Hey guys I have a massive savannah habitat in my flagship Solaire Zoo and I have elephants mixed in with all my other savannah animals. I wanted to ask if this is realistic in real zoos. I know most have them separate but I’ve seen cases online of elephants in mixed species exhibits. What should I do with my elephants? Keep them in or make an exhibit just for them? I’m going for semi realism with a high budget park like animal kingdom or something.
Elephants in multi species habitats
- Thread starter SanRazo618
- Start date
Hello SanRazo618. Well, it all depends on space. The bigger the enclosure, the less problems you will face in interspecific conflicts, although realistically, those type of habitat require incredibles amounts of money to maintain that might result in non-profitable for the zoo management, although you said is high budget so that shouldn't be a problem at first, but maybe in the future, in terms of realism.
As well, It also depends on the population size of elephants and other species inside the enclosure, and the characteristics of the later, and also the sex of those animals. Male elephants can be extremely aggressive during mating season, specially young ones, so building an area where they can be separated from the other animals and the herd if required is highly recommended. Moreover, in what respects to which species are more suitable to share habitat with, I would suggest those that are small and fast enough to avoid the possible wrath of the elephants, but not too small because thay can also be stomped by them.
Also, consider adding certain areas on the habitat where elephants can't reach but the other species do. This will aid them to avoid the elephants if needed. Some examples of species I would consider are: zebras, medium size antelopes (from a Thompson's gazelle size to maybe an impala or nyala), birds like Guinea fowls or crowned cranes (but leaving them the ability to fly), wildebeest, etc., but never place animals that are usually aggresive, such as buffalo, rhinoceros, hippopotamos or larger antelope species. In the same way, avoid placing giraffes, because they can get in serious danger of falling and hurting themselves (or even worse) if an elephant decides to charge at them. Nevertheless, I suggest you to have a look at the AZA husbandry manual, they usually explain quite well the best animal combinations possible.
To sum up, as I said, it all depends on the enclosure size and its design, and aggressive species must always be avoided. If done, no problems should be encountered.
I hope my answer helps you.
As well, It also depends on the population size of elephants and other species inside the enclosure, and the characteristics of the later, and also the sex of those animals. Male elephants can be extremely aggressive during mating season, specially young ones, so building an area where they can be separated from the other animals and the herd if required is highly recommended. Moreover, in what respects to which species are more suitable to share habitat with, I would suggest those that are small and fast enough to avoid the possible wrath of the elephants, but not too small because thay can also be stomped by them.
Also, consider adding certain areas on the habitat where elephants can't reach but the other species do. This will aid them to avoid the elephants if needed. Some examples of species I would consider are: zebras, medium size antelopes (from a Thompson's gazelle size to maybe an impala or nyala), birds like Guinea fowls or crowned cranes (but leaving them the ability to fly), wildebeest, etc., but never place animals that are usually aggresive, such as buffalo, rhinoceros, hippopotamos or larger antelope species. In the same way, avoid placing giraffes, because they can get in serious danger of falling and hurting themselves (or even worse) if an elephant decides to charge at them. Nevertheless, I suggest you to have a look at the AZA husbandry manual, they usually explain quite well the best animal combinations possible.
To sum up, as I said, it all depends on the enclosure size and its design, and aggressive species must always be avoided. If done, no problems should be encountered.
I hope my answer helps you.
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Thank you I really appreciate it. Based on what you stated I’m considering moving them to their own habitat. However I would like to ask how much would the advice you gave me change if I told you the habitat is roughly 1/6 to 1/5th of the total size of the temperate map in PZ
No problem !! and well ... that's actually a really huge enclosure hahaha.
Considering that size I would say you can put just about anything you want as the animals will be kept quite far apart from each other. However, make sure there are enough well-distributed watering holes as they will become areas of the enclosure where they will inevitably congregate, which in turn increases the chances of conflict, but that shouldn't be a problem if they have multiple places to drink.
However, be careful not to transform the habitat into a swamp, as this will seem unrealistic as most African herbivore species (especially ungulates, except those that are adapted to that type of environment, such as hippos, lechwe or waterbucks) have a hard time moving on the ground that's too muddy. Even elephants would be uncomfortable due to their weight, although all this said with realism in mind, not with the characteristics of the terrain within the game.
Finally, also consider adding some areas with tree and shrub cover so that the more timid species feel more protected from the more emboldened / aggressive ones interspersed with open areas so they can roam freely as well.
