Zoochat Challenge North America 2022

[15399]

Unfortunately Red Ruffed Lemurs were a no-show, so I won't be reaching the half way point like I expected today, but still made some progress towards the challenge:

The Wild Animal Park:

Cat Got Your Tongue (9/9) NOW COMPLETE:
9. Clouded Leopard- Neofelis nebulosa

Unbearable Challenge (5/5) NOW COMPLETE:
5. Brown Bear- Ursus arctos

Polly Wants 20 (11/20):
11. Budgeriar- Melopsittacus undulatus

Rookery Roundabout (1/6):
1. African Penguin- Spheniscus demersus

The Big Squeeze (4/5):
4. Red-tailed Boa- Boa constrictor

Now Complete: 17/36
In Progress: 16/19

I managed to identify one more animal that was unsigned this morning. Interestingly enough this mixed habitat with no signs was fallow deer, mouflon, and domestic goats- so I was initially unknown if it was a domestic goat/sheep or a mouflon. But I've done some research and found out they are in fact mouflon.

Bovine Bonanza (19/20):
19. Mouflon- Ovis gmelini

Now Complete: 17/36
In Progress: 16/19

 

[TinoPup]

I managed to identify one more animal that was unsigned this morning. Interestingly enough this mixed habitat with no signs was fallow deer, mouflon, and domestic goats- so I was initially unknown if it was a domestic goat/sheep or a mouflon. But I've done some research and found out they are in fact mouflon.

Bovine Bonanza (19/20):
19. Mouflon- Ovis gmelini

Now Complete: 17/36
In Progress: 16/19

Their mouflon are european, which are domestic.

 

[15399]

Their mouflon are european, which are domestic.

Noted. Didn't realize there were domesticated mouflon. I won't count this species.

 

[TheGerenuk]

Noted. Didn't realize there were domesticated mouflon. I won't count this species.

"European" mouflon still count. I asked about the status of the species a few months ago, and Coelacanth said it was allowed. You're at 19 for Bovine Bonanza.

 

[pachyderm pro]

Detroit Zoo - October 9 2022

Bovine Bonanza: 18/20*NOW COMPLETE
19. Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx)
20. Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)

You Must Be This Tall to (NOT) Fly: 3/4*NOW COMPLETE
4. Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)

Pretty in Pink: 3/4*NOW COMPLETE
4. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Duck Dynasty: 16/18
16. African Pygmy Goose (Nettapus auritus)

Pick Your Poison: 6/6*NOW COMPLETE
4. Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus)
5. Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus)
6. Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)

One Drop, One Life: 17/18
17. Indo-Chinese Spitting Cobra (Naja siamensis)
__________________________________________________

In-Progress Trials 7/36

Polly Wants 20: 6/20
Duck Dynasty: 16/18
The Edgar Allen Poe: 2/5
One Drop, One Life: 17/18
The Sobek Six-Pack: 4/6
Champion of the Sun: 2/3
Bona Fide Rarity Hunter: 2/3

Completed Trails - 28/36

-Nighttime Birding
-One Zoo Wonder
-Planet of the Apes
-Redemption Arc
-Release the Kraken
-Ring ‘n Ruff
-Sharknado
-Slow and Steady
-The Steve Irwin
-An Unbearable Challenge
-Three Little Pigs
-Parliament is Now in Session
-Silk and Stinger
-The Kingmaker
-Cat Got Your Tongue
-The Big Squeeze
-Rookery Roundabout
-Cold as Ice
-The Coelacanth Stamp of Approval
-White with Black Stripes or Black with White Stripes
-Puny Primates
-Another Dang Meerkat
-Breakfast of Champions
-Have Trunk, Will Travel
-Bovine Bonanza
-You Must Be This Tall to (NOT) Fly
-Pretty in Pink
-Pick Your Poison

 

[15399]

I managed to identify one more animal that was unsigned this morning. Interestingly enough this mixed habitat with no signs was fallow deer, mouflon, and domestic goats- so I was initially unknown if it was a domestic goat/sheep or a mouflon. But I've done some research and found out they are in fact mouflon.

Bovine Bonanza (19/20):
19. Mouflon- Ovis gmelini

Now Complete: 17/36
In Progress: 16/19

Two milestones today: halfway done with the challenge and twenty zoos since I started my lifelist!

