In the spirit of all the other threads looking to catalog animal populations in US zoos, I figured I'd start one for ungulates as they are of particular interest to me. I know there are already some threads existing looking at
Antelope and Gazelles in North American Zoos and
Duikers & Dwarf Antelopes in North America, but I wanted to look at ungulates as a whole. While perusing the Ungulate TAGs 2019 midyear meeting updates (again, since COVID-19 stopped a 2020 version from coming out) I noticed that I could look back to the distant past of 2014 and see population statistics from there as well.
This spawned another interesting idea for me: creating a comparison of AZA ungulate populations from over the last 5-6 years. Which populations grew? Which plummeted? Which are viable for long-term management? Let's find out!
Below is a list of all ungulate species which were either an SSP or candidate program in either 2014 or 2019 with corresponding population figures for each year where attainable. Enjoy:
Common Eland
2014: 73.134.6 in 25 institutions
2019: 66.116.3 in 23 institutions
Eastern Bongo
2014: 49.85 in 38 institutions
2019: 58.104 in 38 institutions
Eastern Giant Eland
2014: 18.20 in 5 institutions
2019: 29.41 in 3 institutions
Southern Gerenuk
2014: 30.57 in 20 institutions
2019: 23.32 in 11 institutions
Greater Kudu
2014: 88.166.5 in 39 institutions
2019: 80.179.3 in 36 institutions
Lowland Nyala
2014: 58.91 in 20 institutions
2019: 56.128 in 21 institutions
Impala
2014: Not Listed
2019: 0.0.207 in 16 institutions
Roan Antelope
2014: 48.55.6 in 10 institutions
2019: 115.107.1 in 10 institutions
Sable Antelope
2014: 31.82.1 in 11 institutions
2019: 38.90.1 in 14 institutions
Sitatunga
2014: 19.34 in 10 institutions
2019: 34.58 in 10 institutions
Lesser Kudu
2014: 58.54 in 19 institutions
2018: 60.66.2 in 19 institutions
There was an error in the 2019 listing, which gave the same exact number of animals as in 2014
Springbok
2014: 31.31 in 8 institutions
2019: 31.53 in 11 institutions
Black Duiker
2014: 9.7 in 17 institutions
2019: 11.6 in 5 institutions
I have no idea how 16 animals were somehow split between 17 zoos in 2014, I suspect that was supposed to read '7 institutions'.
Blue Duiker
2014: 22.28.1 in 16 institutions
2019: 23.16 in 11 institutions
Smith's (Gunther's) Dik-Dik
2014: 9.4 in 7 institutions
2019: 0.0 in 0 institutions
Cavendish's (Kirk's) Dik-Dik
2014: 23.26.1 in 18 institutions
2019: 18.11 in 17 institutions
Klipspringer
2014: 26.28 in 19 institutions
2019: 21.20.1 in 10+ institutions (10 AZA, unlisted number of non-AZA)
Red-Flanked Duiker
2014: 21.12 in 12 institutions
2019: 12.19 in 12 institutions
Steenbok
2014: 22.16 in 7 institutions
2019: 11.16.2 in 6 institutions
Yellow-Backed Duiker
2014: 48.42.1 in 31 institutions
2019: 46.47 in 35 institutions
Ellipsen Waterbuck
2014: 103.151.9 in 20 institutions
2019: 71.89.10 in 14 institutions
Nile Lechwe
2014: 55.114.46 in 10 institutions
2019: 97.113.22 in 10 institutions
Red Lechwe
2014: ?.? (studbook in progress)
2019: 8.23 in 2 institutions
Ugandan Kob
2014: 24.29.2 in 5 institutions
2019: Not Listed; Phase-Out
Bontebok
2014: 27.41.7 in 16 institutions
2019: 30.38.12 in 19 institutions
Jackson's Hartebeest
2014: 13.7 in 5 institutions
2019: 1.0.?
This one is a little confusing. We all know of the single male still held at Lion County Safari in Florida, however the AZA studbook for this species has always included animals kept in the private trade (such as at Micanopy, also in Florida). The 2019 stats list 13.7 animals between 5 collections just as the 2014 stats do, however the 2018 update notes only 3.4 animals between 2 institutions while the 2017 update notes only 2.3 animals between 3 institutions. The 2017 report also makes a note that it is suspected that none of the females left in the population are fertile.
