Why aren't there cyclotis in major zoos?

savethelephant

savethelephant

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
(Hope this hasn't been discussed before; couldn't find anything on it)

I'll just get right to the point.

Why are there no loxodonta cyclotis is captivity? (Yes I am aware of the few individuales in Japan) Is it because of food requirements(I would assume it would just be fruit and forest shrubs)? Is it location in wild? Temperance? No interest by zoos or public?
It really just baffles me as I understand why there aren't platypus or ethiopian wolf/mountain nyala and as far as I know there aren't any restrictions in Gabon or Ghana or something. What is the reason?
 
A.) An elephant is an elephant to zoo-visiting Joe.
B.) Until recently, no one knew they were a special species.
C.) Try catching a large, dangerous animal in a thick, hidden jungle.

~ Thaumatibis
 
I presume as well that there isn't enough exhibit space in either North America or Europe to maintain three healthy breeding populations.
 
Prevailing taxonomy in the past caused scarce interest with forest elephants. Several individuals were exported from Gabon as gift to individual governments in the 80's. But they were often lone individuals.
Considering advances in elephant management in zoos, it should be not a bad idea a new more scientifically-sound attemp.
 
That's what I read before I made this thread but it doesn't explain WHY there aren't many.

Thank you though.
 
Look at this another way: Many of the current plans for zoo expansions, new exhibits, etc (and this is for aquariums as well) are being driven by the public and what the public wants. We see an increase in Town Hall Meetings to "crowd source" what exhibit a zoo will build next.
If that is where leadership is coming from, will an obscure variant on a popular animal stand a chance? Until it stars in a Disney movie it will be left alone where it is
 
savethelephant said:
But isn't it up to the AZA?(For accredited zoos of course)
Click to expand...

Do you mean, to determine what exhibits a zoo builds? What animals a zoo exhibits? No, not at all.
If a zoo has chosen to participate in an SSP for a specific species (and has been accepted) then the SSP coordinator does decide which individual animal within that SSP goes to which facility. But that is about as far as AZA goes. AZA does not control zoos or actually lead North American zoos. It is much more loose than that
 
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