ZooChat Challenge (Global) 2018

@ThylacineAlive , I have two idea on what to do next year. I'd suggest parrots and their relatives (cockatoos, lorikeets, amazons, etc.) because the majority of zoos have this order of birds. For a similar reason, I'd also suggest all birds of prey (owls included).

-:cool::cool:TheWalrus:cool::cool:

I've considered parrots in the past but the problem lays in the fact that there are a few specialized collections (Loro Parque in Spain for instance) which would practically ensure victory to anyone who visited, and thus the challenge would not be fair. It is another tricky challenge to choosing a new group every year.

~Thylo
 
In response to a question posed by then further discussed with @TeaLovingDave in regards to the recent IUCN felid taxonomy update, I think we will be following their new taxonomy. Unlike with Groves' ungulate taxonomy, the only controversial changes seem to be on the subspecific level, and since this challenge only counts the species level, there shouldn't be any problems.

Link to the new taxonomy:
https://repository.si.edu/bitstream...e_Taxonomy_CatNews.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

P.S. Sorry if anyone asks me any questions and I miss them, for whatever reason I seem to not get notifications half the time when someone posts in my challenge threads (I had the problem last year as well). I'd imagine @-ing my username should alert me should I not get notified by the post itself.

~Thylo
What about Leopard Cats? Surely there are a lot (especially in North America I'd guess) which would be of unknown/mixed origin.
 
What about Leopard Cats? Surely there are a lot (especially in North America I'd guess) which would be of unknown/mixed origin.

Easy: no Leopard Cats in the US :p

While there are some in the private sector, I do not know of any Leopard Cats currently in a public collection in the US, though I can't speak on Canada. The few Leopard Cats I have heard of over here in the past were all listed to subspecies level anyhow.

As for Europe, ZTL only lists two collections with non-species/subspecies Leopard Cats.

~Thylo
 
Easy: no Leopard Cats in the US :p

While there are some in the private sector, I do not know of any Leopard Cats currently in a public collection in the US, though I can't speak on Canada. The few Leopard Cats I have heard of over here in the past were all listed to subspecies level anyhow.
Huh. I didn't expect that. Leopard Cats are the most common small cat I see in zoos. For some inexplicable reason...
 
Huh. I didn't expect that. Leopard Cats are the most common small cat I see in zoos. For some inexplicable reason...

To this day the only Leopard Cats (ssp. chinensis) I've seen were prior to 2009 at Bronx's now-closed World of Darkness. I hope to see others at some point..

Are they kept in Australian zoos, too, or just Asia?

~Thylo
 
To this day the only Leopard Cats (ssp. chinensis) I've seen were prior to 2009 at Bronx's now-closed World of Darkness. I hope to see others at some point..

Are they kept in Australian zoos, too, or just Asia?

~Thylo
It's not listed on the Exotic Mammals in Australian Zoos thread, so my guess in no.
 
I looked on the EFBC website as I thought the same but it says they don't have any.

~Thylo
Ah, I’d seen the same but when you click on the scientific name hyperlink you get to a page detailing all the cats of whichever species that the facility has, and that of leopard cat lists one male, hence the confusion.
 
In response to a question posed by then further discussed with @TeaLovingDave in regards to the recent IUCN felid taxonomy update, I think we will be following their new taxonomy. Unlike with Groves' ungulate taxonomy, the only controversial changes seem to be on the subspecific level, and since this challenge only counts the species level, there shouldn't be any problems.

Link to the new taxonomy:
https://repository.si.edu/bitstream...e_Taxonomy_CatNews.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

To summarise the key points which will be pertinent to this thread:

Wildcat has been split into two species - Forest Wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the Steppe/Bush Cat (Felis lybica); for all intents and purposes the former is the European Wildcat whilst the latter encompasses African Wildcat and Indian Desert Cat. Gordon's Wildcat falls within this latter taxon.

Leopard Cat has been split into two species - Mainland Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and Sunda Leopard Cat (Prionailurus javanicus). Both the Indochinese and Amur taxa belong to the former species, whilst the Palawan belongs to the latter.

The three debated Pampas Cat species - Pantanal Cat, Pampas Cat and Colocolo - are retained within a single species for the present.

