What groups of animals are "obligatory" for zoos?

I just looked over European holdings of Fennec... and was a bit surprised.
My general head idea was that they were very common in small zoos etc... but no? Apparently only 11 at time of writing now do in the UK.
 
Aardwolf said:
My point was that bears have been historically represented and kept in zoos to a degree and extent which has not been the case of any carnivore family. Even 50 years ago, it was not odd for a zoo to have 7 of the 8 species in their collection.
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I remember that in the 1980s both Berlin Zoo and Vincennes Zoo (Paris) held all eight species of bear simultaneously. Similarly I think London Zoo held all eight species of bear simultaneously in the 1960s.
 
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I assume this question is more for 'flagship' city zoos? Rather than small collections because of course those will always exist.
 
I had worked whit pubblic in the zoo so

1) Lion
The people come to see the Lion. The big maned one. The roaring. And then when they see them start to complain bout how they re lazy and ask if you drugged them. They will learn and see other magnificent animal. But they come for the lion. Mandatory

2) Giraffe
The guests know surely only 5 grass eater. Hippo, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Rhino. They know that Hippo are aggressive and Rhino rare so they will not complain a lot of you don't have them. The zebra are horse who wore Juventus jersey and nobody care nothing more apart bad Juve joke. Elephant are an ethical and logistical issue so nobody will complain a lot bout them assence. But Giraffe...they had to see them. And try to feed them. And you can make them pay for this.

3) Monke
At least one recognizable monke. Chimpanzee, capuchin, gibbons are ok. Macacque are inferior in their monkeness. Gorilla and Pongo aren't valued as monke, they are big monke. Callitrichidae, baboon and guenons are not funny smart monke. They want the funny smart monke. And try to feed them. Is a Nightmare

4 ) Pygmy goat. Not very obbligatory but are cash grabber animal. A lot of school will pay to do a feeding/didactic farm experience. And no you cannot use a markhor or urial for this

5) The meme. Probably capybara. Child love these rat. Very easily maneageble. They ask also for Quokka and Is very sad tell to them that had to go in Australia.

6) The occidental meat eater. Bear or wolves. Not truly so mandatory but expecially if a wild one of them had killed someone you will cash grab in the seguent month the amount people that come for sayin g "ah that poor guy"

Bonus
Theorically a lot of people want to see big snake or big croc. But if they had stayed in a reptile house prior in ther live they will complain bout how boring they are. And if not they will start in that moment
 
Here is a decent list of species I feel every most zoos should at least have to some capacity. These, at least IMO, are the “classic” zoo animals that everyone comes to see.

“Pachyderms”

- Elephants: While not every large zoo has them, they’re probably the most well known exotic animal so they obviously belong on this list
- Rhinoceros: Yet another large mammal everyone knows. If elephants aren’t kept, that’s yet another reason to keep them
- Giraffe: Probably the easiest out of all massive mammals to keep. Definitely a mainstay. I’ve never seen a decent sized zoo without them
- Hippopotamus: Either Pygmy or Nile work, but Nile is the most well known.

Large Carnivorans

- Lions: Need I say more?
- Tigers: Same applies here.
- Spotted Cats: Leopards, jaguars, and cheetahs all work. Multiple of these species being kept at the same facility is always nice, but at least one is obligatory.
- Polar Bear/Brown Bear: While I love spectacled/sloth/black/sun bears etc, among the bears it is without question that Polar and Brown are easily the most famous (excluding pandas). While other bears are always nice, once again, almost every large zoo collection has, and probably should have, at least one of these two species.
- Wolves/Other Large Canids: Gray Wolves are easily the most famous of the large canids, and probably the best pick. In addition, painted dogs and maned wolves are all great choices.

Primates

- Gorillas: Need I say more?
- Orangutans: Yet another popular ape, and one that almost every large zoo has.
- New World Monkeys - Usually some sort of capuchin or spider monkey, but smaller monkeys like marmosets are always appreciated.

Additional Hoofstock

- Bison/Other Large Bovids: Depends on the zoo, however at least one deserves to be included. Bison are the obvious choice, but Buffalo and Gaur are great too.
- Camels: Yet another essential ungulate, and one that can interact with people safely.
- Zebras: Need I say more?

Other Random Mammals

- Pinnipeds: Usually seals or sea lions, but creative choices like walrus are always interesting
- Koalas/Kangaroos/Other Marsupials: Kangaroos are very common, koalas a bit less so, but still a mainstay species. Some sort of marsupial is essential, especially with macropods

Birds

This is a lot trickier, as there are many more species and the majority in zoos are just kept together in large aviaries. Here are the essential ones.

- Penguins: While many species could be chosen, the most common ones are those which can survive in hot and cold climates (i.e. Humboldt and African). King and Gentoo are also quite common.
- Flamingos and Peafowl: Never been to a zoo without them. Both are probably THE essential zoo birds.
- Ratites: Almost always ostriches, with rheas, emus, and cassowaries on the side.
- Macaws/Toucans/Other Tropical Birds

Reptiles

- Crocodilians
- Large Turtles/Tortoises

Of course, I could go into a lot more detail about snakes, lizards, etc, but these are just the “essential” zoos species.

