ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Hippos at Whipsnade

Lafone said:
As mentioned that was rumoured in terms of the calf’s father and there’s no evidence for neutering Do share it if you have it though.

On a related note I thought you made a few posts criticising speculation and rumour in news threads. Does that just apply to zoos you visit?
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Whipsnade doesn't introduce young hippos to their father if I remember correctly, so I don't believe Lola and Hoover ever shared space together after Hodor was born.
I discovered the information about Hodor being a sire via hipposworld.de.
Tierdetails
There was some discussion from about two years ago in this thread that leads me to thinking that Hodor was either neutered or that one or both hippos are on birth control. If they were actually intended to breed in the past 4 years, based on the standards of hippo breeding, it is extremely likely they would have bred again, especially with Hodor living with Lola together full-time, so there is probably something preventing babies, due to the fact that Hodor is now at the general age of breeding. It was very likely an unexpected pregnancy that wasn't intentional.
Common Hippos in the UK (and Dublin)
 
Slightly off topic but sort of on: why is it that tapon pygmy hippo is at whipsnade and a perfectly healthy female pgymy hippo about to be prime breeding age is at London zoo : amara. Wouldn’t logic say to move one to have a calf, as that was amara original intention but they brought her in too young and now by the time she of age, her suitor Nicky at London zoo passed!
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Whipsnade doesn't introduce young hippos to their father if I remember correctly, so I don't believe Lola and Hoover ever shared space together after Hodor was born.
I discovered the information about Hodor being a sire via hipposworld.de.
Tierdetails
There was some discussion from about two years ago in this thread that leads me to thinking that Hodor was either neutered or that one or both hippos are on birth control. If they were actually intended to breed in the past 4 years, based on the standards of hippo breeding, it is extremely likely they would have bred again, especially with Hodor living with Lola together full-time, so there is probably something preventing babies, due to the fact that Hodor is now at the general age of breeding. It was very likely an unexpected pregnancy that wasn't intentional.
Common Hippos in the UK (and Dublin)
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Whipsnade have said Hodor was not and is not breeding with Lola. It’s all speculation otherwise.
 
Rosie183 said:
Slightly off topic but sort of on: why is it that tapon pygmy hippo is at whipsnade and a perfectly healthy female pgymy hippo about to be prime breeding age is at London zoo : amara. Wouldn’t logic say to move one to have a calf, as that was amara original intention but they brought her in too young and now by the time she of age, her suitor Nicky at London zoo passed!
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Only ZSL knows :D The male at London was called Thug, Nicky was his previous partner. Thug's passing was unexpected, with the logic being Edinburgh needed to move their young on and it would give the pair longer to get to know each other, perhaps helped by Thug's calm temperament. And tragically, the pair got on incredibly well. Truth is there's no actual information on what they plan to do, and for either zoo to lose their pygmies would be a real shame.

Nile Hippo Expert said:
I discovered the information about Hodor being a sire via hipposworld.de.
Tierdetails
There was some discussion from about two years ago in this thread that leads me to thinking that Hodor was either neutered or that one or both hippos are on birth control. If they were actually intended to breed in the past 4 years, based on the standards of hippo breeding, it is extremely likely they would have bred again, especially with Hodor living with Lola together full-time, so there is probably something preventing babies, due to the fact that Hodor is now at the general age of breeding. It was very likely an unexpected pregnancy that wasn't intentional.
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With all due respect, that isn't a reliable source - or a source at all, really. There's no discussion of it on Zoochat until 2023 as you say, and I remember that conversation well because I specifically asked the hippo keepers during my visit about it and it was the first any of them had heard about it either. It would be mid April 2023 if anyone fancies trawling back through my incredibly dull post history.

I don't disagree one or both are likely on birth control now, but certainly in 2020 neither were and it doesn't change the fact Hodor would have been younger than 3 at conception. It's not an idea I particularly want to address again because there is simply no evidence for it and plenty of evidence against it.
 