Oncilla has been split into two species - Northern Tigrina (Leopardus tigrinus) and Southern Tigrina (Leopardus guttulus)
 
I hadn't compiled the list for this challenge until now, but here is what I've seen this year:

Brookfield Zoo (Visits on 1/6/18, 1/14/18, and 2/18/18)
1. Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
2. Asian Small Clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea)
3. Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
4. Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
5. Caracal (Felia caracal)
6. Black Footed Cat (Felis nigripes)
7. Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus)
8. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
9. Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
10. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
11. Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
12. African Lion (Panthera leo)
13. Harbor Seal (Photco vitulina)
14. Meerkat (Surkata surcatta)
15. Grizzly / Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
16. Polar Bear (Ursus maritmus)
17. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
18. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)
19. Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
20. Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
21. Dwarf Mongoose (Helogaale parvula)
22. Bat-Eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis)
23. African Painted Dog (Lycaon pictus)

Lincoln Park Zoo (Visit on 1/6/18):
24. Red Wolf (Canis rufus)
25. Puma / Cougar (Felis concolor)
26. Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)
27. Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
28. Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda)

Milwaukee County Zoo (Visit on 1/13/18):
29. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
30. Serval (Leptailurus serval)
31. Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Shedd Aquarium (Visit on 2/11/18
32. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
 
Bioparc Valencia- 17/02/2018
22) Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
23) Spot-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis)
24) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya)
25) Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
26) Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)
27) Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas)

Oceanografic Valencia- 17/02/2018
28) Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina)
29) Patagonian Sea Lion (Otaria byronia)
30) Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
The Exotic Zoo Telford- 24/02/2018
31) Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
32) European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
33) Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda)
 
Dierenpark Amersfoort

41. Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
42. Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi)
43. European badger (Meles meles)

Zoo Frankfurt

44. Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
45. Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus)

Wilhelma Zoo

46. Banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)
47. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
48. Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)

Kölner Zoo

49. Haussa genet (Genetta thierryi)
50. Ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans)
51. Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)
52. Honey badger (Mellivora capensis)

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

53. Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
54. Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
55. Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
 
12/2 Kyoto Zoo
  1. Tushima leopard cat(Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus)
  2. Lion(Panthera leo)
  3. Jaguar(Panthera onca)
  4. Tiger(Panthera tigris)
  5. Meerkat(Suricata suricatta)
  6. Japanese raccoon dog(Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus)
  7. Bush dog(Speothos venaticus)
  8. Japanese red fox(Vulpes vulpes japonica)
  9. Fennec fox(Vulpes zerda)
  10. Japanese black bear(Ursus thibetanus japonicus)
  11. Red panda(Ailurus fulgens)
  12. Japanese badger(Meles anakuma)
12/2 Kyoto aquarium
13.South american fur seal(Arctocephalus australis)
14.Largha seal(Phoca largha)
13/2 Kaiyukan
15.Asian small clawed otter(Aonyx cinerea)
16.Coati(Nasua nasua)
17.California sea lion(Zalophus californianus)
18.Ringed seal(Pusa hispida)
14/2 Kobe animal kingdom
19.Serval(Leptailurus serval)
20.Fishing cat(Prionailurus viverrinus)
21.Binturong(Arctictis binturong)
22.Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
15/2 Tennoji zoo
23.Puma(Puma concolor)
24.Spotted hyena(Crocuta crocuta)
25.Wolf(Canis lupus)
26.Dhole(Cuon alpinus)
27.Sun bear(Helarctos malayanus)
28.Spectacled bear(Tremarctos ornatus)
29.Polar bear(Ursus maritimus)





 
I forgot about this challenge. Although my list isn't particularly impressive, here it is so far:

Twycross Zoo 1.1.18
1. Snow leopard Panthera uncia
2. Amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis
3. Bush dog Speothos venaticus
4. Asian short-clawed otter Aonyx cinereal
5. Meerkat Suricata suricatta
6. Northern yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula aterrima

Dudley Zoo 27.1.18
7. African wild dog Lycaon pictus
8. Carpathian lynx Lynx lynx carpathicus
9. South American sea lion Otaria byronia
10. Sumatran tiger Penthera tigris sumatrae
11. Asiatic lion Lanthera leo persica
12. Nepalese red panda Ailurus fulgens fulgens