Obviously there are quite a few more I could cover, but these are just the bare bones of what animals are “obligatory” zoo animals.
 
Brayden Delashmutt said:
Primates

- Gorillas: Need I say more?
- Orangutans: Yet another popular ape, and one that almost every large zoo has.
- New World Monkeys - Usually some sort of capuchin or spider monkey, but smaller monkeys like marmosets are always appreciated.

Birds

This is a lot trickier, as there are many more species and the majority in zoos are just kept together in large aviaries. Here are the essential ones.

- Penguins: While many species could be chosen, the most common ones are those which can survive in hot and cold climates (i.e. Humboldt and African). King and Gentoo are also quite common.
- Flamingos and Peafowl: Never been to a zoo without them. Both are probably THE essential zoo birds.
- Ratites: Almost always ostriches, with rheas, emus, and cassowaries on the side.
- Macaws/Toucans/Other Tropical Birds

Reptiles

- Crocodilians
- Large Turtles/Tortoises

Of course, I could go into a lot more detail about snakes, lizards, etc, but these are just the “essential” zoos species.

Obviously there are quite a few more I could cover, but these are just the bare bones of what animals are “obligatory” zoo animals.
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What about the Chimps ? The are much more common than the Orang-utans in European zoos, even if the number of zoos keeping them is decreasing [in the past every generalist zoo had them, but often in very bad exhibits]

Toucans aren't so common in European zoos, mostly present in bird zoos and in large collections with a tropical pavilion.

And I would add the large snakes (Pythons/Boids) too in the common reptile collections, they are easy to keep and seen as impressive by the public. Green Iguana is a very common species too.
 
Indolencio Aguilar said:
I had worked whit pubblic in the zoo so

1) Lion
The people come to see the Lion. The big maned one. The roaring. And then when they see them start to complain bout how they re lazy and ask if you drugged them. They will learn and see other magnificent animal. But they come for the lion. Mandatory.
Tigers are an equally accepted alternative, though..


2) Giraffe
The guests know surely only 5 grass eater. Hippo, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Rhino. They know that Hippo are aggressive and Rhino rare so they will not complain a lot of you don't have them. The zebra are horse who wore Juventus jersey and nobody care nothing more apart bad Juve joke. Elephant are an ethical and logistical issue so nobody will complain a lot bout them assence. But Giraffe...they had to see them. And try to feed them. And you can make them pay for this. You will always have some visitors complain about the lack of elephants. And visitors that complain if you have elephants.
Zebras are a mandatory item of the standard "African Savannah" zoo exhibit. And yes - giraffe feeding stations are quite profitable - just as most feeding stations. ;)

3) Monke
At least one recognizable monke. Chimpanzee, capuchin, gibbons are ok. Macacque are inferior in their monkeness. Gorilla and Pongo aren't valued as monke, they are big monke. Callitrichidae, baboon and guenons are not funny smart monke. They want the funny smart monke. And try to feed them. Is a Nightmare
It's "monkeY". ;)

4 ) Pygmy goat. Not very obbligatory but are cash grabber animal. A lot of school will pay to do a feeding/didactic farm experience. And no you cannot use a markhor or urial for this.
True. And they make good predator food.

5) The meme. Probably capybara. Child love these rat. Very easily maneageble. They ask also for Quokka and Is very sad tell to them that had to go in Australia.
Or you can send them to Stuttgart or Higashimatsuyama. ;)

6) The occidental meat eater. Bear or wolves. Not truly so mandatory but expecially if a wild one of them had killed someone you will cash grab in the seguent month the amount people that come for sayin g "ah that poor guy"
I don't know where you live, but there aren't that many man-eating bears and wolves here to fullfill such an demand...

Bonus
Theorically a lot of people want to see big snake or big croc. But if they had stayed in a reptile house prior in ther live they will complain bout how boring they are. And if not they will start in that moment
Click to expand...
 
Haliaeetus said:
What about the Chimps ? The are much more common than the Orang-utans in European zoos, even if the number of zoos keeping them is decreasing [in the past every generalist zoo had them, but often in very bad exhibits]
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At least here in America, to my knowledge, orangs are more common. If two species are going to be held, it’d probably be those two. However, chimps are still very common, and, given the chance, I’d add them as well.

Haliaeetus said:
And I would add the large snakes (Pythons/Boids) too in the common reptile collections, they are easy to keep and seen as impressive by the public. Green Iguana is a very common species too.
Click to expand...

Absolutely! Those in addition to venomous snakes and certain other large lizards
 
I recall one conversation I had in particular with a family member; I was talking about various animals, when the subject of tortoises came up by my accord. And then I say some point that I didn't recall Whipsnade having a tortoise... a quick Zootierliste search later I was affirmed in this assertion.
Said family member then was a bit irritated almost at this... as tortoises are even kept as pets or something like that.
 
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