Fingers crossed about the anoa, and great to hear about a rhino birth too.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter Rosie183
- Start date
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Was also up at Whipsnade today. Lovely day weather wise, quite a few visitors.
The Rhino house was closed off though all the rhinos were out in the far end of the paddock. I made a few visits but nothing was visible inside the house unless you went around the marked barriers which I didn't do. Good news a new baby rhino has arrived.
The young Japanese crane is signed off show in the enclosure at the top of the rhino paddock again.
A wattled crane / sign is in the temporary space opposite the farm area formerly occupied by the white stork (who are now back in the lake area)
The work in the tiger enclosure has completed and Czar the Amur tiger is back in residence. He was active over the course of the day, finding the meat left up on the new climbing area. The frames look good and there is also a hanging wire feeder in the same style as fitted previously in the bear enclosure. The pond has been expanded and the new edging looks good.
The wooden walkway at the lake end of the enclosure has all been replaced with a gravel standing which be less slippery in wet weather and last longer than the wooden one. The upper wooden viewing platform near the bridge is still blocked off. On the right of the picture below you can see some new metal stairs in place; they just lead to a new area with tanks for filling the updated pond. They are not all plumbed in yet which probably explains the lack of water in the pond.
New signs have been added to the Langur and Babirusa enclosure. A different style than the existing signage in other enclosures - perhaps reflects signage and styling for the new monkey forest
The baby langur was outside on mum for a while which was nice to see and the other youngster was bouncing about in the enclosure.
The path to the monkey forest has new signage and a coming soon notice at the start of the long entrance path and the same sign at the second entrance near the langur enclosure.
The chimp signs have also been updated, with more recent photos and bios, reflecting Bonnie's status as the new troop leader etc.
The bird show keepers were training a selection of birds in advance of the displays starting again, offering good views over a couple of training sessions including a Red Crested Turaco which was lovely to see.
The new picnic area in the old sealion space has had several covered areas installed and work was busy on a few others, so on schedule for Easter.
The Rhino house was closed off though all the rhinos were out in the far end of the paddock. I made a few visits but nothing was visible inside the house unless you went around the marked barriers which I didn't do. Good news a new baby rhino has arrived.
The young Japanese crane is signed off show in the enclosure at the top of the rhino paddock again.
A wattled crane / sign is in the temporary space opposite the farm area formerly occupied by the white stork (who are now back in the lake area)
The work in the tiger enclosure has completed and Czar the Amur tiger is back in residence. He was active over the course of the day, finding the meat left up on the new climbing area. The frames look good and there is also a hanging wire feeder in the same style as fitted previously in the bear enclosure. The pond has been expanded and the new edging looks good.
The wooden walkway at the lake end of the enclosure has all been replaced with a gravel standing which be less slippery in wet weather and last longer than the wooden one. The upper wooden viewing platform near the bridge is still blocked off. On the right of the picture below you can see some new metal stairs in place; they just lead to a new area with tanks for filling the updated pond. They are not all plumbed in yet which probably explains the lack of water in the pond.
New signs have been added to the Langur and Babirusa enclosure. A different style than the existing signage in other enclosures - perhaps reflects signage and styling for the new monkey forest
The baby langur was outside on mum for a while which was nice to see and the other youngster was bouncing about in the enclosure.
The path to the monkey forest has new signage and a coming soon notice at the start of the long entrance path and the same sign at the second entrance near the langur enclosure.
The chimp signs have also been updated, with more recent photos and bios, reflecting Bonnie's status as the new troop leader etc.
The bird show keepers were training a selection of birds in advance of the displays starting again, offering good views over a couple of training sessions including a Red Crested Turaco which was lovely to see.
The new picnic area in the old sealion space has had several covered areas installed and work was busy on a few others, so on schedule for Easter.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The tiger renovations look excellent - that enclosure has always been superb but the relatively modest climbing apparatus has been its sole weakness, and it is nice to see that accounted for. Excellent news regarding the rhino calf as well. Those new babirusa and langur signs look great - I love it when zoos do thematic signage, although ZSL have gone wrong with it before, seeing as the themed signage in Blackburn Pavilion at London uses a 'Victorian-style' font which is entirely illegible. These ones are much better, with bold and attractive colours but the font unchanged and as such perfectly legible!
Was also up at Whipsnade today. Lovely day weather wise, quite a few visitors.
The Rhino house was closed off though all the rhinos were out in the far end of the paddock. I made a few visits but nothing was visible inside the house unless you went around the marked barriers which I didn't do. Good news a new baby rhino has arrived.
The young Japanese crane is signed off show in the enclosure at the top of the rhino paddock again.
A wattled crane / sign is in the temporary space opposite the farm area formerly occupied by the white stork (who are now back in the lake area)
The work in the tiger enclosure has completed and Czar the Amur tiger is back in residence. He was active over the course of the day, finding the meat left up on the new climbing area. The frames look good and there is also a hanging wire feeder in the same style as fitted previously in the bear enclosure. The pond has been expanded and the new edging looks good.
