On any visit it’s always worth having a look at that enclosure as you often find something surprising there.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024
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On any visit it’s always worth having a look at that enclosure as you often find something surprising there.
G. K. Whitehead's book The Deer of Great Britain in Ireland gives the following very short reference concerning Sambar;
'In 1954 there were two Sambar stags at Whipsnade, but no hinds...'
So if a young was born in 1951, perhaps the hinds had died by 1954.
Great visit today with many animals out and about but also some interesting news:
female hunting dogs kept inside for a while and keeper just said she inside for a procedure / possible pregnancy? So fingers crossed
Male hunting dog kept calling for her and searching the enclosure for her
Similar with male lion all alone females kept inside for rest according to keeper!
Could only see male red panda in old enclosure and one red panda in usual red panda enclosure so unsure how many red pandas in total whipsnade currently hold? cheetah again barely visible and signage make people think their is still 8 cheetah present and so that needs updating to reflect current animals!
female hunting dogs kept inside for a while and keeper just said she inside for a procedure / possible pregnancy? So fingers crossed
Male hunting dog kept calling for her and searching the enclosure for her
Similar with male lion all alone females kept inside for rest according to keeper!
Could only see male red panda in old enclosure and one red panda in usual red panda enclosure so unsure how many red pandas in total whipsnade currently hold? cheetah again barely visible and signage make people think their is still 8 cheetah present and so that needs updating to reflect current animals!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The website states there are three cheetahs and when they arrived etc. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say there were eight, though of course I haven't heard everyone.
Cheetah | Whipsnade Zoo
They also confirm the current four pandas (they do update the website regularly if anything has left or died)
Red pandas | Whipsnade Zoo
Cheetah | Whipsnade Zoo
They also confirm the current four pandas (they do update the website regularly if anything has left or died)
Red pandas | Whipsnade Zoo
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Weird, as it's a well documented fact Whipsnade doesn't hold cheetahs. This is of course true because in my 10+ visits I've never bloody seen them.
The red panda situation is likely to change relatively soon as they intend to breed the same pair again, hence Nilo's return from Bristol. I'm not actually sure how old the cubs are but I can't imagine they'd be hanging around that much longer.
The hunting dog news is very exciting if it is pregnancy as Whipsnade has had dreadful luck with them in recent years. Same with the lions, and if I'm remembering correctly from previous messages both species have been exhibiting breeding behaviour recently.
Did you see the new banteng? I'm guessing they're still in quarantine up by the Passage Through Asia entrance.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The cubs were born on 25th June 2023.
Typical zoo thing isn't it I rarely don't see the cheetahs!
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Oh wow, how did I forget they were so young?! I guess they'll be hanging around a little longer then!
It really is sod's law with some animals isn't it. I've never seen the cheetahs or the gaur, but I've never had any issues with the other animals of Whipsnade - I've even seen all 3 aardvark (when they had 3) out in the day on 2 occasions. Cheetahs in particular I think I've either seen every time I've visited a zoo or never, no in-between.
https://www.itv.com/news/2012-08-29/biggest-litter-of-cheetahs-born-in-the-uk-make-their-debut Many years ago whiosnade had a proper cheetah group.. I do happen to agree now it’s a pretty sad story when the 3 boys they now have never want to remain on show constantly walking out of view from the public!
Well stick some females in nearby runs...., instant interaction no doubt!
I would have to agree it is about bloody time Whipsnade re-start a credible cheetah exhibit and breeding situation for either southern or north-eastern cheetah.
Which is why, of course, all that time and effort was put into establishing Cheetah Rock in the first place!
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
The Hamerton litter seem to have proved very popular this summer, and have looked great every time I have visited.
Their 'off-show' animals are usually visible too (if you get my drift) - from the road-train. This area is being extended and three more paddocks are under construction at the moment.
Their 'off-show' animals are usually visible too (if you get my drift) - from the road-train. This area is being extended and three more paddocks are under construction at the moment.
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Red pandas in the wild leave the nest at about age 1 and I know Tashi moved to Marwell (from Hertfordshire zoo) just before he turned 1, so it is entirely possible that the two red panda cubs will be moved somewhere else soon.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Fun visit to Whipsnade today, spent the afternoon there prior to going off for some evening deer watching after closing. It was very warm and pretty busy though it thinned out as usual after about 3pm. Lots of active animals despite the heat and there was a welcome breeze.
There's a new electric bus ferrying visitors around the site. Some echoes of the old bus though this one is smaller and focused on making the site more accessible. It's got a route plan etc and I saw it trundling around a few times. It runs in the afternoon hours at set times. First time I had seen it and there's a page on it on the site.
Bus around Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo
On the animal front it was good to see the Banteng in their temporary enclosure near the Passage through Asia, with a new sign
I saw three of them out having some food around 5pm and they looked really good. Should be a great new addition.
Signs have been refreshed at the bear enclosure
and at the wolverines, with the latter also getting new fencing along the length of the enclosure on the walkway
The old name sign for Fitti / Fi has been removed. I did enjoy seeing the nice photo of Puff (with Fi above) illustrating the wolverine sign, a nice way to remember him.
The fencing work is still in progress in the large paddock near the lions with the waterbuck signs one side and zebra the other in the new space.
Was great to see five flamingo chicks (also some to join from the Chester group so it's thriving along in that enclosure).
