ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Had a fun day out at Whipsnade today - rained from opening onwards, occasionally torrentially, but lots of animals were up and around including the baby elephant playing in the mud, lots of lynx, tiger and cheetah activity, plus good photo chances for rain on the bird lakes. The two youngest flamingoes are coming along so nicely - great to see that. There were lots of young Mara wandering around together today and it looks like it’s been a good year for births for the free roaming herd. It was quiet visitor wise, particularly once the rain set in properly, but sometimes those are the nicest whipsnade days!
A sign outside the chimp enclosure gave a welcome update on Elvis who has been unwell with an infected neck wound - he’s now back with the other chimps after a stay at the vet hospital which is good news. Snapshot of the sign below.
The signs announcing the death of Colombo the sloth bear have now been removed and there are two new large banners on his old enclosure announcing the new macaque space coming in 2023 - picture also below.
A sign outside the chimp enclosure gave a welcome update on Elvis who has been unwell with an infected neck wound - he’s now back with the other chimps after a stay at the vet hospital which is good news. Snapshot of the sign below.
The signs announcing the death of Colombo the sloth bear have now been removed and there are two new large banners on his old enclosure announcing the new macaque space coming in 2023 - picture also below.
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AlexanderTHG
Well-Known Member
The quiet and wet days at Whipsnade are always the best! It’s nice to see the Francois langur’s being shown on the sign. Hopefully that means they will finally be on-show to the public after a good few years off-show.
The langurs on the sign is really exciting! I’m annoyed I didn’t notice that to begin with
That’s putting it diplomatically! They’ve been off show for so long I thought the zoo were slowly letting the group die out!
If true, then it’s excellent news. This group were always good breeders when they were housed at London.
At the Whipsnade site. My exasperation was coming from the fact that, when you consider the size of the zoo, the fact that ZSL have done little of note with the remaining three quarters since they purchased the land beggars belief! The collection they could have accumulated if that amount of space had been utilised is limitless!
I don't know this as a fact, but I would imagine as most of the surrounding land is fields that any land beyond the zoo we know that is owned by ZSL is probably let out to local farmers. I know Chester does/has done the same with land they own beyond the boundary - so that land sitting unused by the zoo is maintained properly and brings in a little income.
Just wondering did you notice any work near the rhino house? Last time I was there, I saw some building work
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Yes also noticed last time I was there that there was work some red and white and metal fencing round it and a little digger. I thought maybe ground works. This time I didn’t see anything though as I went by and it wasn’t fenced off that side.
Stuart Sadler
Member
They dug a hole to bury some LPG tanks that I see fuel a new air heating system inside.
Re spare land, there's lots of off zoo land owned by ZSL in the village. Don't know if it's still there but before the drive to the tree cathedral was remade recently there were ZSL signs saying no parking on the grass so the 'village green' there is a case in point.
I drive through the village frequently and that explains why I saw the zoo signs a while back
Some significant building and groundwork going on in and around the (former?) reindeer paddock today.
Luna must be very fertile as she lost her daughter last December but was already pregnant with this calf by then! Seems like being very cautious this time with keeping Wilfred indoors so not to break his legs like Margaret did! With the weather being so wet and ground very soft could easily happen!
AlexanderTHG
Well-Known Member
From my visit last Sunday:
- I saw the new giraffe calf, Wilfred. He spent the whole day in the old part of the house, so am not sure whether he has access to the rest yet. I’ve put a couple of photos in the gallery.
- All of the birds from the base camp lake have been removed apart from the pelicans. This has happened in the last three weeks. The Stanley crane is now opposite the rhea in the bird gardens, but I don’t know where all of the waterfowl and storks have gone.
- The new brown bear house is developing nicely, and the metal framework and girders have been erected.
- Lots of tiny Turquoise Dwarf Geckos (Lygodactylus williamsi) in the aquarium.
- I believe Hoover the Hippo has left for Flamingo Land.
- As always in the cold weather, there was good action from the lions, tigers, lynx and wolverines.
- The reindeer paddock has been extended to include a bit more of the escarpment.
On my last two visits, the White Rhino House and Ground-Level Giraffe House, have been open for the first times since before Covid. The Bongo House remains closed.
- I saw the new giraffe calf, Wilfred. He spent the whole day in the old part of the house, so am not sure whether he has access to the rest yet. I’ve put a couple of photos in the gallery.
- All of the birds from the base camp lake have been removed apart from the pelicans. This has happened in the last three weeks. The Stanley crane is now opposite the rhea in the bird gardens, but I don’t know where all of the waterfowl and storks have gone.
- The new brown bear house is developing nicely, and the metal framework and girders have been erected.
- Lots of tiny Turquoise Dwarf Geckos (Lygodactylus williamsi) in the aquarium.
- I believe Hoover the Hippo has left for Flamingo Land.
- As always in the cold weather, there was good action from the lions, tigers, lynx and wolverines.
- The reindeer paddock has been extended to include a bit more of the escarpment.
On my last two visits, the White Rhino House and Ground-Level Giraffe House, have been open for the first times since before Covid. The Bongo House remains closed.
Is the brown bear house just updating the current buildings? I guess in preparation for the bears hopefully coming in the spring.
maybe getting more reindeer?
I went a couple of Fridays ago but I stupidly missed seeing a few things
maybe getting more reindeer?
I went a couple of Fridays ago but I stupidly missed seeing a few things