Virginia Zoo Virginia Zoo News 2017

This brings up an interesting point, and perhaps one that deserves its own thread: does anyone know the subspecies make-up of the American Binturong population? Here we see Virginia has one Javan Binturong, and there are a few Palawan Binturongs around. I also know that Roger Williams Park Zoo has Malayan Binturong (nominate). Any others?

~Thylo
 
This brings up an interesting point, and perhaps one that deserves its own thread: does anyone know the subspecies make-up of the American Binturong population? Here we see Virginia has one Javan Binturong, and there are a few Palawan Binturongs around. I also know that Roger Williams Park Zoo has Malayan Binturong (nominate). Any others?

The population is managed generically on the species level. Most American zoo binturongs were sourced from the private sector or descended from private sector animals, so my guess is that subspecies is unknown for most of them.
 
The population is managed generically on the species level. Most American zoo binturongs were sourced from the private sector or descended from private sector animals, so my guess is that subspecies is unknown for most of them.

I know it's managed generically, I was just curious if anyone happened to know of any other pure animals hiding around. Interesting to hear that they're mostly from the private sector as oppose to having been imported by zoos initially.

~Thylo
 
This brings up an interesting point, and perhaps one that deserves its own thread: does anyone know the subspecies make-up of the American Binturong population? Here we see Virginia has one Javan Binturong, and there are a few Palawan Binturongs around. I also know that Roger Williams Park Zoo has Malayan Binturong (nominate). Any others?

~Thylo
I can help with Javan and Palawan.

Javan binturong (A.b. penicillatus):
San Diego Zoo 2.0
San Diego Zoo Safari Park 1.0
Virginia Zoo 0.1

Palawan binturong (A.b. whitei)
Bronx Zoo 2.0
Columbus Zoo 2.0.1
Nashville Zoo 3.2.1
Pittsburgh Zoo 0.1

I have info on the numbers of the rest of the population, but no subspecies are listed. I assume the rest is generic or nominate.

As for whether these subspecies are being kept separate from the rest of the population, it's hard to tell with just numbers. I think Palawan is, as it's one of Nashville's programs. If I remember correctly, they were originally received from the RSCC when it closed. This means Nashville probably intentionally imported Palawan, because Nashville could have acquired other animals and the Palawans could have spread around Europe. The only American zoo with Palawan binturongs as well as the generic population is Columbus. As for Javan, I doubt the population is being kept separate. Although Virginia is the only zoo that keeps Javan as well as the generic population, the overall Javan population of 3.1 is just not sustainable, unless it is a new program that will have more imports.
 
Since when does Bronx have Palawn Binturongs!? I did hear they were keeping some Binturongs off-show now, so I suppose these might be them, but where did your information come from?

Nashville did receive the Palawan Binturongs when RSCC closed, as well as a few pairs of Banded Civet.

~Thylo
 
Male Malayan tapir "Rimba" was humanely euthanized over the weekend after suffering from an aggressive gastrointestinal disease.
 
Was he the only rhino at the zoo? Will the zoo get more rhinos?

I believe he the only one at the moment. The zoo plans to convert their old elephant exhibit into one for white rhinos so they'll probably acquire them when the exhibit is finished. Maybe one of two before and put them in where Albert used to live.
 
Was he the only rhino at the zoo? Will the zoo get more rhinos?
I believe he was the only rhino, yes. As far as I'm aware currently, if/when new rhinos are acquired they'll go in the old elephant exhibit. Alfred alternated with some zebras and ankole cattle.
 
And in the on going missing Sunny story, the zoo now believes its possible she has left the zoo. They are continuing to ask for the publics help in finding her. The good thing for Sunny is that red pandas can survive off North America vegetation. Toronto Zoo once lost one of its red pandas for about a month. He was found perfectly fine on zoo property. So long as she doesn't get in any trouble she could be fine.

Missing red panda may have left Virginia Zoo
 
Search for missing red panda is all but over, but Virginia Zoo still hopes she turns up

Does anyone know if she was in the older exhibit or the one in the newer Asian section of the zoo? I can see them modifying the newer exhibit now since there's a tree limb that goes right over the walkway.

I'm not sure, but I really like the newer exhibit. When the older exhibit was built, I believe that panda escaped three times within a few months. I hope they don't change the new one too much, if at all.
 
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