Highlight of the day was seeing two new chicks for the Blue cranes, they are about a week old. Got great views as they were escorted around the enclosure with both parents busy feeding them and then they lay down for a well earned sleep in the shade. Beautiful to look at, interesting to see the slight stripe which contrasts with the all yellow look of the red crowned crane youngster. It's quite the Crane fest at Whipsnade now with the Red crowned crane chick looking super as it grows and these new arrivals.
There's a new electric bus ferrying visitors around the site. Some echoes of the old bus though this one is smaller and focused on making the site more accessible. It's got a route plan etc and I saw it trundling around a few times. It runs in the afternoon hours at set times. First time I had seen it and there's a page on it on the site.
Bus around Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo
On the animal front it was good to see the Banteng in their temporary enclosure near the Passage through Asia, with a new sign
I saw three of them out having some food around 5pm and they looked really good. Should be a great new addition.
Signs have been refreshed at the bear enclosure
and at the wolverines, with the latter also getting new fencing along the length of the enclosure on the walkway
The old name sign for Fitti / Fi has been removed. I did enjoy seeing the nice photo of Puff (with Fi above) illustrating the wolverine sign, a nice way to remember him.
The fencing work is still in progress in the large paddock near the lions with the waterbuck signs one side and zebra the other in the new space.
Was great to see five flamingo chicks (also some to join from the Chester group so it's thriving along in that enclosure).
Highlight of the day was seeing two new chicks for the Blue cranes, they are about a week old. Got great views as they were escorted around the enclosure with both parents busy feeding them and then they lay down for a well earned sleep in the shade. Beautiful to look at, interesting to see the slight stripe which contrasts with the all yellow look of the red crowned crane youngster. It's quite the Crane fest at Whipsnade now with the Red crowned crane chick looking super as it grows and these new arrivals.
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Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
I do like that signage (especially the Wolverine Enclosures), good to see Whipsnade replacing and revamping the signs. I wonder if London has any plans to do similar?Fun visit to Whipsnade today, spent the afternoon there prior to going off for some evening deer watching after closing. It was very warm and pretty busy though it thinned out as usual after about 3pm. Lots of active animals despite the heat and there was a welcome breeze.
There's a new electric bus ferrying visitors around the site. Some echoes of the old bus though this one is smaller and focused on making the site more accessible. It's got a route plan etc and I saw it trundling around a few times. It runs in the afternoon hours at set times. First time I had seen it and there's a page on it on the site.
Bus around Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo
View attachment 722071
On the animal front it was good to see the Banteng in their temporary enclosure near the Passage through Asia, with a new sign
I saw three of them out having some food around 5pm and they looked really good. Should be a great new addition.
Signs have been refreshed at the bear enclosure
and at the wolverines, with the latter also getting new fencing along the length of the enclosure on the walkway
The old name sign for Fitti / Fi has been removed. I did enjoy seeing the nice photo of Puff (with Fi above) illustrating the wolverine sign, a nice way to remember him.
The fencing work is still in progress in the large paddock near the lions with the waterbuck signs one side and zebra the other in the new space.
Was great to see five flamingo chicks (also some to join from the Chester group so it's thriving along in that enclosure).
Highlight of the day was seeing two new chicks for the Blue cranes, they are about a week old. Got great views as they were escorted around the enclosure with both parents busy feeding them and then they lay down for a well earned sleep in the shade. Beautiful to look at, interesting to see the slight stripe which contrasts with the all yellow look of the red crowned crane youngster. It's quite the Crane fest at Whipsnade now with the Red crowned crane chick looking super as it grows and these new arrivals.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
BBC coverage helping with information about one of the Harris hawks that has flown off during training at Whipsnade and not returned. Believed to be in the local area still and I’d expect could live around the location with relative ease if not retrieved.
Whipsnade Zoo remains hopeful for return of missing Harris's hawk
Whipsnade Zoo remains hopeful for return of missing Harris's hawk
I live not a million miles from the zoo (10 miles by road, so possibly nearer as the hawk flies) - someone was flying a Harris hawk in the town (pigeon deterrant) and also lost that. My OH said his old workplace once found one on their parkland round there too - makes you wonder how many Harris hawks are just flying around the local area!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Probably the main decision to make before you enter the zoo is if you want to pay extra to take your car in to drive through A Passage through Asia. You can see some of it from the new Monkey Forest and also part of it if you take the train but it is only open to cars in terms of going in, so something to think about. Apart from that have a lovely day! It'll be busy but people will spread out and if you can arrive at opening and stay until closing there will be quiet times in the day.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The implementation of new viewing areas for Passage through Asia in Monkey Forest definitely argues against the very heavy (£30) fee to bring a car into the zoo.
That said, I would still recommend it as Whipsnade is huge and managing to return to areas multiple times in a day is all but impossible by foot, yet with a car, staying until late and performing one last 'lap' of the zoo, stopping for any animals you missed earlier in the day, can work great. This is particularly effective for the cheetahs, lions and aardvarks, which from experience tend to be more active later in the day. And the whole Africa zone is much nicer as the sun begins to set and crowds begin to calm down. It is also very useful to allow you to make shows on time (the bird show is a must-see) without having to plan your whole route around it.
It is worth knowing that the zoo's reindeer are not domestic, but wild of the European Forest species, which can only be found at one other UK zoo. One of the penguin enclosures features Northern Rockhoppers kept at just five other European zoos. Another exhibit that is easily missed (it indeed took me many visits to discover it) is 'Owl Wood,' which is in a woodland between the entrance and the Butterfly House. No rare species or notable exhibitry, but necessary for completeness and a lovely setting for some aviaries. And of course, don't miss the gaur.
Olek
Well-Known Member
Thank you