Gentleshaw Animal Sanctuary 18.2.18
13. Northern raccoon Procyon lotor
14. Scottish wildcat Felis silvestris grampia
15. South American coati Nasua nasua
16. Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis

Chester Zoo 19.2.18
17. Sun bear Helarctos malavanus
18. Sudan cheetah Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii
19. Jaguar Panthera onca

Bristol Zoo 24.2.18
20. North American river otter Lontra canadensis
21. Yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillate
22. South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis
 
02/01/2018
Artis Royal Zoo Amsterdam:
1. African wild dog(Lycaon pictus)
2. Asian small clawed otter(Aonyx cinereus)
3. Yucatan Margay (Leopardus wiedii yucatanicus)
4. Californian sea lion(Zalophus californianus)
5. Dwarf mongoose(Helogale parvula)
6. Binturong(Arctictis binturong)
7. Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
8. Fennec fox(Vulpes zerda)
9. Lion (Panthera leo)
10. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
11. Jaguar (Panthera onca)
12. Raccoon(Procyon lotor)
13. Yellow-throated marten(Martes flavigula aterrima)
14. Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
15. Arctic wolf (Canis lupus)
16. Red Panda(Ailurus fulgens fulgens)

10/01/2018
Burgers Zoo Arnhem:
17. Coati (Nasua nasua)
18. Ringed seal (Pusa hispida)
19. Bobcat(Lynx rufus)
20. European Golden Jackal(Canis aureus moreotica)
21. Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus)
22. South-African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus)
23. Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya)
24. Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
25. Sun Bear(Helarctos malayanus malayanus)

15/02/2018
Berlin Zoo:
26. Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni)
27. Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus)
28. Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
29. Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusilus pusilus)
30. Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina)
31. Ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans elegans)
32. Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
33. Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)
34. Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
35. Narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata decemlineata)
36. Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
37. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
38. Rust spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus phillipsi)
39. Tayra (Eira barbara)
 
15/02/2018
Berlin Zoo:
26. Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni)
27. Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus)
28. Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
29. Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusilus pusilus)
30. Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina)
31. Ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans elegans)
32. Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
33. Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)
34. Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
35. Narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata decemlineata)
36. Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
37. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
38. Rust spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus phillipsi)
39. Tayra (Eira barbara)

27/02/2018
Amersfoort zoo:
40. Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
41. Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
42. Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
43. European badger (Meles meles meles)
44. Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi)
 
Cats the way, aha aha, I like it, aha aha!

A strong start that might well be followed by comparatively little:

Beijing Zoo, Tuesday, January 30th

1) Grey wolf, Canis lupus
2) Black-backed jackal, Canis mesomelas
3) Dhole, Cuon alpinus
4) Maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus
5) Arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus
6) Red fox, Vulpes vulpes
7) Corsac fox, Vulpes corsac
8) Fennec fox, Vulpes zerda

9) Giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca
10) Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus
11) Brown bear, Ursus arctos
12) Polar bear, Ursus maritimus

13) Red panda, Ailurus fulgens
14) Yellow-throated marten, Martes flavigula
15) Asian small-clawed otter, Aonyx cinerea
16) Common Raccoon, Procyon lotor
17) Ring-tailed coati, Nasua nasua

18) Masked palm civet, Paguma larvata
19) Spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta
20) Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena
21) Banded mongoose, Mungos mungo

Taman Safari Bogor, Wednesday February 21st

22) Sun bear, Helarctos melayanus
23) Californian sea lion, Zalophus californianus

24) Lion, Panthera leo
25) Tiger, Panthera tigris
26) Jaguar, Panthera onca
25) Leopard, Panthera pardus
26) Snow leopard, Panthera uncia
27) Sunda clouded leopard, Neofelis diardii*

28) Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
29) Puma, Puma councilor
30) Asian golden cat, Catopuma temminkii
31) Leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis**

32) Meerkat, Suricata suricatta
33) Binturong, Arctictos binturong
34) Asian palm civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
35) Golden palm civet, Paradoxurus zeylonensis

Ragunan Zoo, Thursday February 22nd

36) American black bear, Ursus americanus

Leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis**
37) Small asian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus
38) Small indian civet, Viverricula indica


*Signed as N. nebulosa, but 'known' to be diardii.
**I suspect both of these to be Sunda leopard cat, but I'll add photos and accept the judgement of the masses.
 
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