Rosie183 said:
Slightly off topic but sort of on: why is it that tapon pygmy hippo is at whipsnade and a perfectly healthy female pgymy hippo about to be prime breeding age is at London zoo : amara. Wouldn’t logic say to move one to have a calf, as that was amara original intention but they brought her in too young and now by the time she of age, her suitor Nicky at London zoo passed!
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My understanding is that the London female pygmy hippo and the Whipsnade male pygmy hippo are (distantly) related to each other so it is not advisable to breed them together.

The ZSL have plans to acquire unrelated mates for both the London and Whipsnade animals.
 
Rosie183 said:
Slightly off topic but sort of on: why is it that tapon pygmy hippo is at whipsnade and a perfectly healthy female pgymy hippo about to be prime breeding age is at London zoo : amara. Wouldn’t logic say to move one to have a calf, as that was amara original intention but they brought her in too young and now by the time she of age, her suitor Nicky at London zoo passed!
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Nicky was not her suitor, but the previous female she was brought into replace after her unfortunate passing. Her intended mate was Thug, who indeed sadly passed away last year.

I would personally argue a more logical move would be to move Amara to Whipsnade, given that multiple calves have been born in that enclosure over the years, whereas London have had no such luck since the move to the Cotton Terraces. Of course you can only judge so much off precedent, and enclosure design is only a small factor in breeding success in zoos, but I do feel as though it would be more likely that Amara moves to Whipsnade than Tapon to London. Only time will tell however, happy to be proven wrong (as a London local, I certainly hope that the zoo does not go out of the species any time soon!).

EDIT: seen Tim's post now, and see which that will never happen. Good news in that neither zoo will go out of the species soon, bad news in that finding a partner for both individuals could prove a challenge...
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Whipsnade doesn't introduce young hippos to their father if I remember correctly, so I don't believe Lola and Hoover ever shared space together after Hodor was born.
I discovered the information about Hodor being a sire via hipposworld.de.
Tierdetails
There was some discussion from about two years ago in this thread that leads me to thinking that Hodor was either neutered or that one or both hippos are on birth control. If they were actually intended to breed in the past 4 years, based on the standards of hippo breeding, it is extremely likely they would have bred again, especially with Hodor living with Lola together full-time, so there is probably something preventing babies, due to the fact that Hodor is now at the general age of breeding. It was very likely an unexpected pregnancy that wasn't intentional.
Common Hippos in the UK (and Dublin)
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Hippos tend to reach sexual maturity at the age of seven; Hodor was three when that pregnancy happened, which would be exceptionally young. So why don't we refrain from speculating on little evidence that goes against claims made by the zoo?
 
JoB198 said:
I think my thinking was that, when they're all in the house (as they were yesterday), it seems a lot of animal in a small space.

Also, just asking a question - it is one of the older exhibits in the zoo, so not unreasonable to just ask when it was last updated. I wish there was a book which gave this kind of information. I didn't actually say they *should* update it, just wondered when it had last had any attention of significance.
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Honestly as others have said I believe the Common hippo enclosure is certainly good enough for now, with good grazing, indoor and outdoor pools and indoor and outdoor separation options for two individuals living together full time. However, if they decide to build up a good sized breeding pod exceeding 4-5 individuals (which I would love to see), it would be a different story, and in that case I believe it would be a good use of funds to try and create a top quality breeding facility.

In terms of the Pygmy hippo space, it is certainly very good (the outdoors in particular) and can still have a long lifespan ahead of it. However I don't think it is quite the best Europe has to offer, as judging by on show area it would be a stretch to call the indoors the best in the UK without much of a variety in substrate and a land area that is not massive, though that is arguably made up for by the very appealing outdoors.
 
cerperal said:
I don't disagree one or both are likely on birth control now, but certainly in 2020 neither were and it doesn't change the fact Hodor would have been younger than 3 at conception. It's not an idea I particularly want to address again because there is simply no evidence for it and plenty of evidence against it.
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Lola is almost certainly on contraception. I don’t believe Hodor is.
 
