Where do the Deer & Antelope Play?: A Look at America's Ungulate Populations

TinoPup said:
Several of those are definitely incorrect. That's why I don't rely on just USDA. I'm just super behind on stuff, sorry. And yes, those are all domestics not covered here.
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And I just realized they are permanently closed. I'm really sorry for not double checking, I'm very embarrassed.
 
MonkeyBat said:
I apologize, I was unaware that USDA reports were not correct. I admit I got a bit excited when I saw black muntjac and bearded pigs on here. I once again am sorry.
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Yeah, those two were definitely incorrect! Sometimes it's the USDA person's fault, sometimes the facility gives them the wrong name. I've looked at thousands of USDA reports (and most of them numerous times), so at this point I feel pretty good at spotting stuff that looks off in some way. I also try to visually confirm everything with facility photos, either by the place themselves or stuff visitors have uploaded. When you look through the listings, anything with questions marks is one I was unable to visually verify but is on USDA. Sometimes stuff just doesn't get photographed, especially if it's a roadside with much more photogenic/popular species... I've looked through SO many photos and videos of llamas, camels, and giraffes, trying to spot rare deer and whatnot :D
 
Hemker Park and Zoo is now a holder of Greater Kudu. I did not see their Thompsons gazelles, Addra Gazelles, or Nile Lechwe, but it is quite possible they were just off exhibit.

Safari North Wildlife Park is no longer a holder of Common Eland.
 
As many species in the list are not listed as subspecies, but red lechwe is mentioned, can I assume that all lechwe in North America are of the nominate subspecies?
 
Not sure if anyone has brought this up yet, but Henry Vilas Zoo no longer has generic bison after the deaths of Beefcake and/or Mama Cow. They are now left with a single purebred female, Wilma.
By the way, were Beefcake and Mama Cow both generic bison, or was only one of them generic? I suspect Beefcake might’ve been the generic because of his unusual hair, but I don’t know what the physical differences are between pure and generic bison, so maybe I’m wrong.
 
Corangurilla said:
Not sure if anyone has brought this up yet, but Henry Vilas Zoo no longer has generic bison after the deaths of Beefcake and/or Mama Cow. They are now left with a single purebred female, Wilma.
By the way, were Beefcake and Mama Cow both generic bison, or was only one of them generic? I suspect Beefcake might’ve been the generic because of his unusual hair, but I don’t know what the physical differences are between pure and generic bison, so maybe I’m wrong.
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There really aren't any notable physical differences between the two. Wilma was the only purebred in the herd.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
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
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Sad to see goitered gazelles are nearly gone. Is the Minnesota Zoo the last one? Are there any plans to bring that one back? Northern zoos are missing out, they're a hardy species that can be kept outside year round.
 
elefante said:
Sad to see goitered gazelles are nearly gone. Is the Minnesota Zoo the last one? Are there any plans to bring that one back? Northern zoos are missing out, they're a hardy species that can be kept outside year round.
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The last female sadly passed away at Minnesota earlier this year :(. It’s worth noting the species had been off-exhibit for many years before the last one died.
 
Corangurilla said:
But do they still keep Onager? From the looks of it, I think the bison replaced them.
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I am not sure if the Persian onagers at Cleveland died or were relocated (I know they came in 2012 from the Wilds, but they seemed to always be temporarily off exhibit lately..) but I don't think they still keep onager anymore. Currently, the ungulate situation at Cleveland is, as far as I know:

African Savanna- bontebok, black rhinoceros, Hartmann's mountain zebra, Masai giraffe
Australian Adventure- alpaca, domestic donkey, mini-Nubian and Nigerian pygmy goats and Southdown sheep
Wilderness Trek- American bison, reindeer, Sichuan takin, tufted deer
 
Are topi and/or hartebeest present in North America? That's a species I've never seen in the USA.
 
elefante said:
Are topi and/or hartebeest present in North America? That's a species I've never seen in the USA.
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I don't think so. From another ZooChat thread, I found out that the last hartebeest died at Lion Country Safari in FL earlier this year (however, there might be some in the private sector...) and there are no more topi either, with the last zoo that had one was San Antonio (around 2010 or so...).
 
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