Just a note to everyone that I reviewed the most recent iteration of my list a while back and found several errors and outdated listings. You can all continue posting updates as usual, but I won't do a full updated list until I get that sorted out.
Zoobat Collections (N. America)
- Thread starter Coelacanth18
- Start date
Omaha keeps Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox and Ruwenzori Long-haired Fruit Bat.
Does Omaha (with 8 species) have the largest bat collection in North America?
Omaha has 10 bat species. Lubee Bat Conservancy has at least the same number but probably more.
~Thylo
I counted 7 on my visit a few days ago, I know they keep Pallas' Long-tongued as well. What are the other two?
Greater Bulldog Bat
Seba's Short-Tailed Bat
Common Vampire Bat
Pallas's Long-Tongued Bat
Greater Spear-Nosed Bat
Little Golden-Mantled Flying Fox
Indian Flying Fox
Straw-Colored Fruit Bat
Egyptian Fruit Bat
Ruwenzori Rousette
A friend's told me Lubee has 13 bat species currently.
~Thylo
I must have miscounted somehow then. Thanks for the info!
Upcoming list update/overhaul, with a new feature or two added in as well. Everyone get in your updates before the end of the weekend so I can throw them in.
Before the new list gets posted, I will note that BTS (off-exhibit) species will no longer be counted in this thread. Insectivorous microbats will also continue to be excluded.
Before the new list gets posted, I will note that BTS (off-exhibit) species will no longer be counted in this thread. Insectivorous microbats will also continue to be excluded.
Better late than never, I suppose.
This is a list of non-insectivorous bat species on public display in the United States and Canada. The new list was made via a confirmation process involving zoo websites, USDA stock lists, dated photographs, recent news articles and social media posts, and sightings by people on this forum. The population estimates are derived from USDA stock lists; for this reason, they only cover US zoos and not Canadian ones.
As usual, additions to the list are welcome and will be reviewed using the new confirmation process.
There are 19 species on this list; note that 3 of them are only held by Lubee, which is a tour-only facility and so not all the species they list on their website may be visible to the public. However, their species list is on their website so I included them anyway.
Megachiropterans
Rodrigues Flying Fox (Pteropus rodricensis) – 14 holders / ~250 individuals
Akron Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Capron Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Moody Gardens
Oregon Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Pueblo Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Staten Island Zoo
Large/Malayan Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) - 7 holders / ~175 individuals
One of two large flying foxes held in decent numbers in North America. They are highly localized to Florida, with 4 of the 7 holders located in that state.
Busch Gardens Tampa
Columbus Zoo
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Lowry Park Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
National Aviary in Pittsburgh
Oakland Zoo
Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) – 14 holders / ~150 individuals
The other large flying fox held in decent numbers in North America, and the one that is more distributed across the country.
Baton Rouge Zoo
Boise Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Capron Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Ellen Trout Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Metro Richmond Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Topeka Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (Garfield, NJ)
Island Flying Fox (Island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) – 2 holders / ~50 individuals
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Oakland Zoo
Little golden-mantled flying fox (Pteropus pumilus) - 3 holders / ~25 individuals
Columbus Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) – 1 holder / <10 individuals
A single-digit colony at Lubee. This fairly large bat also used to be in the Australian walk-through exhibit of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, but is no longer on exhibit there.
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) - 1 holder / <5 individuals
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) – 1 holder / <5 individuals
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) – 23 holders / ~530 individuals
One of two common fruit bat species from the African mainland held in North America. The facility list I have is exclusively US; a couple of Canadian zoos used to hold them but this appears to possibly no longer be the case.
Akron Zoo
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
Chehaw Park & Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Detroit Zoo
Elmwood Park Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Lake Superior Zoo
Lowry Park Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences
Metro Richmond Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Palo Alto Junior Musem & Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
Racine Zoo
Tregembo Animal Park
Tulsa Zoo
Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (Garfield, NJ)
Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) – 25 holders / ~480 individuals excluding Omaha
The other commonly held mainland African fruit bat, and the one more likely to be held at smaller, non-AZA facilities. Only 8 of the 25 confirmed holders are AZA accredited.
The reason Omaha is excluded from the population count is because their number is absurdly high and would heavily distort the statistics; that facility alone currently claims to have between 1,500 and 2,000 Egyptian fruit bats. I read an article about a research project designed to accurately count the free-flying population in Lied Jungle; it's unclear to me whether the current number is a result of that project or if it needs to be revised. The reported 2016 number was ~800 bats, so either way Omaha has far more Egyptians than the next largest holder.
