ZooChat Cup Group C2: Beauval vs Denver
- Thread starter CGSwans
- Start date
By all accounts, Denver has a rather poor South American collection - I vaguely recall someone suggesting that if they drew this category it would doom them - whereas from what I know, Beauval has quite a nice array of South American taxa. A relatively easy 2-1 for Beauval, with room to upgrade to a 3-0 if more informed minds can supply the relevant evidence.
I think they have quite a few South American primates, in what most who have visited call a very good primate complex. They also have an extensive (if not well-documented) collection of smaller tropical animals spanning several taxonomic groups, including Neotropical bats and I think many Neotropical birds and ectotherms. Getting information on it might be hard - and Beauval is a strong contender - but I'd be surprised to hear that this is a poor category for them.
While I hope those that have been to Denver will give their take, I can fill in more basic information until then. Primate Panorama houses most of the South American collection in and around the Jewels of the Emerald Forest building, with indoor enclosures that look like so:
The building held the following species in 2016:
White-faced Saki
Southern Tamandua
Coppery Titi
White-eared Titi
Golden Lion Tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
White-fronted Marmoset
Pygmy Marmoset
I think the tamandua might be gone now; don't know the status of the primates. Denver also has spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and capuchins that live outdoors in the warmer months:
Spider Monkey
Squirrel Monkey
Hooded Capuchin/Crested Screamer/American White Pelican
There is a Forest Aviary (also in Primate Panorama) that contained Scarlet Ibis and Helmeted Curassow, among other birds that don't count here. Unfortunately, I can't find any photos of it and cannot speak to its quality. I also just remembered that Bird World is closed, which could hurt Denver a decent amount since that is where nearly all of their Neotropical bird collection was housed.
The building held the following species in 2016:
White-faced Saki
Southern Tamandua
Coppery Titi
White-eared Titi
Golden Lion Tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
White-fronted Marmoset
Pygmy Marmoset
I think the tamandua might be gone now; don't know the status of the primates. Denver also has spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and capuchins that live outdoors in the warmer months:
Spider Monkey
Squirrel Monkey
Hooded Capuchin/Crested Screamer/American White Pelican
There is a Forest Aviary (also in Primate Panorama) that contained Scarlet Ibis and Helmeted Curassow, among other birds that don't count here. Unfortunately, I can't find any photos of it and cannot speak to its quality. I also just remembered that Bird World is closed, which could hurt Denver a decent amount since that is where nearly all of their Neotropical bird collection was housed.
Beauval species list:
Antillean manatee
Bearded emperor tamarin
Goeldi's monkey
Colombian black spider monkey
Cotton-top tamarin
Puma
Giant anteater
Giant otter
Golden lion tamarin
Golden handed tamarin
Jaguar
Large hairy armadillo
Linnaeus's two toed sloth
Patagonian mara
Pied tamarin
Silvery marmoset
South American coati
South American tapir
Southern three-banded armadillo
Western pygmy marmoset
White faced saki
Yellow breasted capuchin
American black vulture
American flamingo
Andean cock of the rock
Andean condor
Black chested buzzard eagle
Black headed parrot
Black necked stilt
Blue and yellow macaw
Blue headed macaw
Blue throated macaw
Blue winged macaw
Blue winged teal
Brazilian tanager
Brazilian teal
Burrowing parrot
Channel billed toucan
Chestnut fronted macaw
Chilean flamingo
Chiloe wigeon
Comb duck
Common mallard
Crested caracara
Cuban amazon
Cuban trogon
Double yellow headed amazon
Fulvous whistling duck
Golden conure
Great green macaw
Greater rhea
Green thighed parrot
Green winged macaw
Guira cuckoo
Harris' hawk
Humboldt penguin
Hyacinth macaw
Jandava parakeet
King vulture
Lesser white fronted amazon
Northern cardinal
Northern Helmeted curassow
Northern pintail
Northern red fan parrot
Red crested cardinal
Red crowned amazon
Red fronted macaw
Red legged seriema
Red tailed amazon
Ringed teal
Rosy-billed pochard
Scarlet ibis
Scarlet macaw
Southern boat billed heron
Southern festive amazon
Southern screamer
Speckled teal
Spectacled owl
Sun conure
Sunbittern
Toco toucan
Turkey vulture
Upland goose
Vinaceous breasted amazon
Wattled jacana
Western spindalis
White cheeked pintail
White-faced whistling duck
Wood duck
Yellow shouldered amazon
Argentine black and white tegu
Boa constrictor
Caiman lizard
Common anaconda
Common green iguana
Emerald tree boa
Garden tree boa
Green basilisk
Hilaire's side necked turtle
Mata Mata
Red-footed tortoise
Spectacled caiman
Splendid japalure
Yellow footed tortoise
Anthonys poison arrow frog
Blue poison dart frog
Maranon poison frog
Yellow banded poison frog
108 species in total without fish, 22 mammals, 14 species of reptile, 4 species of amphibian and 68 species of bird.
