Another year means another challenge for all the zoo nerds visiting European zoos this year! I have plenty of hope that 2025 will be an exciting year for everyone. It also marks a decade since I first joined ZooChat , which makes me feel ancient!
But anyway, that's more than enough about me. For this year's challenge, I’ve decided that it should be one that sticks a little closer to home:
"European Animals"
This year the challenge will focus on species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that are native to Europe.
Whilst previous editions of geographic challenges have included fish and invertebrates (with various restrictions), I have decided, just to keep the challenge a *tiny* bit more simple, to exclude them. I offer my most profound apologies to any fish and invert lovers, as there are many wonderful species from both groups on the European continent.
For the challenge, Europe will be defined to stay consistent with the long-standing challenge rule 4, so any mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian species that is native to:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Mediterranean and Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City
Species that are found solely in Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey (all of which were included in the 2023 European challenge) and don't have distributions stretching into the main countries listed above, will not be counted towards totals.
Some rules for the challenge:
Importantly, all animals seen for the challenge must be captive. Wild species that have been spotted whilst you are visiting zoos should not be counted for the challenge.
To avoid too much fuss around the taxonomy of species, the challenge will be at the species level (so for example, you could see the last Kodiak bear in a European zoo at Nyíregyháza Állatpark, and it could be counted as a European brown bear under Ursus arctos). Like in previous years, the IUCN website will be used as a reference for taxonomy and distributions.
Species that are considered invasive to Europe will also not count towards the challenge, only species that are natively distributed to the continent will be allowed, so no nutrias, no ring-necked parakeets, no red-eared sliders and no American bullfrogs
Domestic forms of species, nor known species hybrids, do not count for the challenge.
Species that are regularly found on the coast (e.g., grey seals) of the included countries can be counted towards each player's total, but certain species, like walruses or sea turtles, are generally considered to be vagrant species to the continent or have vast ranges, so they can't be counted for the total. However, species found in inland waters, like the Danube crested newt, for example, will count for the challenge.
And as usual, the long-standing rules, with credits to Shorts for originally coming up with them:
1. You have to see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal (harsh, but fair);
2. Proof via photographs is not required, your word is your bond;
3. You have to see the animal via normal public access (i.e. not including zookeeper for the day or photography days behind the scenes) during normal public opening hours (i.e. no scoring because you know the keeper and can get access before/after hours). Basically, the species has to be seen as Joe Public would.
4. Only collections located in what is geographically Europe will count in this challenge (including Iceland, the UK, Ireland, and the Mediterranean islands, but excluding Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey to avoid conflicts about what is and isn't Europe).
5. Report/update your progress on this thread as you go along;
6. The winner will be deemed to be the person(s) who has the highest total by 31st December 2025;
7. My decision on any questions is final, but I am open to discussion and debate on any specific points.
8. Any bullying/unsportsmanlike conduct directed towards myself or other players is grounds for immediate disqualification from the challenge, and barring from future Europe challenges.
Naturally, certain collections will give advantages to increasing totals due to being dedicated to the keeping of a native species. Any English, Welsh, or Scottish ZooChatters will likely see large gains from visiting Wildwood or the British Wildlife Centre, Irish members will see an increase from visiting Wild Ireland, our German competitors could also see gains from visits to the countries many Wildparks, and any Austrian ZooChat members who take part will also gain multiple species at Aplenzoo Innsbruck. Fortunately, most zoos across Europe also do have at least some species that are native to the continent, so hopefully, people will be able to get a few more ticks for the challenge at each zoo they visit.
Wishing you all a happy new year and the best of luck to everyone!
But anyway, that's more than enough about me. For this year's challenge, I’ve decided that it should be one that sticks a little closer to home:
"European Animals"
This year the challenge will focus on species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that are native to Europe.
Whilst previous editions of geographic challenges have included fish and invertebrates (with various restrictions), I have decided, just to keep the challenge a *tiny* bit more simple, to exclude them. I offer my most profound apologies to any fish and invert lovers, as there are many wonderful species from both groups on the European continent.
For the challenge, Europe will be defined to stay consistent with the long-standing challenge rule 4, so any mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian species that is native to:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Mediterranean and Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City
Species that are found solely in Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey (all of which were included in the 2023 European challenge) and don't have distributions stretching into the main countries listed above, will not be counted towards totals.
Some rules for the challenge:
Importantly, all animals seen for the challenge must be captive. Wild species that have been spotted whilst you are visiting zoos should not be counted for the challenge.
To avoid too much fuss around the taxonomy of species, the challenge will be at the species level (so for example, you could see the last Kodiak bear in a European zoo at Nyíregyháza Állatpark, and it could be counted as a European brown bear under Ursus arctos). Like in previous years, the IUCN website will be used as a reference for taxonomy and distributions.
Species that are considered invasive to Europe will also not count towards the challenge, only species that are natively distributed to the continent will be allowed, so no nutrias, no ring-necked parakeets, no red-eared sliders and no American bullfrogs
Domestic forms of species, nor known species hybrids, do not count for the challenge.
Species that are regularly found on the coast (e.g., grey seals) of the included countries can be counted towards each player's total, but certain species, like walruses or sea turtles, are generally considered to be vagrant species to the continent or have vast ranges, so they can't be counted for the total. However, species found in inland waters, like the Danube crested newt, for example, will count for the challenge.
And as usual, the long-standing rules, with credits to Shorts for originally coming up with them:
1. You have to see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal (harsh, but fair);
2. Proof via photographs is not required, your word is your bond;
3. You have to see the animal via normal public access (i.e. not including zookeeper for the day or photography days behind the scenes) during normal public opening hours (i.e. no scoring because you know the keeper and can get access before/after hours). Basically, the species has to be seen as Joe Public would.
4. Only collections located in what is geographically Europe will count in this challenge (including Iceland, the UK, Ireland, and the Mediterranean islands, but excluding Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey to avoid conflicts about what is and isn't Europe).
5. Report/update your progress on this thread as you go along;
6. The winner will be deemed to be the person(s) who has the highest total by 31st December 2025;
7. My decision on any questions is final, but I am open to discussion and debate on any specific points.
8. Any bullying/unsportsmanlike conduct directed towards myself or other players is grounds for immediate disqualification from the challenge, and barring from future Europe challenges.
Naturally, certain collections will give advantages to increasing totals due to being dedicated to the keeping of a native species. Any English, Welsh, or Scottish ZooChatters will likely see large gains from visiting Wildwood or the British Wildlife Centre, Irish members will see an increase from visiting Wild Ireland, our German competitors could also see gains from visits to the countries many Wildparks, and any Austrian ZooChat members who take part will also gain multiple species at Aplenzoo Innsbruck. Fortunately, most zoos across Europe also do have at least some species that are native to the continent, so hopefully, people will be able to get a few more ticks for the challenge at each zoo they visit.
Wishing you all a happy new year and the best of luck to everyone!
largely thanks to a) the inclusion of Cyprus and b) the presence of several islands immediately offshore from Anatolian Turkey which belong to Greece (most notably Lesbos).