Blank Park Zoo
Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (Alto, MI)
Brookfield Zoo
Capital of Texas Zoo (Cedar Creek, TX)
Carbon County Environmental Education Center (Summit Hill, PA)
Catoctin Zoo (Thurmont, MD)
GarLyn Zoo (Saint Ignace, MI)
Gladys Porter Zoo
Gulf Breeze Zoo
Leslie Science & Nature Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Lincoln Park Zoo
Living Treasures Animal Park Moraine (New Castle, PA)
Louisiana Purchase Zoo (Monroe, LA)
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Lupa Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Moody Gardens
Museum of Discovery and Science (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
North Georgia Zoo (Cleveland, GA)
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Shell Factory & Nature Park (North Fort Myers, FL)
Timbavati Wildlife Park (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (Garfield, NJ)
Canada –
Bird Kingdom
Ruwenzori Long-haired Fruit Bat (Rousettus lanosus) – 5 holders / ~50 individuals
The other Rousettus species held in North America besides Egyptian. This species is much less numerous and widespread, with fewer holding facilities now than there appears to have been in the recent past.
Boise Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Canada –
Bear Creek Sanctuary (Barrie, ON)
This is a list of non-insectivorous bat species on public display in the United States and Canada. The new list was made via a confirmation process involving zoo websites, USDA stock lists, dated photographs, recent news articles and social media posts, and sightings by people on this forum. The population estimates are derived from USDA stock lists; for this reason, they only cover US zoos and not Canadian ones.
As usual, additions to the list are welcome and will be reviewed using the new confirmation process.
There are 19 species on this list; note that 3 of them are only held by Lubee, which is a tour-only facility and so not all the species they list on their website may be visible to the public. However, their species list is on their website so I included them anyway.
Megachiropterans
Rodrigues Flying Fox (Pteropus rodricensis) – 14 holders / ~250 individuals
Akron Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Capron Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Moody Gardens
Oregon Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Pueblo Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Staten Island Zoo
Large/Malayan Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) - 7 holders / ~175 individuals
One of two large flying foxes held in decent numbers in North America. They are highly localized to Florida, with 4 of the 7 holders located in that state.
Busch Gardens Tampa
Columbus Zoo
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Lowry Park Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
National Aviary in Pittsburgh
Oakland Zoo
Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) – 14 holders / ~150 individuals
The other large flying fox held in decent numbers in North America, and the one that is more distributed across the country.
Baton Rouge Zoo
Boise Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Capron Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Ellen Trout Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Metro Richmond Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Topeka Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (Garfield, NJ)
Island Flying Fox (Island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) – 2 holders / ~50 individuals
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Oakland Zoo
Little golden-mantled flying fox (Pteropus pumilus) - 3 holders / ~25 individuals
Columbus Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) – 1 holder / <10 individuals
A single-digit colony at Lubee. This fairly large bat also used to be in the Australian walk-through exhibit of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, but is no longer on exhibit there.
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) - 1 holder / <5 individuals
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) – 1 holder / <5 individuals
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) – 23 holders / ~530 individuals
One of two common fruit bat species from the African mainland held in North America. The facility list I have is exclusively US; a couple of Canadian zoos used to hold them but this appears to possibly no longer be the case.
Akron Zoo
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
Chehaw Park & Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Detroit Zoo
Elmwood Park Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Lake Superior Zoo
Lowry Park Zoo
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences
Metro Richmond Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Zoo
Palo Alto Junior Musem & Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
Racine Zoo
Tregembo Animal Park
Tulsa Zoo
Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (Garfield, NJ)
Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) – 25 holders / ~480 individuals excluding Omaha
The other commonly held mainland African fruit bat, and the one more likely to be held at smaller, non-AZA facilities. Only 8 of the 25 confirmed holders are AZA accredited.
The reason Omaha is excluded from the population count is because their number is absurdly high and would heavily distort the statistics; that facility alone currently claims to have between 1,500 and 2,000 Egyptian fruit bats. I read an article about a research project designed to accurately count the free-flying population in Lied Jungle; it's unclear to me whether the current number is a result of that project or if it needs to be revised. The reported 2016 number was ~800 bats, so either way Omaha has far more Egyptians than the next largest holder.