I feel the Hippo enclosure is more then adequate as it is as i can't see them ever having anymore then 3 hippo/3 pygmy hippo at any given time.
Last year I heard the keepers saying that they were waiting for Hodor to get the green light to move on and start hopefully breeding himself at another collection, also that they are actively looking for a mate for Tapon the pygmy hippo.
 
Kalaw said:
They simply enjoy spending time in Passage and on Spicer’s Field the most, so that is where you will most often see them, and the zoo has signed them for those two enclosures as a result. Can’t see how the fencing of either enclosure would be able to stop a species so small from passing through.
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Just what I was trying to say but you have explained it better.
 
I participated in the hippo feeding experience at Whipsnade late last year.

The keeper answered lots of questions from myself, others and members of the public as the experience is not off show.

If i recall it was the female who was on some form of contraceptive rather than a castrated bull.

There was no intention to expand the "bloat" with imports, in fact the suggestion was that there would be a move to focus solely on pygmy hippos in the future. There was equally no stated intention to offload the current 1:1 to other collections so the current set up likely to be status quo for some time.

A part of this was due to suitability of housing, the keeper highlighting horizontal metal bars that posed a safety risk as they struggled to deter Hoover from climbing (who knew!) and he had also chewed away a portion of the metal doorway entering the house which you can still see is damaged.

on a side note, excellent experience, great value for money with hands on time with hippos.
 
I imagine either Hodor or his father Hoover will likely go to Longleat if their planned hippo project takes place. Perhaps more likely Hodor as Hoover could then return to Whipsnade at some point to breed again if they wish it.

I certainly wouldn't like to see the species disappear from Whipsnade. Along with the Indian rhino they are an iconic species there for me. But I can see why they might. I saw them again last summer and the outdoor exhibit is hardly changed at all during all my visits over (very) many years. The old indoor housing was certainly offshow in the old days, it was that bunker-like building at the back of the enclosure which I think is probably connected to the newer house. I don't remember any viewing window at any time as alluded to upthread.
 
Pertinax said:
I imagine either Hodor or his father Hoover will likely go to Longleat if their planned hippo project takes place. Perhaps more likely Hodor as Hoover could then return to Whipsnade at some point to breed again if they wish it.

I certainly wouldn't like to see the species disappear from Whipsnade. Along with the Indian rhino they are an iconic species there for me. But I can see why they might. I saw them again last summer and the outdoor exhibit is hardly changed at all during all my visits over (very) many years. The old indoor housing was certainly offshow in the old days, it was that bunker-like building at the back of the enclosure which I think is probably connected to the newer house. I don't remember any viewing window at any time as alluded to upthread.
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Hoover's already been sent to Flamingo Land to breed.
 
Pertinax said:
...I saw them again last summer and the outdoor exhibit is hardly changed at all during all my visits over (very) many years. The old indoor housing was certainly offshow in the old days, it was that bunker-like building at the back of the enclosure which I think is probably connected to the newer house. I don't remember any viewing window at any time as alluded to upthread.
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I agree with you regarding Whipsnade's old indoor hippopotamus accommodation.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I never went inside the old Hippo House and, although I didn't explicitly say so, like you, I have no recollection of a viewing window into the old building either.
 
From my memory (and my mothers!) you went over a little wooden bridge which brought you to the original Hippo house, which was alot closer to the edge of the ponds then the house is now. I definitely remember you went into a little viewing area that had a glass/plastic window between you and the hippo area. It wasnt big by any means but to stand any chance of seeing into the indoor area I had to be lifted up. As this was the early 90's I sadly have no photographic evidence so all I have is my word!
 
Jambo said:
Oldest to breed for the first time! She could still theoretically have another decade at least until she reaches post reproductive status.
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Let's not forget that the calf born in May was (still is?) being hand reared, so depending on whether or not and when she is reintroduced to Godzilla maybe they could breed her again soonish?
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
Let's not forget that the calf born in May was (still is?) being hand reared, so depending on whether or not and when she is reintroduced to Godzilla maybe they could breed her again soonish?
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Hippo gestation is eight months, so it's very possible if she conceived soon after that she could be due again.
 
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