I agree with this. The whole passage through Asia is quite underwhelming, to be honest.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Lafone
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The passage thru Asia is always a highlight for me. Always take a trip through. Will be fantastic to see the Banteng out and about in it finally!
Agree that it’s always great to see the herds of deer that are in there and always take a drive through. It’s not always about the size of an animal, the deer are always great to see together; especially like a hot day when they are using the lake.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I feel as though I have been misinterpreted, so allow me to clarify: I love the deer, and whenever I visit with a car (which isn’t always), they are a highlight. Some will remember that in the past on this site I have defended the drive-through’s focus on deer, as the huge herds on that backdrop truly are astonishing. I adore the exhibit and have never once found myself disappointed by the lack of larger animals. But just because they weren’t a necessity doesn’t make them any less excellent of an addition to the exhibit, and having something new definitely adds a new dynamic. It will be a nice change, even if what we had before was already great. Sorry if my previous post gave the impression I don’t like it because that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The female Grevy's zebra being confirmed heavily pregnant is a relief, as otherwise she was looking very very overweight!
Visayan warty pigs were conspicuously absent today - all signage still up (indeed, sign returned to what was for a time the side of the house which belonged to the spotted deer) but no sign inside or outside of the pigs. A barrier was across from the 'deer' side of the house so maybe more piglets?
Older lion cubs very active today, out and about seemingly for most of the day alongside mum and dad. Zookeeper I spoke to suggested the little ones won't be mixed in with the rest of them for a couple of months yet.
Highlight of the day for me was the Shetland cow calf, and also learning the oldest animal at the zoo was Gladys the flamingo. Although we did swing by the porcupine house twice, they were all just cuddled up in the right-hand corner so no porcupette sightings for us.
Visayan warty pigs were conspicuously absent today - all signage still up (indeed, sign returned to what was for a time the side of the house which belonged to the spotted deer) but no sign inside or outside of the pigs. A barrier was across from the 'deer' side of the house so maybe more piglets?
Older lion cubs very active today, out and about seemingly for most of the day alongside mum and dad. Zookeeper I spoke to suggested the little ones won't be mixed in with the rest of them for a couple of months yet.
Highlight of the day for me was the Shetland cow calf, and also learning the oldest animal at the zoo was Gladys the flamingo. Although we did swing by the porcupine house twice, they were all just cuddled up in the right-hand corner so no porcupette sightings for us.
It will certainly be even more interesting should Whipsnade attain a breeding bull!
If the zoo sticks to its zoo geographic principles, the Banteng would be mixed with the more “southern” Asian species. Let’s hope they don’t have Houdini-like aspirations like the Yak!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Early access at Whipsnade for Gold members, Fellows and Patrons, starting next weekend, (arrive between 0900 and 0930hrs). Also going on at London.
Enjoy exclusive early access to our conservation zoos with your Gold membership from 9am! The first early openings of the year are just around the corner – join us this Sunday 30 March at London Zoo for a special programme in the Blackburn Pavilion, and next week Sunday 6 April at Whipsnade Zoo to see the majestic brown bears go about their morning routine.
Further dates at Whipsnade;
Enjoy exclusive early access to our conservation zoos with your Gold membership from 9am! The first early openings of the year are just around the corner – join us this Sunday 30 March at London Zoo for a special programme in the Blackburn Pavilion, and next week Sunday 6 April at Whipsnade Zoo to see the majestic brown bears go about their morning routine.
Further dates at Whipsnade;
- Sunday 18 May 2025
- Sunday 20 July 2025
- Sunday 19 October 2025
I have just remembered - there's a sign at the elephants pointing out the crates left out the back of their hard standing area, signalling this is a step towards 2 of them leaving, but that it is a slow process.
So, yes, crate training is happening; it does not sound like the 2 of them are leaving imminently.
So, yes, crate training is happening; it does not sound like the 2 of them are leaving imminently.
This is a lovely photo. Fingers crossed they get a bull in. If they’re half as lucky as marwell they’ll be a sight to behold!
How are the gaur doing? I noticed on ZTL they’re down to two females. What happened the last male? I understand they’re a phase out species but I’d be gutted if Whipsnade didn’t try and persist with the species. They’ve been the only collection in Great Britain to keep them for as long as I can remember!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The two females were out in the sun the other day. Whether they phase out is in question according to posts in the whipsnade thread last year with new Gaur in Berlin for example. I would hope they keep them going but clearly it’s going to depend on breeding elsewhere.
I don't believe there is any real reason for Whipsnade phasing Gaur out apart from lack of interest they have the room and they are endangered
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Hi, umm, somebody breathed in my ear that Whipsnade were building a Panthanal section for SA animals. But I looked into it and saw nothing, and since you guys know Whipsnade the best, can you tell me if there is any truth behind this or if it is just false?
cerperal
Well-Known Member
The banteng are superb additions to Passage Through Asia, I agree that hopefully a bull is acquired but the current group look stunning. Very happy that Whipsnade have managed to craft such a brilliant Asian section in that area of the zoo in recent years.
Regarding the gaur, when did the bull pass? There's no official phase out anymore in Europe, obviously that doesn't confirm or deny Whipsnade acquiring more but it would be a damn shame if they didn't.
Regarding the gaur, when did the bull pass? There's no official phase out anymore in Europe, obviously that doesn't confirm or deny Whipsnade acquiring more but it would be a damn shame if they didn't.
I'm far from the biggest expert on Whipsnade here but I'd be fairly confident in saying that someone has been telling you spurious information. As you say, there's been absolutely nothing said about that previously, and I would find it incredibly hard to believe ZSL has anything remotely like that in their plans
Thank you both. How old are the females now, do you know?
I’m glad to hear they’re no longer a phaseout species. When and why did this change? It appears this does depend on whether Berlin and the other keepers are successful - fingers crossed!
Certainly haven't heard anything, however there are plenty of spaces this could be built so we can but dream.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I can't help on their exact ages - but I think I'm right in saying they're not elderly by any means?
The phaseout is a weird one because EAZA have never been consistent on their decision - I think it was 2019 they decided to make them a phaseout species to focus on banteng, but in the same year gave them a new-style EEP and didn't make the phaseout actually official outside of the website and magazine releases. Last year Berlin gained a new breeding bull and I was told that they, logically, intended to breed (the keepers weren't aware of a phaseout at all, in fact). And that coincided with EAZA releasing new information on several cattle including gaur that had all mention of phaseout removed. Also worth mentioning that it had been a fairly pointless endeavour anyway - only Whipsnade actually stopped breeding them, and I believe it was Zlin that actually imported new stock from Asia. Given how prevalent banteng are and how easily they breed, it does seem logical to allow collections capable of holding gaur to breed them.
T
Thank you for providing this much needed information. Looks like there’s a hope for the future yet. Fingers crossed they can get a male in soon!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
There's lots of space at Whipsnade, but currently the only construction going onsite as far as I can see are the refurbishments to the toilets and food stall hard standings and in terms of other terrain work some new plantings, borders around some of the areas the wallabies hang around in and new trees / wildlife areas.
I can't see it being the best fit in terms of animals geography wise, with the recent emphasis being in Asian holdings, but of course never say never given some of the site could be made to fit both wetlands and water in a few places. All the same as others have said I'd say it sounds unlikely right now as any large enclosure development would stand out like Monkey Forest did from the moment it started.
The latest planning application lodged for Whipsnade was in January 2024 for telephony masts and it's doubtful if new enclosures would be planned to the point of being publicly spoken about without some sort of planning process being started given Monkey Forest had a number of applications.