Gotcha thanks for the advice. They already have two major watering holes but I’ll add a smaller one on another section of the habitat I notice all my animals more or less congregate in the center between the two watering holes. I want to remove a huge shelter I have in the center because it doesn’t go with the more naturalistic feel I’m going for. The smaller animals have a small cave system in the middle they can hide from the bigger animals in. The Enrichment items for the giraffes and elephants are on separate sides of the enclosure the extreme opposites. the Buffalo seem to always be around watering holes and I have smaller predator habitats Around the massive savanna habitat that are made to look like the animals share an area but the predators can’t get into the central habitat. it’s a predator prey set up. I don’t know if this would agitate or stress the animals anymore than necessary but I did make sure to put the cave system and other small places to hide for that reason. There is also a jeep tour going through the habitat I plan on blocking the elephants from interacting with the cars. I apologize I can’t provide screenshots as I’m currently in the process of getting a new computer. But what advice would you give now that I’ve given a more detailed Explanation of the habitat
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I sometimes put elephants with zebras or gazelles. Animals in real life that could easily outrun a grumpy elephant. Most of the time I keep elephants by their selves tho. Dallas zoo has a awesome exhibit called giants of the Savannah featuring elephants,giraffe,and zebra. In real life tho elephants bully and are on record for attacking buffalo,rhino, and hippos so most zoos house them alone.
It’s not common but does happen sometimes. Borås Zoo in Sweden is the one that springs to mind for me.
They have African elephants with giraffe, zebra, eland, bontebok buffalo, ostrich and guinea fowl if I remember correctly. They mixed elephants with white rhino many years ago but it didn’t work out very well.
White rhino are now mixed with cheetah which is becoming increasingly common.
Don't worry about the screenshots, it's easy to imagine thanks to your description. I honestly think it's very well done at the moment so I wouldn't change anything at all. The idea of preventing elephants from interacting with cars is very good, as is moving the shelter. In fact, I would position the car's path in a way that it doesn't get too close to the water or trees. That way, not only the animals will be able to see the car approaching and consequently run away from it with enough time so that it does not pose a threat to them, but also any unwanted surprises in the form of an angry elephant would be avoided.
As for shelters, if you provide the enclosure with a more than reasonable amount of tree cover, I would even consider not putting up shelters for the large animals, although I would try to place those tree areas sparingly as I said in the other comment.
And with predators, if you are concerned that they will stress herbivores, you could consider two options: try to make the carnivores not visible from the herbivores' point of view, so they won't panic, although this would break the immersion a bit, or quite the opposite, make the herbivores able to see the predator at any time, what's probably the best option. This applies the same idea as with the car, as the predator needs cover to ambush the prey, so if the herbivores can see them, they will not get startled and therefore nor afraid and the predators won't be interested in hunting them.
I'm not sure if this solves your doubts or helps you, but I hope it did, although I'm sure your enclosures will look fantastic either way.
Thank you so much I appreciate the advice! I’ll try to remember to send screenshots of the enclosure when I have my computer to show the result.
My pleasure !! I'm glad I was able to help you. I'll stay tuned for any news from you.
That’s a beautiful exhibit by the way! Sorry I didn’t mention it earlier. I hope rhinos and cheetahs can mix in game when we get the rhinos that’s very interesting
No problem. I haven't been there but I am hoping to get down to visit next month if all goes to plan.
I think zoos have become a lot more bold with mixing animals with elephants in more recent times - as well as the mixes at Dallas and Boras Zoos mentioned earlier in the thread, another new one that I think is very impressive is at Magdeburg Zoo in Germany. Their herd of African elephants are mixed with lechwe and impala antelope, bat-eared foxes, grivet monkeys and warthogs in the outdoor enclosure, while the indoor house has several larger birds (storks, ibises and hamerkops), mongooses and bush squirrels mixed with the elephants, with future plans for klipspringers and bush hyraxes to join them.
There is some more information and pictures in these links:
There is some more information and pictures in these links:
That’s really cool thanks for sharing that! Gives some ideasI think zoos have become a lot more bold with mixing animals with elephants in more recent times - as well as the mixes at Dallas and Boras Zoos mentioned earlier in the thread, another new one that I think is very impressive is at Magdeburg Zoo in Germany. Their herd of African elephants are mixed with lechwe and impala antelope, bat-eared foxes, grivet monkeys and warthogs in the outdoor enclosure, while the indoor house has several larger birds (storks, ibises and hamerkops), mongooses and bush squirrels mixed with the elephants, with future plans for klipspringers and bush hyraxes to join them.
There is some more information and pictures in these links:
Zoos seem to be getting more bold with mixing animals in general.
I can't help but wonder whether there's a little too much experimentation going on, such as with the many wolf/bear mix failures, but a lot of these European zoos are state of the art these days.In any case it's fascinating to see how things are progressing.
I unfortunately saw that bear wolf video and it’s honestly heartbreakingZoos seem to be getting more bold with mixing animals in general.
In any case it's fascinating to see how things are progressing.