Bronx Zoo Reply
Well, it took a bit of badgering (We retired folks can be a bit of a pain), but here's the response from the PR folks at the Bronx Zoo.
I understand that several members of your club have contacted the Bronx Zoo with a similar concern. Please share with them the following reply from the collection manager of the Bronx Zoo's Department of Herpetology. Thank you. Alison Reiser, Bronx Zoo Communications
In answer to your query concerning our exhibition of multiple snake species, this is done for educational purposes to demonstrate the diversity of species found within a given environment. Although you specifically named our Okeetee exhibit in the Reptile House, where we display a corn snake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake, and southern copperhead together, we have several other exhibits with multiple species. For instance, in the same building we have a northeast forest exhibit housing black ratsnakes, timber rattlesnakes, and northern copperheads together, and a SE Asian exhibit with blood pythons and red-tailed ratsnakes. We also have mixed exhibits with reptiles and amphibians (for example gopher snake, Gila monster, and Colorado River toads; giant vine snake and smoky jungle frogs; anaconda and marine toads), and we have exhibited appropriate turtle species with snakes on occasion. In the past we kept eastern box turtles in the Okeetee and northeast forest exhibits.
Again, these are combinations that have an educational purpose, but we are concerned with the wellbeing of our charges and if we had any indication that we were inducing stress on any of these animals, we would correct the situation. Animals that do not feed normally or that spend excessive time in trying to escape are removed from the exhibit. I can tell you that this is very uncommon, but it is something that we pay attention to.
The Okeetee exhibit you are concerned about depicts the southeastern US coastal plain, specifically South Carolina, where these species are commonly found, often in great abundance. In fact, they are often found together, in physical contact with each other near the stump holes in which they communally hibernate. Thus, I do not think we can assume that these animals are under any undue stress because of their proximity to each other. But we will continue to keep a watchful eye on them and we do appreciate your concern.
Well, I guess the "experts" still have something to learn, but it does demonstrate one thing. You do have a voice. When you have questions, ask them. people who depend on the public for their livelihood have an obligation to answer to the public.