Antillean manatee
Bearded emperor tamarin
Goeldi's monkey
Colombian black spider monkey
Cotton-top tamarin
Puma
Giant anteater
Giant otter
Golden lion tamarin
Golden handed tamarin
Jaguar
Large hairy armadillo
Linnaeus's two toed sloth
Patagonian mara
Pied tamarin
Silvery marmoset
South American coati
South American tapir
Southern three-banded armadillo
Western pygmy marmoset
White faced saki
Yellow breasted capuchin
American black vulture
American flamingo
Andean cock of the rock
Andean condor
Black chested buzzard eagle
Black headed parrot
Black necked stilt
Blue and yellow macaw
Blue headed macaw
Blue throated macaw
Blue winged macaw
Blue winged teal
Brazilian tanager
Brazilian teal
Burrowing parrot
Channel billed toucan
Chestnut fronted macaw
Chilean flamingo
Chiloe wigeon
Comb duck
Common mallard
Crested caracara
Cuban amazon
Cuban trogon
Double yellow headed amazon
Fulvous whistling duck
Golden conure
Great green macaw
Greater rhea
Green thighed parrot
Green winged macaw
Guira cuckoo
Harris' hawk
Humboldt penguin
Hyacinth macaw
Jandava parakeet
King vulture
Lesser white fronted amazon
Northern cardinal
Northern Helmeted curassow
Northern pintail
Northern red fan parrot
Red crested cardinal
Red crowned amazon
Red fronted macaw
Red legged seriema
Red tailed amazon
Ringed teal
Rosy-billed pochard
Scarlet ibis
Scarlet macaw
Southern boat billed heron
Southern festive amazon
Southern screamer
Speckled teal
Spectacled owl
Sun conure
Sunbittern
Toco toucan
Turkey vulture
Upland goose
Vinaceous breasted amazon
Wattled jacana
Western spindalis
White cheeked pintail
White-faced whistling duck
Wood duck
Yellow shouldered amazon
Argentine black and white tegu
Boa constrictor
Caiman lizard
Common anaconda
Common green iguana
Emerald tree boa
Garden tree boa
Green basilisk
Hilaire's side necked turtle
Mata Mata
Red-footed tortoise
Spectacled caiman
Splendid japalure
Yellow footed tortoise
Anthonys poison arrow frog
Blue poison dart frog
Maranon poison frog
Yellow banded poison frog
108 species in total without fish, 22 mammals, 14 species of reptile, 4 species of amphibian and 68 species of bird.
Conservation initiatives at both zoos:
Denver:
Lake Titicaca frogs and Junin giant frogs: they are working with many other zoos to develop understanding of these frogs in order to save them both from extinction.
Beauval:
Andean condor: Works hand in hand with BIOANDINA to build several rehabilitation centres for injured or hungry condors, and also encourages their breeding in the wild.
Harpy eagle: Singlehandedly financially supports a conservation charity for harpy eagles in Brazil by providing them with radio collars for the eagles (especially chicks) and studies the genetic variation in the species.