The wooden walkway at the lake end of the enclosure has all been replaced with a gravel standing which be less slippery in wet weather and last longer than the wooden one. The upper wooden viewing platform near the bridge is still blocked off. On the right of the picture below you can see some new metal stairs in place; they just lead to a new area with tanks for filling the updated pond. They are not all plumbed in yet which probably explains the lack of water in the pond.
New signs have been added to the Langur and Babirusa enclosure. A different style than the existing signage in other enclosures - perhaps reflects signage and styling for the new monkey forest
The baby langur was outside on mum for a while which was nice to see and the other youngster was bouncing about in the enclosure.
The path to the monkey forest has new signage and a coming soon notice at the start of the long entrance path and the same sign at the second entrance near the langur enclosure.
The chimp signs have also been updated, with more recent photos and bios, reflecting Bonnie's status as the new troop leader etc.
The bird show keepers were training a selection of birds in advance of the displays starting again, offering good views over a couple of training sessions including a Red Crested Turaco which was lovely to see.
The new picnic area in the old sealion space has had several covered areas installed and work was busy on a few others, so on schedule for Easter.
It was my daughter and she most definitely didn't cross any barriers, she is a keeper herself so would never do something like that. She was at the far end looking through the door and got lucky as the little one came to the front of its enclosure.
The pool does seem enormous now though...
Lafone
Well-Known Member
It has gone further out towards the left hand side a bit but on the rest of it it's had edging added to it and the defunct waterfall area sealed off. This is the edge being done on the right hand side, which hasn't moved out.
I think it looks stark with all the grass on the left gone, which makes it look bigger overhead from the bridge than it really is proportionally. It used to slope into the concrete base straight from the grass. Now it might have some water in it more vs drying up and being a bit of a skatepark looking affair (though in fairness, Czar in particular liked rolling the big ball around in it and up and down the slopes when there is no water).
Attachments
That’s a shame if true. I always found the waterfall, along with the introductory audio commentary, brought a nice atmosphere to Tiger Falls (which, of course, you can’t call it that anymore if you don’t have a working waterfall!)
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The waterfall hasn't worked / been turned on for a good few years now. Not sure if anyone remembers when they last saw it working.
The pond, as a result, hasn't been at it's best though it still has the drain etc in it and it was being filled up by hose. I did notice the rocks and stuff around the base have been moved around (in the part the the tigers can't go in) so maybe they will do someting with that channel or maybe they were just tidying the view from above. But at least the pond will have water in it again more reliably.
I don't think they call the enclosure area Tiger Falls regularly any more. I've not heard it on tiger talks etc. I don't recall seeing the signage with the name etc either of late in the wooden entrance way thing, though again someone else might. It's a bit of a dim area, so you'd have to be looking.
I certainly haven’t heard it called tiger falls for many, many years now!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Yes I think it stopped being referred to around the time the cubs arrived if not before.
If you go onto the Bedfordshire planning website you can find the plans if you search for whipsnade.
Would a link be more helpful?
Pandaboi
Well-Known Member
I think I've found it now, thank you for your help. When is monkey forest supposed to be opening?
You’re welcome. I don’t think we have an exact date but all the information says opening for Easter
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Members email (and the Biaza website) mentions 29th March
We're thrilled to announce the opening of Whipsnade Zoo's brand new multi-species habitat, Monkey Forest, opening on 29 March. You're invited to come and explore the new home to some of East Asia's rarest animals and over 50 different species of tree, where you can walk around a forest filled with wildlife.
See macaques and anoa, and langurs and babirusa all living side-by-side in a real jungle environment. With unrivalled viewing areas, Monkey Forest offers a range of opportunities to explore these four species, as well as a nature play trail and interactive areas, all inspired by monkey behaviour, for your own little monkeys to explore too.
So, be sure to pop in this Easter and immerse yourself in the habitats of these fascinating creatures!
The signs around the zoo state Easter.
We're thrilled to announce the opening of Whipsnade Zoo's brand new multi-species habitat, Monkey Forest, opening on 29 March. You're invited to come and explore the new home to some of East Asia's rarest animals and over 50 different species of tree, where you can walk around a forest filled with wildlife.
See macaques and anoa, and langurs and babirusa all living side-by-side in a real jungle environment. With unrivalled viewing areas, Monkey Forest offers a range of opportunities to explore these four species, as well as a nature play trail and interactive areas, all inspired by monkey behaviour, for your own little monkeys to explore too.
So, be sure to pop in this Easter and immerse yourself in the habitats of these fascinating creatures!
The signs around the zoo state Easter.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Which is the same day (also Good Friday) that London opens its new Reptile House. Interesting that ZSL has timed them both like this, I suspect planning to use the bank holiday to their advantage.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
Because Easter is normally one of the busiest times of the year in a zoo calendar, I would be tempted to open the new exhibits,maybe a week before or a week after, it may have encouraged even more footfall
We are members and are booked in for March 18th to view monkey forest.