Blank Park Zoo
Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (Alto, MI)
Brookfield Zoo
Capital of Texas Zoo (Cedar Creek, TX)
Carbon County Environmental Education Center (Summit Hill, PA)
Catoctin Zoo (Thurmont, MD)
GarLyn Zoo (Saint Ignace, MI)
Gladys Porter Zoo
Gulf Breeze Zoo
Leslie Science & Nature Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Lincoln Park Zoo
Living Treasures Animal Park Moraine (New Castle, PA)
Louisiana Purchase Zoo (Monroe, LA)
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Lupa Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Moody Gardens
Museum of Discovery and Science (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
North Georgia Zoo (Cleveland, GA)
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Shell Factory & Nature Park (North Fort Myers, FL)
Timbavati Wildlife Park (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (Garfield, NJ)
Canada –
Bird Kingdom
Ruwenzori Long-haired Fruit Bat (Rousettus lanosus) – 5 holders / ~50 individuals
The other Rousettus species held in North America besides Egyptian. This species is much less numerous and widespread, with fewer holding facilities now than there appears to have been in the recent past.
Boise Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Canada –
Bear Creek Sanctuary (Barrie, ON)
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Microchiropterans
Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) - 15 holders / ~700 individuals
A very neat species and one of the few things American zoos have to be proud of species-wise as only 1 zoo in Europe holds them and probably very few elsewhere (though I haven't thoroughly researched it).
White-winged Vampire Bat also used to be held by one zoo in the US, but this is apparently no longer the case.
Buffalo Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Denver Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Moody Gardens
North Carolina Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Texas State Aquarium
Zooamerica (Hershey, PA)
Greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus) - 2 holders / ~90 individuals
Another cool species - a fish-eating bat - that may be unique in captivity to the US.
Memphis Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Greater spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus hastatus) – 3 holders / ~10 individuals
One of a few nectarivorous bats in North America, none of which are widespread. This one appears to be almost gone from the US, held in single digits by two Midwestern zoos. The number held in Canada is unknown.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Peoria Zoo
Canada –
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Pale spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) - 1 holder / ~25 individuals US only
One of a few nectarivorous bats in North America, none of which are widespread. I'm not aware of this one ever being held by a zoo other than Miami; however, based on reading multiple stock lists its population does appear to be declining.
Miami Zoo
Pallas's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) – 5 holders / ~50 individuals
One of a few nectarivorous bats in North America, none of which are widespread. This appears to be the most numerous, but I suspect its population has also been declining. The Montreal Biodome apparently had hundreds a couple years ago, so the Canadian population may be larger.
Houston Zoo
Long Island Aquarium
Mesker Park Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Canada -
Montreal Biodome
Geoffroy’s Tailless Bat (Anoura geoffroyi) – 1 holder / ? individuals
A species that until recently I was unaware anyone in North America had; it is listed on Montreal Biodome's website, but the population was only in the single digits 15 years ago so it's quite possible it's an outdated listing.
Canada –
Montreal Biodome
Seba's short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) – 29 holders / ~7,000 individuals
As far as confirmed facilities go, this is both the most numerous and most widespread species in North American zoos (though Egyptian Fruit Bat might be more widespread depending on unconfirmed holders). This is one of the two primary New World frugivorous bats held in North America, and the more common of the two. Many zoos have huge colonies, with 9 zoos counting several hundreds bats each.
The population number is also an underestimate because numbers could not be found for a few holders (including the two Canadian facilities).
Akron Zoo
Audubon Zoo
Busch Gardens Tampa
Cameron Park Zoo
Catoctin Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Denver Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo
Hogle Zoo
Houston Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Maritime Aquarium
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Memphis Zoo
Miami Zoo
Miller Park Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Niabi Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo
Potter Park Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
Staten Island Zoo
Stone Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Canada –
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Montreal Biodome
Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) - 14 holders / ~1,750 individuals
The other fairly common New World frugivorous bat in North American zoos, though not quite as numerous or widespread as Seba's. Several holders could not be confirmed, likely because it is fairly common practice to have Seba's and Jamaican both in the same enclosure but have the latter be overlooked. Again, the population estimate above is for the US population only.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (Dayton, OH)
Cameron Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Denver Zoo
Ellen Trout Zoo
Leslie Science & Nature Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Miami Zoo
Miller Park Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Wildlife World Zoo
Canada –
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Montreal Biodome
Vancouver Aquarium
Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) - 15 holders / ~700 individuals
A very neat species and one of the few things American zoos have to be proud of species-wise as only 1 zoo in Europe holds them and probably very few elsewhere (though I haven't thoroughly researched it).