Jaguar: Works to radio collar jaguars near Iguazu falls, an area of high tourism, and to ameliorate human-jaguar interactions to allow peaceful cohabitation.
Giant anteater: Works to study why the anteaters venture onto roads in the Cerrado and tries to therefore limit the number of roadkills taking place by placing limits on speed on the roads. It also radio collars the anteaters to find out more about their behaviour.
Buffy-headed marmoset: They protect these Endangered species against invasive species introduced recently, which have been the principal cause of their decline. They also encourage other zoos to breed them ex-situ.
Tequila fish: This Endangered fish is being bred on in-situ sites as well as at the zoo in order to trigger the development in population that they need. They also study the affect of humans on their habitat.
All four lion tamarin (Leontopithecus) species: They support the initiative to fins, collar and follow the populations of these Endangered and Critically Endangered species, working with Copenhagen and several other European zoos.
White-footed tamarins: Beauval coordinates the initiative to save the White-footed tamarin, endemic to Colombia. It encourages Colombian zoos to start breeding programs, financially support several rehabilitation areas for this species, studies the species in the wild with radio collars etc., fights against the trapping of the species for the pet trade, educates locals about the importance of the species and is trying to agree a deal to create a protected area for the species with the government.
Cottontop tamarins: Beauval buys areas to restore land as it previously was in order to create habitats for the tamarins and to give them a protected area in which to live. They also support Proyecto Titi, a small organization uniquely supporting Cottontop tamarins.
Giant armadillo: Beauval works with the RZSS to radio collar and tag armadillos in order to learn as much as they can about them. They track their diets, ranges, movement and place camera traps to record behaviour. They also study how the species comes into contact with humans.
South American tapir: They study the health of the local tapirs in Brazil and are trying to create a protected area for the animals to replenish their dwindling numbers.
Denver:
Lake Titicaca frogs and Junin giant frogs: they are working with many other zoos to develop understanding of these frogs in order to save them both from extinction.
Beauval:
Andean condor: Works hand in hand with BIOANDINA to build several rehabilitation centres for injured or hungry condors, and also encourages their breeding in the wild.
Harpy eagle: Singlehandedly financially supports a conservation charity for harpy eagles in Brazil by providing them with radio collars for the eagles (especially chicks) and studies the genetic variation in the species.
Jaguar: Works to radio collar jaguars near Iguazu falls, an area of high tourism, and to ameliorate human-jaguar interactions to allow peaceful cohabitation.
Giant anteater: Works to study why the anteaters venture onto roads in the Cerrado and tries to therefore limit the number of roadkills taking place by placing limits on speed on the roads. It also radio collars the anteaters to find out more about their behaviour.
Buffy-headed marmoset: They protect these Endangered species against invasive species introduced recently, which have been the principal cause of their decline. They also encourage other zoos to breed them ex-situ.
Tequila fish: This Endangered fish is being bred on in-situ sites as well as at the zoo in order to trigger the development in population that they need. They also study the affect of humans on their habitat.
All four lion tamarin (Leontopithecus) species: They support the initiative to fins, collar and follow the populations of these Endangered and Critically Endangered species, working with Copenhagen and several other European zoos.
White-footed tamarins: Beauval coordinates the initiative to save the White-footed tamarin, endemic to Colombia. It encourages Colombian zoos to start breeding programs, financially support several rehabilitation areas for this species, studies the species in the wild with radio collars etc., fights against the trapping of the species for the pet trade, educates locals about the importance of the species and is trying to agree a deal to create a protected area for the species with the government.
Cottontop tamarins: Beauval buys areas to restore land as it previously was in order to create habitats for the tamarins and to give them a protected area in which to live. They also support Proyecto Titi, a small organization uniquely supporting Cottontop tamarins.
Giant armadillo: Beauval works with the RZSS to radio collar and tag armadillos in order to learn as much as they can about them. They track their diets, ranges, movement and place camera traps to record behaviour. They also study how the species comes into contact with humans.
