ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2024
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Average lifespan is only around 10-12 years of age. We rarely see individuals reach their mid to late teens.
They're also incredibly social animals so they do tend to be euthanised together, especially when there are only a few remaining from the previous pack.
Judging from the press release, a new breeding group set for Whipsnade. It will be interesting where they are sourced from as ZSL haven’t quite cracked it with Hunting dogs at Whipsnade despite the excellent enclosure
Only last year you heard about them wanting to breed to form a new pack and now it’s retirement! Very strange !!
Whipsnade Zoo welcomes three African wild dogs in breeding bid - BBC News
Whipsnade Zoo welcomes three African wild dogs in breeding bid - BBC News
Lafone
Well-Known Member
It’s a shame to hear the news about the dogs at London. It was clear there wasn’t a great hope for the Whipsnade dogs to develop as a pack or have pups after the other deaths.
Hopefully the Whipsnade dogs will have a good new home and the zoo will have success with a new group.
I’d prefer something else in the Whipsnade exhibit, but the current direction doesn’t appear to be about to change, so hopefully the new pack will establish well.
Hopefully the Whipsnade dogs will have a good new home and the zoo will have success with a new group.
I’d prefer something else in the Whipsnade exhibit, but the current direction doesn’t appear to be about to change, so hopefully the new pack will establish well.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Such unfortunate and unexpected news. Scarcely active, but that made it all the more exciting when they were. ZSL don't seem to be doing so will with hunting dogs recently. Hopefully the arrival of a new group at Whipsnade (and then presumably the current Whipsnade animals at London) will change that for the better!
I thought I had read this aswell
I agree with this - I understand that hunting dogs are something of a ZSL flagship but it would be good to see one of the zoos bring in another carnivore species instead. I've always thought a large dhole pack would look very nice at Whipsnade...
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
An addition of the ZSL's magazine has detailed a very interesting conservation project that the zoo is participating in. I know that conservation projects aren't exactly zoo news, but I thought it was too interesting not to report on, especially seeing as the zoo hasn't said anything on social media about it (although strangely has mentioned it on a magazine that is predominately aimed at children). The section is titled 'rescue mission for rare frog,' and below is a paraphrased version:
In 2021, it was concluded that a small population of the Togo Slippery Frog was in fact distinct at species level. This species was named the Atewa Slippery Frog, after the Atewa Hills in Ghana where they can be found, and goes by the Latin name of Conraua sagyiamase. This declaration was made by a ZSL conservationist, Caleb Ofori-Boateng. I wonder how many species were first catalogued / recognised by ZSL scientists - I know also of the Okapi, but am sure there are many more.
This species is already endangered, but plains to build a bauxite mine in the mountain range where they are exclusively found threatens to render the entire species extinct.
As such, Herp Conservation Ghana planned to setup a breeding facility for this species by rescuing tadpoles from the mountains before the mine construction starts. This will serve as a backup population in the tragic event that the wild one goes extinct after the mine is built. It isn't mentioned if eventual breeding and release is an additional goal. As well as many volunteers from the nearby village of Sagyimase, from which the species derives its Latin name, multiple ZSL staff whose experience working with frogs proved helpful in the process of 'helping to setup an emergency amphibian facility and train technicians how to care for the Critically Endangered frogs."
It is difficult to comment too much given how little information (none at all, actually) ZSL have shared about this outside of the magazine, and it is hard to say how much ZSL were involved in it. But all in all, it sounds like another commendable conservation movement from the Society.
Other than that, the magazine consists of fairly old news, unfortunately, but I thought this was interesting enough to merit its own post.
In 2021, it was concluded that a small population of the Togo Slippery Frog was in fact distinct at species level. This species was named the Atewa Slippery Frog, after the Atewa Hills in Ghana where they can be found, and goes by the Latin name of Conraua sagyiamase. This declaration was made by a ZSL conservationist, Caleb Ofori-Boateng. I wonder how many species were first catalogued / recognised by ZSL scientists - I know also of the Okapi, but am sure there are many more.
This species is already endangered, but plains to build a bauxite mine in the mountain range where they are exclusively found threatens to render the entire species extinct.
As such, Herp Conservation Ghana planned to setup a breeding facility for this species by rescuing tadpoles from the mountains before the mine construction starts. This will serve as a backup population in the tragic event that the wild one goes extinct after the mine is built. It isn't mentioned if eventual breeding and release is an additional goal. As well as many volunteers from the nearby village of Sagyimase, from which the species derives its Latin name, multiple ZSL staff whose experience working with frogs proved helpful in the process of 'helping to setup an emergency amphibian facility and train technicians how to care for the Critically Endangered frogs."
It is difficult to comment too much given how little information (none at all, actually) ZSL have shared about this outside of the magazine, and it is hard to say how much ZSL were involved in it. But all in all, it sounds like another commendable conservation movement from the Society.
Other than that, the magazine consists of fairly old news, unfortunately, but I thought this was interesting enough to merit its own post.
Just the 1 female, Amara. Their male, Thug, passed away earlier this year.
Any idea when pygmy hippo male Thug passed on exactly?
What happened to their former female Nicolas (born 1995 in Bioparco di Roma)?
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
A quick search reveals Thug died in early June this year and Nicky around September 2022.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
@Rajang-GOAT is correct. Nicky passed away in September 2022 and in response the zoo imported two year-old Amara from Edinburgh, who would be kept in a secondary pygmy hippo enclosure until she was old enough to be introduced to, and hopefully breed with, Thug. Towards the end of last year, the indoor area even received an extension to allow for the two to be kept separate long-term while still having large terrestrial portions indoors.
Thug's sad passing in June meant that Amara was left alone, now with access to the entire enclosure, and that this new extension went to waste. Leaves the question of where, if anywhere, London plans on receiving a new male from. Tapon from Whipsnade seems like the obvious option, but then what would happen to Whipsnade's enclosure, which has a great record of breeding success (the species has not bred at all at London since moving to the new enclosure in 'Into Africa')? Doing the reverse, moving Amara to Whipsnade, would no doubt cause controversy among London regulars, being the loss of yet another crowd-pleasing big mammal.
A very difficult situation indeed, but hopefully one which ZSL will find a solution to.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I doubt it would be any less of an issue for visitors or regulars for Tapon to move the other way from Whipsnade to London. It'll be a real shame if he is moved in my opinion, though London is more likely to get him than to move Amara the other way in the hierarchy of how the zoos work.
Reptile House
Well-Known Member
So sad, very sad indeed to see ZSL up to their old tricks again.
I don’t understand what you’re saying here?
Agreed. I would also argue that Pygmy hippopotamus isn’t a crowd pleasing large mammal, I doubt many visitors would be disappointed not to see one at London.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
They're one of the biggest draws at London, Amara alone draws a massive crowd through most of the day even when she's not doing much; when Thug was still around their interactions (especially swimming at the same time) caused a bottleneck in the Africa section! People like large mammals, and people especially like to see smaller, cuter versions of charismatic megafauna.
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