White-winged Vampire Bat also used to be held by one zoo in the US, but this is apparently no longer the case.
Buffalo Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Denver Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Moody Gardens
North Carolina Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Texas State Aquarium
Zooamerica (Hershey, PA)
Greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus) - 2 holders / ~90 individuals
Another cool species - a fish-eating bat - that may be unique in captivity to the US.
Memphis Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Greater spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus hastatus) – 3 holders / ~10 individuals
One of a few nectarivorous bats in North America, none of which are widespread. This one appears to be almost gone from the US, held in single digits by two Midwestern zoos. The number held in Canada is unknown.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Peoria Zoo
Canada –
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Pale spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) - 1 holder / ~25 individuals US only
One of a few nectarivorous bats in North America, none of which are widespread. I'm not aware of this one ever being held by a zoo other than Miami; however, based on reading multiple stock lists its population does appear to be declining.
Miami Zoo
Pallas's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) – 5 holders / ~50 individuals
One of a few nectarivorous bats in North America, none of which are widespread. This appears to be the most numerous, but I suspect its population has also been declining. The Montreal Biodome apparently had hundreds a couple years ago, so the Canadian population may be larger.
Houston Zoo
Long Island Aquarium
Mesker Park Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Canada -
Montreal Biodome
Geoffroy’s Tailless Bat (Anoura geoffroyi) – 1 holder / ? individuals
A species that until recently I was unaware anyone in North America had; it is listed on Montreal Biodome's website, but the population was only in the single digits 15 years ago so it's quite possible it's an outdated listing.
Canada –
Montreal Biodome
Seba's short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) – 29 holders / ~7,000 individuals
As far as confirmed facilities go, this is both the most numerous and most widespread species in North American zoos (though Egyptian Fruit Bat might be more widespread depending on unconfirmed holders). This is one of the two primary New World frugivorous bats held in North America, and the more common of the two. Many zoos have huge colonies, with 9 zoos counting several hundreds bats each.
The population number is also an underestimate because numbers could not be found for a few holders (including the two Canadian facilities).
Akron Zoo
Audubon Zoo
Busch Gardens Tampa
Cameron Park Zoo
Catoctin Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Denver Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo
Hogle Zoo
Houston Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
Maritime Aquarium
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Memphis Zoo
Miami Zoo
Miller Park Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Niabi Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo
Potter Park Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
Staten Island Zoo
Stone Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Canada –
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Montreal Biodome
Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) - 14 holders / ~1,750 individuals
The other fairly common New World frugivorous bat in North American zoos, though not quite as numerous or widespread as Seba's. Several holders could not be confirmed, likely because it is fairly common practice to have Seba's and Jamaican both in the same enclosure but have the latter be overlooked. Again, the population estimate above is for the US population only.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (Dayton, OH)
Cameron Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Denver Zoo
Ellen Trout Zoo
Leslie Science & Nature Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Miami Zoo
Miller Park Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Wildlife World Zoo
Canada –
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Montreal Biodome
Vancouver Aquarium
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I don't know if there are any left there. I found a couple of bat TAGs on Google - a 2006 one had the number in the region as 1.4 but the 2015 one didn't list them at all.
Yeah I wondered if it was an outdated listing as well - I've updated the post to reflect the uncertainty.
Thanks for tipping me off to that 2006 TAG page. I might do an addendum exploring the population changes over the past 15 years, as it makes more clear some of the increases and declines that have occurred.
Does Milwaukee still have Ruwenzori Long-haired Fruit Bat?
I'm pretty sure they're gone now.
Brookfield Zoo has a colony of Egyptian Fruit Bats.
Detroit Zoo keeps Straw-colored Fruit Bat and should have some other species bts.
Thanks, I knew that but missed it in the list somehow.
For some reason I thought I remembered seeing that the Straw-colored had been taken off exhibit, but now I can't find reference to that so I'll throw it up as well. Bts species are no longer being counted, per the "on public display" specification.
Are Omaha’s Pallas Long-Tongued Bats behind the scenes? I don’t believe were signed, or seen on my visit in October.
I believe they are either behind the scenes or have left the collection now. My understanding is that, while they had quite a few in May 2019 when I visited, 2020 saw a significant reduction of their colony and they may all be gone now.
~Thylo
They are kept on the lower floor of the Lied Jungle, which has been closed since COVID started.