South American tapir: They study the health of the local tapirs in Brazil and are trying to create a protected area for the animals to replenish their dwindling numbers.
I particularly liked Beauval’s mixed-species tequila fish and mezcal worm tanks.
And just in case this could play a part in anyone's vote, Beauval is very close to opening the Equatoial dome, a massive tropical rainforest about the same size as Gondwanaland with exhibits for Giant otters, Harpy eagles (only third collection in Europe to hold this species) and Antillean manatees notably for this tie, but I imagine many other species being part of the plans. The enclosures are built and they are just receiving the last animals. Fyi there will also be Red-shanked douc langurs, komodo dragons, several species of lemur,
Other species that could be of interest for this tie are squirrel monkeys, green anaconda (in a massive aquaterrarium), tamanduas, toco toucans, tegus, dendrobates, mata mata turtles and piranhas.
Exhibit details - the manatee viewing glass is 44 metres long, the giant otter viewing glass is 23 metres long. The aviaries for tamandua, toucans and squirrel monkeys are 20 metres high and the manatee pool is 3.5 metres deer
Other species that could be of interest for this tie are squirrel monkeys, green anaconda (in a massive aquaterrarium), tamanduas, toco toucans, tegus, dendrobates, mata mata turtles and piranhas.
Exhibit details - the manatee viewing glass is 44 metres long, the giant otter viewing glass is 23 metres long. The aviaries for tamandua, toucans and squirrel monkeys are 20 metres high and the manatee pool is 3.5 metres deer
We have previously established that future developments are out of scope. This frankly wonderful-sounding exhibit can count next time.
We have previously established that future developments are out of scope. This frankly wonderful-sounding exhibit can count next time.
It is entirely built and all the animals have been imported in though, so depending on the definition, it could count in a way.
It is entirely built and all the animals have been imported in though, so depending on the definition, it could count in a way.
Is it open?
They are opening it in February 2020 in order to give the animals time to settle in and to land it on the date of their 40th Anniversary, but it could have opened a month ago in theory.
If it is fully-built and the animals are merely offshow I think it probably should count more than a nebulous future plan/intention, for what it's worth.... though obviously not to the level of anything open and onshow.
I do see the nuance, but the issue I had with counting future projects was that any attempt to evaluate them is, by definition, speculative. Beauval’s new exhibit might be amazing, but it might also be a botched job, and until it’s open we only have their PR materials to go on.
To be fair, @Emperor Penguin gave a very detailed overview of the exhibits which is why I was able to give this information. I agree with TLD - it should be taken into account but not recognised fully. I do recognise that it is hard to factor something in if you don't know just how good it is but I have found some concept art and from descriptions I got the impression that it really would be seismic:
Link to concept art:
https://www.cmf-groupe.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Zoo-beuval-projet-exception.jpg
The whole dome is 8000m2 in size.
My thinking is more that the species within would count with regards to considering the scope of the collection, but that the exhibit itself isn't valid for consideration.
That said, looking again AL listed some species which the zoo definitely haven't got yet
so perhaps not. The manatees count at least, as those have long been in the collection and onshow, and I believe still are.Sorry, but I do need to stay consistent with my earlier ruling re: Singapore and its under-construction Bird Park. Beauval is obviously somewhat further along but the decision at that time was that ‘future’ exhibits don’t count. Beauval’s rainforest dome has not opened to the public and as such is still a ‘future’ exhibit.
That said, looking again AL listed some species which the zoo definitely haven't got yet
The species you are referring to (I assume giant otters and maybe a few others) are all at the zoo, just off show. The otters arrived from Duisburg and Givskud a few weeks ago.
Not sure which others you would be referencing, so could you please specify?
The Harpy Eagles and the Douc Langurs.
To be fair to @amur leopard only the Harpy Eagles count towards this challenge. Saying that, it's a very important species that would influence some people's votes. That could be taken as misleading the voters...