Common Wildebeest
2014: 53.98.44 in 19 institutions
2019: 71.117.26 in 23 institutions
Addax
2014: 71.125 in 18 institutions
2019: 87.164 in 22 institutions
Addra Gazelle
2014: 55.80 in 20 institutions
2019: 78.99 in 22 institutions
Arabian Oryx
2014: 40.47 in 7 institutions
2019: 19.60 in 7 institutions
Cuvier's Gazelle
2014: 14.20 in 3 institutions
2019: 10.26 in 3+ instituions (2 AZA, unlisted number of non-AZA)
Only 2.2 are left in the AZA, split between San Diego Zoo and Living Desert Zoo, all others are kept in private collections.
Fringe-Eared Oryx
2014: 10.25 in 4 institutions
2019: 11.32 in 4 institutions
Gemsbok
2014: 34.44.5 in 11 institutions
2019: 38.68 in 8 institutions
Grant's Gazelle
2014: 18.39 in 11 institutions
2019: 18.39 in 12 institutions
Peninsular Pronghorn
2014: 12.10 in 5 institutions
2019: 25.26 in 7 institutions
Red-Fronted Gazelle
2014: 12.20 in 1 institution
2019: 17.34 in 2 institutions
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
2014: 71.115. 1 in 20 institutions
2019: 83.159 in 18 institutions
Soemmerring's Gazelle
2014: 20.24 in 8 institutions
2019: 12.26 in 6 institutions
Speke's Gazelle
2014: 28.43 in 10 institutions
2019: 24.37 in 8 institutions
Slender-Horned Gazelle
2014: 21.36 in 6 institutions
2019: 45.54 in 11 institutions
Thomson's Gazlle
2014: 53.111.2 in 16 institutions
2019: 69.133 in 17 institutions
Masai Giraffe
2014: 44.58 in 27 institutions
2019: 52.75.1 in 35 institutions
Generic Giraffa
2014: 147.251.24 in 84 institutions
2019: 189.265 in 86 institutions
Okapi
2014: 54.53 in 28 institutions (worldwide)
2019: 0.0.111 in 36 institutions (worldwide)
International program, the TAG did not list how many animals are specifically in the US population.
Lowland Anoa
2014: 8.7.70 in 11 institutions
2019: 78.99.4 in 11 institutions
Javan Banteng
2014: Not Listed
2019: 13.28 in 7 institutions
Cape Buffalo
2014: Not Listed
2019: 33.47 in 6 institutions
Central Chinese Goral
2014: 17.16 in 10 institutions
2019: 10.14 in 8 institutions
Desert Bighorn Sheep
2014: 21.27.3 in 6 institutions
2019: 24.40 in 7 institutions
Kordofan Sheep
2014: 13.25 in 3 institutions
2019: 24.28 in 7 institutions
Nubian Ibex
2014: 22.40 in 9 institutions
2019: 28.21 in 7 institutions
The update notes that there will be changes due a new Breeding & Transfer Plan, but I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. It should also be noted that the large loss in breeding females will largely be due to the LA Zoo having to euthanize their entire breeding herd after becoming infected with a form of herpesvirus.
Sichuan Takin
2014: 54.50 in 21 institutions
2019: 80.86 in 29 institutions
Markhor
2014: 29.52 in 8 institutions
2019: 50.72 in 13 institutions
Armenian Mouflon
2014: Not Listed
2019: 5.14 in 3 institutions
Transcaspian Urial
2014: Not Listed
2019: 11.26 in 6 institutions
Barasingha
2014: 16.35 in 4 institutions
2019: 26.28 in 5 institutions
Bactrian Deer
2014: 14.30 in 3 institutions
2019: 18.36.9 in 2 institutions
Barbary Deer
2014: 3.43 in 1 institution
2018: 0.34 in 1 institution
This taxa is listed for phase-out in the AZA for obvious reason
Calamian Deer
2014: 6.4 in 3 institutions
2019: Not Listed; Phase-Out
Chilean Pudu
2014: 15.26 in 13 institutions
2019: 18.23 in 14 institutions
Brow-Antlered Deer
2014: 21.45 in 6 institutions
2019: 23.40 in 5 institutions
Sedgwick County Zoo is in the process of phasing out their 1.1 deer, having been rehomed at a yet to be named collection.
