fully dedicated to European wildlife as well as a bunch of "Wildparks" and other zoological institutions (like public aquaria) with the same focus, albeit of varying professionalism and quality.
Cave exhibits are relatively scarce
Wild Reef at Shedd Aquarium is, as well.
If you are the Zoo CEO, what species are you going to get for the Cave theme? Probably some Bats, Naked Mole-bats, Cave Crickets, Centipedes, Mexican Blind Fish, Texas Blind Salamander, Red-headed Rat Snake, what else? I know some Anuras are also cave-dwelling like Puerto Rican Rock Frog, but not sure whether kept in captivity
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With how common South American sections are in zoos, I'd love to see a zoo go outside the mold and build a Central American themed area. Yes, there's a lot of species overlap, but also a lot of unique species that could make for an interesting twist.
Another habitat that could be interesting to see is an exhibit dedicated to animals living underground. While yes, fossorial species as a whole aren't overly common, there are some that'd be great choices (e.g., naked mole rats), and also a lot of burrowing animals that could work with this theme.
Another habitat that could be interesting to see is an exhibit dedicated to animals living underground. While yes, fossorial species as a whole aren't overly common, there are some that'd be great choices (e.g., naked mole rats), and also a lot of burrowing animals that could work with this theme.
antilio capra
Well-Known Member
I would want to see more diverse ranges of South america as said earlier : Gran chacos, Amazon-Orinoco-Southern Caribbean mangroves, Atlantic forest, Ecuador(such a biodiverse country!) and the Pantanal. Other places such as the Mediterranian, Mexico, Cuba and the Gobi. All have acquirable species. But most often those species are never treated with these geographic themes.
Unless you live in a zoo challenging country or one overrun with roadside zoos this should be simple with small moderation.
Unless you live in a zoo challenging country or one overrun with roadside zoos this should be simple with small moderation.
Idk if it counts as Central American but Brevard has a Caribbean trail which per their website holds a whopping(
) amount of two species (yellow-naped Amazon and blue iguana). Which is weird since their Rainforest Revealed/ South America exhibit has many more species from Central America that are lumped with South American species.
I reckon Osnabrueck's Underground Zoo is by far the best example of such an exhibit anywhere. A labyrinth of underground tunnels, all lit by gas lamps, with big burrow complexes for European hamsters, Coruro, Naked mole rats, Brown rats, Harvest mice, Lesser hedgehog tenrecs, Mechow's mole rats, Pallas' long tongued bats and Black rats. A highlight in a zoo with numerous other fantastic exhibits. Don't suppose you'd find many photos in the gallery though as it really is very dark in there.
The first and only underground zoo I've visited was at Dresden. It is the only time I saw an earthworm exhibit.
Brookfield does not have an "underground zoo", but that's the only place I've seen an earthworm exhibit. Are there any other examples out there?
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Pittsburgh Zoo once had a famous underground complex, with animals such as aardvark in it. Exhibits were fairly dark, but could be illuminated by pushing buttons in the visitor area. The exhibit was taken down and replaced by the former reptile/small mammal complex Niches of the World, which itself is now gone
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Not many about I suspect. The British wildlife centre in the UK does have an earthworm display, it's behind a curtain in the indoor viewing for the badgers so a little dark but still interesting.
Toronto Zoo used to have a small hall called "Burrows and Caves of Africa" that displayed Straw-colored Fruit Bats, Naked Mole-rats, Cave Crickets, unspecified scorpions and Aba Aba, but now it is changed to Multi-Faith Prayer and Spiritual Space, not for the animal-related function. The bats and Naked Mole-rats are moved to African Rainforest Pavilion. The two pictures below show the exhibits inside of "Burrow and Caves of Africa" before.
The Straw-colored Bat exhibit
The Naked Mole-rat exhibit
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Liberty Science Center in New Jersey had an earthworm display when I went there back at 2008.