ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2022

Its definitely something aimed more towards families and children then us zoo 'enthusiasts'. Ill admit its not something that excites me, but I think its something that is not that much of a big deal in the grand scheme. Would I prefer the carousel not coming to Whipsnade? Tbh yes but from having gone to Whipsnade with friends with kids they do enjoy the play areas etc and I guess thats what its aimed at.
 
Beautiful afternoon up at Whipsnade, and plenty of the animals were easy to view. Saw a lion briefly (back of the head) before it went down behind the bank but you could see them from the other side of the Ostriches. Was good to see Blue with some company.

The Sea Lion area was having fencing put around it so the end is nigh. This is really stupid but i did get a bit emotional, used to love the Sea Lion shows as a kid.

The meerkat area has a new building behind it with a large glass viewing window so maybe indoor area for the other species?
 
Beautiful afternoon up at Whipsnade, and plenty of the animals were easy to view. Saw a lion briefly (back of the head) before it went down behind the bank but you could see them from the other side of the Ostriches. Was good to see Blue with some company.

The Sea Lion area was having fencing put around it so the end is nigh. This is really stupid but i did get a bit emotional, used to love the Sea Lion shows as a kid.

The meerkat area has a new building behind it with a large glass viewing window so maybe indoor area for the other species?
they did say a new species is going to be put there
 
I see that Whipsnade are altering their opening times
"From 27 March - 4 September 2022, the Zoo closes at 6pm with last entry at 5pm. "

But of course as the clocks go forward 1 hour tonight, they are not staying open an hour longer, but opening an hour earlier ;)

( 10am will be the old 9am & 5pm will be the new 6pm)
 
I see that Whipsnade are altering their opening times
"From 27 March - 4 September 2022, the Zoo closes at 6pm with last entry at 5pm. "

But of course as the clocks go forward 1 hour tonight, they are not staying open an hour longer, but opening an hour earlier ;)

( 10am will be the old 9am & 5pm will be the new 6pm)
Hopefully I'll be returning to Whipsnade for the first time since Coronavirus Pandemic
 
I've been up there quite a bit, when it re-opened.
And I was hoping for the predicted snow this week, to get pictures of Lynx, Wolverines etc in the snow.
But it looks like its not happening now,

It’ll be driving rain by the looks of it!
 
Very bright day at Whipsnade today though very cold! Animals were very active.

It appears London’s ex carousel has arrived and is parked in a slightly random way in the elephant car park (potato photo below) or at least some sort of ride anyway.

The path through the wood upload_2022-4-1_15-51-19.jpeg from the rhino enclosure / yak road to the elephants is open again.
 

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There was also a volunteer briefing today (I’m not one but a group were talking about it) to confirm details for the walkthrough lemur enclosure to be reopened.

No timing but I’d hazard a guess that will coincide with the Easter holidays.
 
There was also a volunteer briefing today (I’m not one but a group were talking about it) to confirm details for the walkthrough lemur enclosure to be reopened.

No timing but I’d hazard a guess that will coincide with the Easter holidays.
About time too (y)
Easter would have been my guess also, but it now seems ( as above) it'll be earlier.
 
There was also a volunteer briefing today (I’m not one but a group were talking about it) to confirm details for the walkthrough lemur enclosure to be reopened.

No timing but I’d hazard a guess that will coincide with the Easter holidays.

I have mixed feelings about this…

In its prime, this exhibit was simple yet effective but, even before the pandemic, parts of it were becoming structurally unsafe, shabby and overgrown. The lemurs also had to be repeatedly separated due to ongoing hierarchical infighting.

Personally, with some re-landscaping, I’d have thought this would’ve made an excellent area for the Sulawesi macaques ( obviously retire it as a walkthrough! ) and move the lemurs to the old Squirrel monkey island ( which clearly isn’t going to happen now! ). And, of course, it would go against the zoo’s geographical theming.

Im sure the zoo have researched this, but let’s also not forget the risk of human/lemur covid transmission, particularly in a walkthrough exhibit where the risk is even greater! The last thing ZSL needs is more negative headlines.
 
I have mixed feelings about this…

In its prime, this exhibit was simple yet effective but, even before the pandemic, parts of it were becoming structurally unsafe, shabby and overgrown. The lemurs also had to be repeatedly separated due to ongoing hierarchical infighting.

Personally, with some re-landscaping, I’d have thought this would’ve made an excellent area for the Sulawesi macaques ( obviously retire it as a walkthrough! ) and move the lemurs to the old Squirrel monkey island ( which clearly isn’t going to happen now! ). And, of course, it would go against the zoo’s geographical theming.

Im sure the zoo have researched this, but let’s also not forget the risk of human/lemur covid transmission, particularly in a walkthrough exhibit where the risk is even greater! The last thing ZSL needs is more negative headlines.
I’m sure like most things pandemic concerned, the advice they’ll have received on the issue would be to proceed with caution and ask members of the public to use common sense and not go to the park let alone the lemur walk through with covid.
 
I have mixed feelings about this…

In its prime, this exhibit was simple yet effective but, even before the pandemic, parts of it were becoming structurally unsafe, shabby and overgrown. The lemurs also had to be repeatedly separated due to ongoing hierarchical infighting.

Personally, with some re-landscaping, I’d have thought this would’ve made an excellent area for the Sulawesi macaques ( obviously retire it as a walkthrough! ) and move the lemurs to the old Squirrel monkey island ( which clearly isn’t going to happen now! ). And, of course, it would go against the zoo’s geographical theming.

Im sure the zoo have researched this, but let’s also not forget the risk of human/lemur covid transmission, particularly in a walkthrough exhibit where the risk is even greater! The last thing ZSL needs is more negative headlines.

True though other lemur walkthroughs have reopened ok - Banham’s very well accessorised one is a good example, also your point there as that one has had some TLC and is full of new enjoyable features! And CWP which is a lovely area too.

It’ll be interesting where the macaques go as there’s nowhere very obvious.
 
It’ll be interesting where the macaques go as there’s nowhere very obvious.

Agree. My initial thoughts were they could go into the Sloth bear enclosure, with Colombo ‘retired’ off-show to the adjacent woodland area (which is what happened to his mother Lanka).

If the macaques are still to arrive in the summer (assuming they still are!) I’ve yet to see any ground broken on a new exhibit.
 
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