I'll be sorry to see Karishma and Elizabeth go and that's because I had the pleasure to Adopt Karishma over the years and hopefully they'll have a wonderful time at Chester
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
When I was up whipsnade the other day in one of the off show areas by the ostrich I could see the legs of something, my guess would be a Philippine Spotted Deer but not 100 percent sure.
That would be brilliant if a new Spotted Deer (hopefully a female) has arrived to join the male. Where are the off show areas by the Ostriches? The only off show areas I can think of are the ones currently holding Javan Banteng.
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It's just behind the ostrich house, very small area and you can't really see it, but has a small outdoor area thats how I saw the legs.
The only reason I looked was because a few weeks when I was there I saw lots of keepers around a van by the house so guessed something had arrived.
A very very cold visit to the zoo today. Nothing massively of note, but:
- new signs in the penguin area indeed - lots of comparisons between their 2 types of penguin and the other species.
- bull elephant was in with the main herd on the hard standing area (Karishma and Elizabeth just visible in the hard standing area nearer to the house)
- lots of keepers around the cheetahs for some reason - in the field behind them - maybe doing some prep work before moving them
- no sign of the lion/cubs but absolutely cannot blame them, was so cold
- male zebra in an unusual place (to me - it may be they've just hacked the vegetation back) - opposite the otters, paddock adjoining the bison and wattled crane
- new concrete bases put down on the food service areas in front of the maribou stork
- also seems to be new indoor viewing of the warty pigs and the spotted deer - windows to see into the house have been 'unboarded' from what I can recall (because I would 100% have been looking into the pig house if able to before). Boar was VERY interested in one of the sows, would not give her 30 seconds peace
- some big bamboo canes added into the red panda enclosure
- a general tidying of vegetation seems to have happened as some enclosure seemed much more visible and obvious
- new signs in the penguin area indeed - lots of comparisons between their 2 types of penguin and the other species.
- bull elephant was in with the main herd on the hard standing area (Karishma and Elizabeth just visible in the hard standing area nearer to the house)
- lots of keepers around the cheetahs for some reason - in the field behind them - maybe doing some prep work before moving them
- no sign of the lion/cubs but absolutely cannot blame them, was so cold
- male zebra in an unusual place (to me - it may be they've just hacked the vegetation back) - opposite the otters, paddock adjoining the bison and wattled crane
- new concrete bases put down on the food service areas in front of the maribou stork
- also seems to be new indoor viewing of the warty pigs and the spotted deer - windows to see into the house have been 'unboarded' from what I can recall (because I would 100% have been looking into the pig house if able to before). Boar was VERY interested in one of the sows, would not give her 30 seconds peace
- some big bamboo canes added into the red panda enclosure
- a general tidying of vegetation seems to have happened as some enclosure seemed much more visible and obvious
Visited today, not sure if it's been mentioned before but the 2 lemur species are now being mixed together, only saw 3 bison so not sure what's going on there.
The male Bongo was out mixing down the bottom with the stitanga which was great to see.
The Antelope house now has a sign on it saying "closed to give are animals some quiet time".
The female zebra looks pregnant to me not that I'm an expert.
No sign of the lion cubs or in fact any of the lions.
On a side note I love the porcupine/meerkat enclosure but has anyone ever seen the porcupine outside?
The male Bongo was out mixing down the bottom with the stitanga which was great to see.
The Antelope house now has a sign on it saying "closed to give are animals some quiet time".
The female zebra looks pregnant to me not that I'm an expert.
No sign of the lion cubs or in fact any of the lions.
On a side note I love the porcupine/meerkat enclosure but has anyone ever seen the porcupine outside?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Same here …I’ve seen the porcupines outside once in the height of summer near closing time (having snacks). And never again!
I thought I’d see the porcupines out and never the aardvarks but for me it’s been completely the other way around.
I’ve genuinely never known such active Aardvarks, I’ve pretty much always seen them active!
Wait a male Bongo with a sitatunga? Because thats dangerous with hybridisation risk.
Antwerp Zoo bred bongo x sitatunga hybrids in 1963 and 1965.
There were 4 bison on Sunday when I visited - 2 tucked up in the house and 2 grazing.
I guess 1 was in the house part you can't see then when I went.
Cotswoldgent
Well-Known Member
Missed sparkes12 when we were there yesterday and nothing particular to add other than that we saw three baby macaques inside, which was lovely.
Didn’t see the lion cubs (adult male outside), with the sign now saying they will be out later this month, when they are bigger and stronger.
Pleased to see two hunting dogs, actively pacing around their enclosure.
The wallabies and mara were also more visible, and we saw a joey looking out of its mother’s pouch at the end of the day.
Didn’t see the lion cubs (adult male outside), with the sign now saying they will be out later this month, when they are bigger and stronger.
Pleased to see two hunting dogs, actively pacing around their enclosure.
The wallabies and mara were also more visible, and we saw a joey looking out of its mother’s pouch at the end of the day.
Tbf I'd never even noticed the house before. It felt like we'd strolled down a completely different path from usual.
Had a short visit to Whipsnade today and unexpectedly saw all four brown bears. It seemed like they had been shut out of their indoor dens for some reason and were waiting to get back in. Cinderella was in the large outside area, and the three younger bears in the new area, all of them by the entrances to the dens.
I surprised that the management would allow the bongo into the same paddock as the sitatunga. Whereas the male bongo is planned to have a mate ..., what is the status of the group of sitatunga at Whipsnade currently?
cerperal
Well-Known Member
They've been sharing since that male arrived 2 years ago, he generally stayed away from the group until recently as well. I'd be interested to know their reasoning for it but evidently there aren't any problems. It's certainly a nice mix
Stocktake from last year gives 2.2 sitatunga, but I think that's dropped down to only 3 now. A shame because the group used to be reasonably large
Took my little one to there "vets in action" event today, have to say it was amazing would definitely recommend taking your little ones if you have any.
However highlight was seeing that a baby gemsbok had been born, I had hoped seeing the antelope house was closed this would be the case.
You still cant go in the house however it has access to an outdoor area with its mum and could see it snuggled up inside.
However highlight was seeing that a baby gemsbok had been born, I had hoped seeing the antelope house was closed this would be the case.
You still cant go in the house however it has access to an outdoor area with its mum and could see it snuggled up inside.
Think we were all hoping it was a baby Gemsbok, that’s fantastic news!
