Whipsnade’s recent history of white rhino births is predominantly male. When was the last female birth?
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Nandi in 2021 I believe.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
Interestingly, Nandi,was the name of Shaka( first king of the Zulus) mother and Nandi in zulu means the" sweet one "
Born 21st August 2021 to be precise
White rhinoceros calf; Whipsnade; 16th October 2021 - ZooChat
White rhinoceros with calf; Whipsnade; 16th October 2021 - ZooChat
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On Whipsnades socials they have posted a fun video of a Langur going for a ride on a Babirusa.
It’s always great to see species interacting in a mixed exhibit.
It’s always great to see species interacting in a mixed exhibit.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Thanks. Speaking of photographing her, I was also there the same day as you on 16th October but didn't get a shot until the 23rd.
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Enjoyable yet chilly afternoon up at the Zoo. Main thing to take away is I have finally seen a Banteng! Very excited to tick it off my list, and although I havent seen a male I am very happy to see something I have wanted to see for ages.
Not a lot of news to report but the Blue Cranes have been taken offshow again for the winter and they seem to be doing a similar hardstanding area for the Zebras as they have done for the Camels/Horses.
The Black Lemurs were active, and it was fun to see the female interacting with the Ring Tailed Lemurs through the window. The Aardvarks continue to be the most active Aardvarks I have ever seen and were out in the cold exploring the enclosure. Didnt see the Spotted Deer so hopefully next time I will!
Not a lot of news to report but the Blue Cranes have been taken offshow again for the winter and they seem to be doing a similar hardstanding area for the Zebras as they have done for the Camels/Horses.
The Black Lemurs were active, and it was fun to see the female interacting with the Ring Tailed Lemurs through the window. The Aardvarks continue to be the most active Aardvarks I have ever seen and were out in the cold exploring the enclosure. Didnt see the Spotted Deer so hopefully next time I will!
Do the rockhopper penguins breed successfully? I have visited a few times this year and never seen any Immaculate birds or chicks?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
There have been quite a few births over the last few years. I caught a shot of a juvenile moulting in July this year. In June the rocks near the entry gate where the young ones often sit to enjoy the sun had a few youngsters on it.
The zoo put up a short on tiktok on the egg turning process in April.
TikTok - Make Your Day
Hopefully this isn’t a silly question (I’m sure I knew the reasoning at some point), but why exactly are the two species split?
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The split was made in 2006 when studies showed that there were genetic and morphological differences in the two. I found two articles supporting it which I have linked below, although sadly one of them is behind a pay wall. It was suspected for a while that they could be different species for behavioural reasons (especially their very different vocalisatons), but the genetic studies provided almost conclusive evidence, and the split is now widely accepted.
Molecular Ecology
Springer Nature
Although an (admittedly very brief) bit of research sees little research to support this, there are even some suggestions that there are three Rockhopper species, with the Eastern Rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysochome filholi or Eudyptes filholi), conventially recognised as a subspecies of Southern, but potentially distinct at species level as well. This understandably leads to a lot of confusion with the nominate subspecies of Southern at times being referred to as 'Western' to distinguish from the Easterns, and at others simply as 'Southern.'
That is incredibly interesting thank you! I’m quite embarrassed now as I actually meant why are the two penguin species at whipsnade separated. I’m sorry to have made you type all that out but I’ve learnt something at least!
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
No problem!
Truth be told I didn’t know much about the subject either before researching it here, so you made me learn something new as well. Never quite noticed how strange it is that the two species at Whipsnade are split, seeing as most zoos mix their penguin species. I would be curious to find out more about that too if any members know more on the matter.
There have been quite a few births over the last few years. I caught a shot of a juvenile moulting in July this year. In June the rocks near the entry gate where the young ones often sit to enjoy the sun had a few youngsters on it.
The zoo put up a short on tiktok on the egg turning process in April.
TikTok - Make Your Day
Thanks!There have been quite a few births over the last few years. I caught a shot of a juvenile moulting in July this year. In June the rocks near the entry gate where the young ones often sit to enjoy the sun had a few youngsters on it.
The zoo put up a short on tiktok on the egg turning process in April.
TikTok - Make Your Day
Lafone
Well-Known Member
No problem!
I do recall some conversations in the keeper talks about the ducks and that both groups didn’t get on with the mixed enclosure with waterfowl (only the Rockhoppers did and the ducks have their ducklings successfully in there each year) but it will be interesting if anyone has any more specifics.
No problem!
Haha well as they say every day is a school day!
That’s an interesting point about the waterfowl. That’s never really clicked with me but of course the waterfowl are on the rockhopper side.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I guess it might also have something to do with how the different sides were constructed for the penguins that used to be there (King, Gentoo, Humboldt) but someone who knows more about the history of which penguins were mixed or not will probably know more as I remember different penguins as a kid, but not if they were all or ever mixed together.