Future Residents of Asian Tropics

Many species that will be in the Asian Tropics exhibit are threatened by extinction.  Several species soon will join the endangered or critically endangered list.  These animals are disappearing faster than they can reproduce in the wild.  They need our help if they are to survive.

Asian Tropics will be home to several charismatic species including:

Muntjacs

Also known as the barking deer, muntjacs are the oldest known species of deer, appearing 15-35 million years ago!

Flying foxes

Not a fox, actually a bat, the flying fox is one of the largest of all bats and has a wingspan of more than four feet. It does not prey on animals, feeding instead almost exclusively on a fruit.

Malayan tapirs

Malayan tapirs are the largest members of the tapir family and can weigh between 550 - 1,190 pounds!

Click here to learn more about Malayan tapirs

Fishing cats

The fishing cat's total population world-wide is estimated to be below 10,000 mature breeding individuals. When swimming, the fishing cat uses its short, flattened tail like a rudder, helping control its direction in the water. Fishing cats currently are classified as vulnuerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Black leopards

Black leopards, once thought to be a separate species from other leopards, are individuals that, due to a genetic mutation know as melanism, have a large amount of dark melanin in their coat.

Click here to learn more about leopards.

Indian one-horned rhinoceros

Weighing up to 5,000 pounds, the Indian one-horned rhinoceros once roamed forests and marshlands in Pakistan, northern India, Nepal and southern China.  Since the early 20th century, Indian rhino populations have plummeted, reducing their numbers to fewer than 2,500 living exclusively in wildlife reserves in India and Nepal.

Sarus Cranes

These cranes are the tallest flying birds, standing six feet tall with a wingspan of eight feet. Sarus cranes currently are classified as vulnuerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Asian elephants

Asian elephants have smaller ears and tusks than thier African cousins but can still wiegh more than five tons!

Click here to learn more about Asian elephants

White-cheeked gibbons

White-cheeked gibbons are the most active of all gibbons; they move faster and farther each day than any other forest ape or monkey. Brachiation (swinging arm over arm) comprises 90% of their activity and enables them to leap up to 30 feet between trees.

Binturongs

Also known as the Asian bearcat, binturongs make their homes in the canopy and are nocturnal, hunting at night and sleeping during the day. Binturongs are highly endangered in parts of their range and threatened or vunerable in others due to habitat destruction and poaching.



Photo Credits: Muntjac - Akron Zoo // Flying fox and Fishing cat - Ryan Clausen, Minnesota Zoo // Black leopard - Topeka Zoo, Kevin Mollahan // Indian one-horned rhino - Dave Parsons (Nepal) // Sarus cranes - Dave Parsons (India) // Asian elephants and Malayan tapir - Denver Zoo, Dave Parsons // White-cheeked gibbon - Roger Williams Park Zoo // Binturongs - San Diego Zoo