Utica Zoo:

Bovine Bonanza (20/20) NOW COMPLETE:
20. Transcapian Urial- Ovis vignei arkal

You Must Be This Tall To (Not) Fly (3/4):
3. Emu- Dromaius novaehollandiae

The Big Squeeze (5/5) NOW COMPLETE:
5. Burmese Python- Python bivittatus

Now Complete: 19/36
In Progress: 14/17

 

[TinoPup]

Montreal Biodome, Oct 7 2022
14. Rookery Roundabout 6/6
6. Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi

30. Champion of the Sun 3/3
3. Sun bear Helarctos malayanus

 

[Corangurilla]

30. Champion of the Sun 3/3
3. Sun bear Helarctos malayanus

Where’d you see this Sun Bear?

 

[TinoPup]

Where’d you see this Sun Bear?

Sorry, I was so tired last night, could have sworn I posted the name and date lol. It was Catoctin Wildlife Preserve, Oct 20 2022.

 

[Coelacanth18]

30. Champion of the Sun 3/3
3. Sun bear Helarctos malayanus

Congrats! You're the fourth person to finish all 36 trials. Congrats to @Nicholas LionRider as well for being third, if I didn't congratulate you already.

Pick Your Poison: 6/6*NOW COMPLETE

2. Dyeing Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)

5. Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus)

Not complete. You need one more.

One Drop, One Life: 17/18
17. Indo-Chinese Spitting Cobra (Naja siamensis)

You were last at 15, so this should be 16/18.

 

[15399]

Two milestones today: halfway done with the challenge and twenty zoos since I started my lifelist!

Utica Zoo:

Bovine Bonanza (20/20) NOW COMPLETE:
20. Transcapian Urial- Ovis vignei arkal

You Must Be This Tall To (Not) Fly (3/4):
3. Emu- Dromaius novaehollandiae

The Big Squeeze (5/5) NOW COMPLETE:
5. Burmese Python- Python bivittatus

Now Complete: 19/36
In Progress: 14/17

Visited two zoos in two countries today, with one being my first ever zoo outside the United States! Interestingly enough, these were both my favorite non-AZA and least favorite AZA Zoos I've ever visited:

Bird Kingdom

Polly Wants 20 (20/20) NOW COMPLETE:
13. Green Cheeked Conure- Pyrrhura molinae
14. Military Macaw- Ara militaris
15. African Grey Parrot- Psittacus erithacus
16. Blue Headed Pionus- Pionus menstruus
17. Pacific Parrotlet- Forpus coelestis
18. Rainbow Lorikeet- Trichoglossus moluccanus
19. Bare Eyed Cockatoo- Cacatua sanguinea
20. Nanday Conure- Aratinga nenday

Aquarium of Niagara

Rookery Roundabout (2/6):
2. Humboldt Penguin- Spheniscus humboldti

Now Complete: 20/36
In Progress: 13/16

 

[Coelacanth18]

I guess this is what progress looks like for me now

Santa Barbara Zoo (23 Jul)

Rookery Roundabout: 2/6
2. Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)

28/36 trials completed
35/36 trials in progress
Total zoo visits so far: 14

After a 3 month zoo dry spell, I finally completed another challenge! On the down side, this will almost certainly be my final score since the remaining species I need would require long-distance traveling, expensive tickets, or both.

Exotic Feline Breeding Compound (28 Oct)

Cat Got Your Tongue: 9/9 COMPLETED
9. Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

29/36 trials completed
35/36 trials in progress
Total zoos visited: 16

 

[Coelacanth18]

Polly Wants 20 (11/20):
11. Budgeriar- Melopsittacus undulatus

Polly Wants 20 (20/20) NOW COMPLETE:
13. Green Cheeked Conure- Pyrrhura molinae

Any chance you saw an additional parrot at Bird Kingdom?

 

[15399]

Any chance you saw an additional parrot at Bird Kingdom?

I saw a few additional parrots. If those two don't count I can replace with:
Agapornis roseicollis- Peach-faced Lovebird
Amazonaaestiva- Turquoise Fronted Amazon
Cacatua moluccensis- Moluccan Cockatoo

 

[Corangurilla]

@Coelacanth18 Why wouldn’t those two parrots count? I have a feeling it’s because they’re common pets (but they’re not domestics).

 

[Coelacanth18]

If those two don't count I can replace with:

Why wouldn’t those two parrots count? I have a feeling it’s because they’re common pets (but they’re not domestics).

The issue wasn't the parrots, it was the math a number exists between 11 and 13 and it begged to have a parrot associated with it.