Greater Malay Chevrotain
2014: 10.11 in 8 institutions
2019: 14.22.3 in 10 institutions
American Moose
2014: 17.25 in 11 institutions
2019: 15.33 in 11 institutions
Pere David's Deer
2014: 41.70.1 in 12 institutions
2019: 50.80 in 15 institutions
Mexican Red Brocket
2014: 12.8 in 5 institutions
2019: 6.5 in 4 institutions
Siberian Musk-Deer
2014: 17.20 in 3 institutions
2019: 9.6 in 4-5 institutions
Tufted Deer
2014: 38.30 in 19 institutions
2019: 32.22 in 16 institutions
White-Lipped Deer
2014: 15.20 in 5 institutions
2019: 9.16 in 2 institutions
Reeves's Muntjac
2014: Not Listed
2019: 50.54.1 in 40 institutions
Przewalski's Wild Horse
2014: 63.76 in 23 institutions
2019: 55.63 in 21 institutions
Grevy's Zebra
2014: 68.115 in 41 institutions
2019: 55.100 in 35 institutions
Hartmann's Mountain Zebra
2014: 16.38 in 9 institutions
2019: 24.49 in 18 institutions
Persian Onager
2014: 13.22 in 4 institutions
2019: 9.21 in 3 institutions
Plains Zebra
2014: 141.260.4 in 96 institutions
2019: 78.191. 1 in 67 institutions
Somali Wild Ass
2014: 18.36 in 7 institutions
2019: 28.40 in 10 institutions
North Sulawesi Babirusa
2014: 0.0.61 in 15 institutions
2019: 30.31 in 20 institutions
While the 2019 population within the AZA program is the same as in 2014, it should be noted that American zoos have sent a handful of animals to Europe to participate in the EAZA EEP, so the population has been growing ever so slightly.
Chacoan Peccary
2014: 22.34.1 in 12 institutions
2019: 38.37.15. in 19 institutions
Collared Peccary
2014: 27.30 in 17 institutions
2019: Not Listed; Phase-Out
Common Warthog
2014: 42.60 in 42 institutions
2019: 53.68 in 34 institutions
Red River Hog
2014: 91.92 in 56 institutions
2019: 76.79.138 in 55 institutions
Common Hippopotamus
2014: 26.51 in 31 institutions
2019: 27.50 in 31 institutions
Pygmy Hippopotamus
2014: 21.38.10 in 16 institutions
2019: 37.62.9 in 17 institutions
Visayan Warty Pig
2014: 37.37 in 14 institutions
2019: 33.38 in 19 institutions
Malayan Tapir
2014: Not Listed
2019: 14.20 in 17 institutions
Baird's Tapir
2014: Not Listed
2019: 24.21 in 18 institutions
Eastern Black Rhinoceros
2014: Not Listed
2019: 29.34 in 26 institutions
Indian Rhinoceros
2014: Not Listed
2019: 39.42 in 30 institutions (includes a few international holdings for some reason)
Southern White Rhinoceros
2014: Not Listed
2019: 0.0.278 in 62 institutions
Now obviously the above only lists stats for current AZA program species so there will be several more species not managed by the AZA still present in zoos around the country. Additionally, there will be species noted above that have further animals kept outside of the AZA population whose figures are not represented here. The additional species I can provide further numbers for follows:
West African Bushbuck
2019: 6.3 at 1 institution
Western Bay Duiker
2020: 5.11.1 in 3 institutions
Persian Goitered Gazelle
2019: 0.3 in 1 institution
Gaur
2020: 26.23 in 6 institutions
American Elk
2018: 74.158.36 in 11 institutions
Rocky Mountain Elk
2018: 4.8 in 3 institutions
Roosevelt Elk
2018: 28.18.21 in 5 institutions
Mandarin Sika
2018: 2.4 in 2 institutions
Manchurian Sika
2018: 5.5.6 in 2 institutions
Vietnamese Sika
2018: 10.13 in 3 institutions
Formosan Sika
2018: 0.3 in 1 institution
Generic Cervus nippon (sensu lato)
2018: 102.141.61 in 14 institutions
There are many species left unlisted still; Beisa Oryx, Black Wildebeest, Ugandan Kob, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Indian Sambar, Malayan Sambar, Chital, Indian Muntjac, Indian Hog Deer, Calamian Deer, Caribou, American Bison*, Rocky Mountain Goat, Stone Sheep, Japanese Serow, Bornean Bearded Pig, Brazilian Tapir, etc.
It's my hope that, over time, we can add more population figures to this thread and maybe even get lists of institutions for each taxa as with the other population threads.
*The TAG is currently working on a studbook for genetically pure Plains Bison. I'm not sure if the 2020 update was going to include these figures or if it is still in progress.
~Thylo
