Chessington's last hippo "Ben" was sent to Whipsnade in 1992.
London's last hippos, "Neville" and "Fifi" were sent to Whipsnade in 1960.
Common Hippos in the UK (and Dublin)
- Thread starter CZJimmy
- Start date
According to ZTL, Chester and Dudley had Hippos up until 1991.
Windsor Safari Park closed in 1992, not sure if they still had them by then?
Windsor's hippos were sent to West Midlands Safari Park in 1993
Thanks Tim. So I probably did see a Hippo on my first visit.
Correct me if I’m wrong Tim, but I have very vague recollections of seeing a Common hippo in the interior Casson house in the mid-1980s. Admittedly I was very young but, if true, no doubt it would have been a temporary holding area for it before it was moved on.
Dudley had two hippos called Hercules in the 1970s. From a post on another thread, I believe Hercules I was originally at Belle Vue and sent to Cleethorpes Zoo when Belle Vue closed in 1977. Cleethorpes closed soon after and he arrived at Dudley around 1979. Unfortunately, he didn't last long at Dudley and died 16.11.1979.
Hercules II was born 24.03.1978 at Chester (Gererino x Myra) and arrived at Dudley 22.12.1979 to replace Hercules I.
Here's the link to the earlier thread. Dudley Zoo Hippo [Dudley Zoological Gardens]
To the best of my knowledge, there have been no common hippos at London Zoo since 1960.
I was a very regular visitor to Regent's Park during the 1980s and certainly neither saw nor heard of one being kept inside the Casson building during that decade. (Pygmy hippos definitely were housed inside the Casson in the mid 1980s, in the old elephant bathing pool.)
Moreover I can find no reference to a common hippo at London Zoo post 1960 in either the studbook or John Frost's excellent book on hippos in the UK.
I would be extremely surprised if a common hippo were ever temporarily housed there but I'm always willing to be corrected.
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Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Can confirm the female that most likely died at West Midlands Safari Park was Barbel.
In this video, skip to the 2:50 mark and the keeper mentions that they have five females, and Barbel's name wasn't mentioned. She did live a really long life, considering that Bewdley has had a history of premature hippo deaths.
Considering the filthy conditions they live in I'm not surprised to hear that...
Looking at this 1970’s map of Woburn, if I’ve got my bearings right, it looks like hippo were kept in that pedalo lake at one point?
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They were initially in that lake; grouped in with the Sea lions, with an island for chimps in the middle. Apparently you could ride a boat on this very lake!
The hippos were then moved into a paddock in the drive through later that decade.
Yeah after posting this I found out they were in a lake called Drakeloe Pond, which is south of the pedalo pond and an area not used for exhibitory today, although they do take the elephants in there sometimes for a swim!
BBC News - Pablo Escobar's feral hippos face cull in Colombia
Pablo Escobar's feral hippos face cull in Colombia
An update on Colombia's hippos,
Just for fun anywhere in the UK you would like to see Common hippos(that currently don't have)
Pablo Escobar's feral hippos face cull in Colombia
An update on Colombia's hippos,
Just for fun anywhere in the UK you would like to see Common hippos(that currently don't have)
Chester’s probably the obvious candidate.
Paignton? Have they ever held Common hippo? Would certainly increase visitor footfall.
Certainly agree with both Chester and Paignton. Hippos would certainly be a nice addition to Chester's new African themed precinct!
Re. Paignton, I don't believe they've ever held Common Hippos but did have pygmy hippos.
I'm intrigued you'd say Chester was the "obvious candidate" would that be becasue of "Heart of Africa" or just because they're one of the best collections in the UK? I'm genuinely curious.
My option would be Knowsley but that's because they have an enclosure already there, that with some TLC & modifications, could be a a brilliant home to keep such a dangerous animal.
Paignton never had common hippo but acquired the pygmy hippo "Percy III" from Ilfracombe Zoo in 1954 and the pygmy hippo "Peggy" from London Zoo in 1960.
I agree; I'd certainly like to see common hippo back at Chester again. I'd also love to see common hippo return to London Zoo but I don't believe it will ever happen.
Because they’re probably the only collection in the UK that could pull off a genuinely top class exhibit, more like those which you’d see abroad (with proper underwater viewing) rather than the classic “zoo hippo” exhibit.