| 1. |
Do I have to pay for this service when I want an account?
No, it's free and anyone can join. Everybody is allowed to register to help update this database of species living in zoos. We have only one urgent request: please verify your personal information and data entries carefully. |
| 2. |
When I have problems or questions, who can I ask?
You can contact us at zootierliste[at]web.de. |
| 3. |
If I find a mistake or a new species or zoo that is not registered, what should I do?
Please write a message on the notice board. |
| 4. |
Where do I find former holdings?
In the upper menu bar, there is a drop-down menu. There you can choose whether you want to see "All" holdings and species or only "Current" or "Former" ones. |
| 5. |
Can I read the species names only in English?
No, you can switch between English and scientific names. To do this, click on the button next to "Name" in the menu bar. |
| 6. |
What does "Level" mean?
There are three user levels: Beobachter (Watcher), Zoofreund (Zoo Friend), and Tierpfleger (Zookeeper). |
| 7. |
How do I sign up?
You must enter your nickname, password, and email. By clicking "Sign up," you confirm that you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and become a "Watcher." Only administrators can grant you the "Zoofreund" status. |
| 8. |
How can I add a new zoo holding to a species?
First, you must be a "Zoo Friend." Then, go to the species where you want to add the new holding. Under the holding list, there is an input box. When you start typing, suggestions will appear. Click on the correct one.
If you cannot find the holding in the suggested list, please send a message to the team. |
| 9. |
I want to add a zoo, but I can't find the species?
Please check if you are viewing "ALL" holdings and not just "Current" ones. If you still can't find it, the species is not registered. Please contact us. |
| 10. |
How can I add information about a specific husbandry?
At the top of the husbandry list, you will see a tool icon (a chart with a pen). Click on it and then on the pen next to the zoo name. |
| 11. |
What does the zoo information include?
For current holdings:
- When the husbandry started
- Former husbandry details
- Breeding status (regular, periodical, not in recent years, no breeding, one-time, occasional). If breeding stopped, the reason should be provided.
- Other relevant information
For former holdings:
- Start and end date of husbandry
- Breeding information
- Other relevant details
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| 12. |
How can I add a species?
First, you must be a "Tierpfleger" (Keeper). Then you can add species yourself. At the end of the species list, you will find a field labeled "Add new species." |
| 13. |
I'm not a "Tierpfleger" yet, but I want to add a new species. What can I do?
Write a message on the notice board. You can find it under the "Home" section in the upper menu bar. |
| 14. |
What is the maximum size for pictures?
Pictures should not exceed 320x240 pixels. |
| 15. |
What do I need to consider when deleting a species?
Before deleting a species, you must first remove all zoos from the current and former holdings lists. |
| 16. |
What are the requirements for an institution to be included in Zootierliste?
1. Animals Must Be Kept for Public Display (Including Behind-the-Scenes)
Institutions must publicly display animals. This includes animals kept behind the scenes, provided the institution meets all other criteria for inclusion in the ZTL. Generic aquariums in restaurants are excluded.
2. Must Be Accessible to Visitors
The institution must be open to the public and cannot be a private collection restricted to selected individuals. Ideally, it should allow public visits more than once a year, although at least one annual opening is the minimum requirement.
3. A Fixed Location is Required
Only institutions with a permanent site are eligible. Mobile setups, such as traveling zoos, circuses, or moving animal collections, are not included.
4. Animals Must Be Kept, Not Wild or Free-Ranging
The animals must live under human care within the institution and must not be self-sustaining in the wild. Semi-wild places, where animals largely fend for themselves and are only occasionally supplemented with food or support, are not eligible for listing. Likewise, animals that live wild on zoo grounds but are not actively kept by the institution will not be listed. Wild animals that unintentionally end up in large aviaries or tropical halls and live there long-term are also excluded unless they are officially incorporated into the institution’s animal collection.
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| 17. |
Which taxonomic classification does Zootierliste follow?
Zootierliste generally follows recognized taxonomic reference works when classifying species and subspecies. However, in certain cases, we maintain our own slightly modified taxonomy.
The reason for this is that zoological taxonomy is constantly evolving. New scientific findings regularly lead to previously recognized species or subspecies being lumped together, split into separate taxa, or reclassified. It is not uncommon for such decisions to be revised again at a later date.
Since Zootierliste documents both current and historical animal holdings, consistently adopting every taxonomic change is not always practical. Particularly in the case of subspecies that are no longer recognized today, merging records can result in the loss of valuable information. Historical records often explicitly distinguish between different subspecies, and we aim to preserve these distinctions for future reference.
For this reason, we deliberately continue to list certain species and subspecies separately, even if they have since been merged according to current taxonomic references or if a species is now considered monotypic. This allows historical holding records to retain their level of detail without requiring restructuring whenever taxonomic classifications are reassessed.
However, this does not mean that we disregard current scientific knowledge. In the respective species profiles, we highlight differing taxonomic interpretations. For example, we explain when a subspecies is no longer recognized by certain taxonomic authorities and indicate which species or subspecies it is currently assigned to.
Our goal is to combine scientific accuracy with the most comprehensive and consistently traceable documentation of animal holdings in zoological institutions. The taxonomy used by Zootierliste should therefore not be understood solely as a reflection of a particular scientific classification system, but also as a tool for preserving historical records and ensuring the comparability of past and present animal holdings.
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