ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2022

Rajang-GOAT said:
I wonder does anywhere else in the UK have both types of Hippo or is Whipsnade unique in providing the opportunity of being able to compare both species alongside each other?
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Nope, only Whipsnade has both species as of present and I'm sure it has been a very long time since another zoo here had both! I'm guessing it might have been Chester in the 70s but someone with more knowledge than me will have to double check!
 
Mayki said:
Nope, only Whipsnade has both species as of present and I'm sure it has been a very long time since another zoo here had both! I'm guessing it might have been Chester in the 70s but someone with more knowledge than me will have to double check!
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Chester had both up until 1979, they must have been the last other than Whipsnade
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
glad you had a good visit (despite the typical whipsnade winter weather!).

The old hippo house was a small building that had a perplex window that was often scuffed and dirty from memory. You went over a little bridge and the land area was much smaller. I only went into the old house a couple of times as a kid as I think the current hippo house was opened in 1996.
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Thanks for the info, the Hippo complex was probably one of my favourite exhibits from my visit yesterday overall, along with Cheetah Rock, the penguins, and the enclosures along Lady Yule's Walk. I would say the Hippo House is still pretty great despite it's age, though maybe it would do better focusing on Common Hippos and having Pygmy Hippos just at London, although as I said it is great being able to see both types alongside each other.
Mayki said:
Nope, only Whipsnade has both species as of present and I'm sure it has been a very long time since another zoo here had both! I'm guessing it might have been Chester in the 70s but someone with more knowledge than me will have to double check!
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pipaluk said:
Chester had both up until 1979, they must have been the last other than Whipsnade
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I think ZooParc de Beauval have both, though I wonder if anywhere houses them pretty much together like they are at Whipsnade?
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
I think ZooParc de Beauval have both, though I wonder if anywhere houses them pretty much together like they are at Whipsnade?
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Only other one that comes to mind is Berlin Zoo, which has possibly the best hippo house of any zoo. However, it's been a while since I went to Whipsnade so I can't really make a comparison and ZSL certainly gives a better external habitat.
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
Thanks for the info, the Hippo complex was probably one of my favourite exhibits from my visit yesterday overall, along with Cheetah Rock, the penguins, and the enclosures along Lady Yule's Walk. I would say the Hippo House is still pretty great despite it's age, though maybe it would do better focusing on Common Hippos and having Pygmy Hippos just at London, although as I said it is great being able to see both types alongside each other.



I think ZooParc de Beauval have both, though I wonder if anywhere houses them pretty much together like they are at Whipsnade?
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Sounds like a good day out.

I hope Whipsnade keeps both species as it’s good to have them near to each other for comparison as you say but also the Pygmy hippo is such a cool animal to be able to see - I’d certainly miss having both species but tbh I am biased as prefer the Pygmy hippo over the larger beasts!
 
Lafone said:
Sounds like a good day out.

I hope Whipsnade keeps both species as it’s good to have them near to each other for comparison as you say but also the Pygmy hippo is such a cool animal to be able to see - I’d certainly miss having both species but tbh I am biased as prefer the Pygmy hippo over the larger beasts!
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I am also a fan of Pygmy Hippos, but I think the thing for me is that I can see Pygmy Hippos regularly at Colchester, and as well as Whipsnade there is also opportunities to see them at Marwell and London (also potentially Edinburgh), both of which I am considering visiting in the next few months. However, Common Hippos are not as easy to access for me (not thinking about visiting Flamingo Land, and a visit to WMSP might be a little far off at the moment for me) (this doesn't apply to Whipsnade) and at Longleat they are not particularly prominent. I will admit if you can't tell it was mainly my visit yesterday and watching the Common Hippos rolling around in their indoor pool and spraying water that spurred this favourable opinion of them for me.
 
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Mayki said:
If only more places here kept common hippo! I've said this numerous times but I would love to see one of the bigger players go into them in the future with a world class exhibit like on the continent!
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If you're thinking where Common Hippos are in the UK. There are some at Longleat, West Midland Safari Park and Flamingo Land aswell as Whipsnade
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
I am also a fan of Pygmy Hippos, but I think the thing for me is that I can see Pygmy Hippos regularly at Colchester, and as well as Whipsnade there is also opportunities to see them at Marwell and London (also potentially Edinburgh), both of which I am considering visiting in the next few months. However, Common Hippos are not as easy to access for me (not thinking about visiting Flamingo Land, and a visit to WMSP might be a little far off at the moment for me) (this doesn't apply to Whipsnade) and at Longleat they are not particularly prominent. I will admit if you can't tell it was mainly my visit yesterday and watching the Common Hippos rolling around in their indoor pool and spraying water that spurred this favourable opinion of them for me.
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The common hippos are cool too indeed - they are also a real treat when they are outside in the pond.
 
Mayki said:
If only more places here kept common hippo! I've said this numerous times but I would love to see one of the bigger players go into them in the future with a world class exhibit like on the continent!
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There does seem to be some opportunity in upcoming developments (hopefully), Chester are soon to start construction on Heart of Africa and I think I have heard that at Wild Place, Benoue National Park might be developed and altered (animals added) to some extent with the rebranding to Bristol Zoo.
 
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