 

[15399]

Visited two zoos in two countries today, with one being my first ever zoo outside the United States! Interestingly enough, these were both my favorite non-AZA and least favorite AZA Zoos I've ever visited:

Bird Kingdom

Polly Wants 20 (20/20) NOW COMPLETE:
13. Green Cheeked Conure- Pyrrhura molinae
14. Military Macaw- Ara militaris
15. African Grey Parrot- Psittacus erithacus
16. Blue Headed Pionus- Pionus menstruus
17. Pacific Parrotlet- Forpus coelestis
18. Rainbow Lorikeet- Trichoglossus moluccanus
19. Bare Eyed Cockatoo- Cacatua sanguinea
20. Nanday Conure- Aratinga nenday

Aquarium of Niagara

Rookery Roundabout (2/6):
2. Humboldt Penguin- Spheniscus humboldti

Now Complete: 20/36
In Progress: 13/16

Overall, I had a very good day today touring this zoo, which very much impressed me. Unfortunately, there were a few prominent species off exhibit/no shows that hindered my progress (sun bear, geoffroy's tamarin, dingo). I may only have one more challenge completed today, but a few of these species set the groundwork for completion at a later date.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (10/30/22):

Ring 'n Ruff (3/3) NOW COMPLETE:
3. Red Ruffed Lemur- Varecia rubra, about time I see this species this year! For a common species, it's taken way too long.

Puny Primates (5/6):
5. Goeldi's Monkey- Callimico goeldii

Another Dang Meerkat (3/4):
3. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The Sobek Six-Pack (4/6):
4. Gharial- Gavialis gangeticus

Bonafide Rarity Hunter (2/3):
2. Golden Bellied Mangabey- Cercocebus chrysogaster

Now Complete: 21/36
In Progress: 12/15

 

[PSO]

Dang wish I knew about this earlier in the year. Would have completed it back in August lol

 

[TheGerenuk]

Toronto Zoo: 1 October 2022

Cat Got Your Tongue (4/6 Pantherinae, 1/3 others):
4. Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Another Dang Meerkat (1/4 zoos with meerkats):
1. Toronto Zoo (1 October 2022)

Completed: 9/36
In Progress: 23/27

This is probably it for me.

Turns out it's not the end. An unexpected surprise was encountered on my most recent visit.

Toronto Zoo: 19 November 2022

The Coelacanth Stamp of Approval (3/4 mammals, 2/4 birds, 3/4 herps):
3. Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

Completed: 9/36
In Progress: 23/27

Okay now I think that's it.

 

[15399]

Overall, I had a very good day today touring this zoo, which very much impressed me. Unfortunately, there were a few prominent species off exhibit/no shows that hindered my progress (sun bear, geoffroy's tamarin, dingo). I may only have one more challenge completed today, but a few of these species set the groundwork for completion at a later date.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (10/30/22):

Ring 'n Ruff (3/3) NOW COMPLETE:
3. Red Ruffed Lemur- Varecia rubra, about time I see this species this year! For a common species, it's taken way too long.

Puny Primates (5/6):
5. Goeldi's Monkey- Callimico goeldii

Another Dang Meerkat (3/4):
3. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The Sobek Six-Pack (4/6):
4. Gharial- Gavialis gangeticus

Bonafide Rarity Hunter (2/3):
2. Golden Bellied Mangabey- Cercocebus chrysogaster

Now Complete: 21/36
In Progress: 12/15

Rosamond Gifford Zoo:
Have Trunk, Will Travel (3/4):
3. Asian Elephant (twins!)- Elephas maximus

Another Dang Meerkat (4/4) NOW COMPLETE:
4. Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Release the Kraken (1/1) NOW COMPLETE:
1. Octopus- Enteroctopus dofleini

Now Complete: 23/36
In Progress: 11/13

This very well might be it for me this year, although there is one facility I'm eyeing for a visit in December that'd finish one more challenge. Overall, a better zoo year than I expected, as despite not finishing a few challenges I thought I was likely to (Puny Primates in particular), I managed to complete a few that I certainly didn't expect to (Polly Wants 20, Bovine Bonanza, Cat Got Your Tongue). While I did have a respectable showing this year, I would've done even better had I made one zoo visit this summer- to Southwick's Zoo, which would've helped me finish four challenges that I'm currently one species short of (Puny Primates, Planet of the Apes, Have Trunk Will Travel, and Bona Fide Rarity Hunter). Regardless, I had a lot of fun competing this year, and ended up visiting more zoos (and some larger ones) than I have in years.