Woburn Safari Park Woburn Safari Park news 2025
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Albert Thomas Budd
Active Member
I am currently at Woburn and what I have noticed that there is a new reptile house called 'Reptile Ranch' which has all the Discovery Zone species.
What species do they hold in the Reptile Ranch? Can You give an overview?
Albert Thomas Budd
Active Member
As you come in, there are Egyptian tortoise to your right and Utilian spiny-tailed iguanas to your right, expect it to be busy on a cold day, because it is WARM in there! In front of you are the boa constrictors. To your left and right there some invertebrates and a couple of smaller snakes.
Piece of December 2024 / January 2025 News Not Mentioned:
On January 3rd, the zoo announced that the otters were sexed as (3.0) and named Hoàng Tử, Tép Tép, and Xúc Xích respectively.
Woburn Safari Park
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On February 28th, the zoo announced they acquired (2.0) black-and-white-ruffed lemurs named Ghost and Meeko which are now on exhibit.
Woburn Safari Park
On December 27th, the zoo announced they acquired (1.1) Shetland ponies named Harry and Daisy from Ashlyn's Wildlife Park in Essex on December 12th which are on display in the Farmyard Friends area.
Woburn Safari Park
Meet the New Shetland Duo at Woburn!
Woburn Safari Park
Meet the New Shetland Duo at Woburn!
On December 2nd, the zoo announced that 3 Asian small-clawed otters were born in early October which are now on display in Otter Falls.
3.5K views · 147 reactions | Keepers are so excited to welcome a trio of joy! Three Asian short-clawed otter pups were born in October to parents, Beatrix and Kovu
Last December, Beatrix and Kovu welcomed their first pup, Thiên thần, who is now all grown up and ready to take on her big sister role. The family of six can be seen at Otter Falls in the Foot Safari, while they are still getting used to their enclosure, they will be sticking close to mum. Make sure to look out for the new arrivals! #otter #asianshortclawedotter #woburnsafaripark #safaripark #drivethroughsafari | Woburn Safari Park
On January 3rd, the zoo announced that the otters were sexed as (3.0) and named Hoàng Tử, Tép Tép, and Xúc Xích respectively.
Woburn Safari Park
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On February 28th, the zoo announced they acquired (2.0) black-and-white-ruffed lemurs named Ghost and Meeko which are now on exhibit.
Woburn Safari Park
Woburn have announced the arrival of two new bushdogs (1.1) from France. The female is from Thoiry and the male is from Amiens:
Return of the 'pack'
Return of the 'pack'
Was at woeburn today and the new giraffe meadow which use to be the elephant meadow has been altered as now the keeper said they by law cannot be in close contact with the elephants having to be protected contact. Therefore they can’t exhibit the elephants like they use too in the show. Hence why it’s now giraffe meadow.
. Also the bull giraffe Casper is separated from the 11 female giraffe as most of them have been fathered by Casper. So they are looking to obtain a new bull giraffe and start breeding again. Nothing much else to report the male tiger still won’t go into the main exhibit yet so still in the cage on the left, and we saw the female tiger walk past him in the cage a few time and he barely noticed her. any one know what the plan is for the lions? I know they aren’t all females but all the males must be on contraception as none are with a lions mane! Looks quite sad if honest ….
. Also the bull giraffe Casper is separated from the 11 female giraffe as most of them have been fathered by Casper. So they are looking to obtain a new bull giraffe and start breeding again. Nothing much else to report the male tiger still won’t go into the main exhibit yet so still in the cage on the left, and we saw the female tiger walk past him in the cage a few time and he barely noticed her. any one know what the plan is for the lions? I know they aren’t all females but all the males must be on contraception as none are with a lions mane! Looks quite sad if honest ….
I think this is ultimately a sensible thing... was always a matter of time before Woburn made the move to PC so may as well be now.
So then... what of the cows who were in the meadow? Are they now in the bull's field? My only grievance with that area is that it has the worst viewing from the car in the whole car safari
The three main cows were in the meadow
Tarli her mum Damini and Chandrika were in the main paddock by the road and Yin Zin and Raja were behind more in the bull area and could only be seen when you left the car park and was back going round to the start of the safari park drive though.. from what I remember they had said that yin zin barley spend anytime with the female anymore due to arguments between them so she is mainly kept with raja now for companionship .. as it seems woeburn isn’t in any rush to breed anymore elephants even though Raja only has tarli as viable offspring
Tarli her mum Damini and Chandrika were in the main paddock by the road and Yin Zin and Raja were behind more in the bull area and could only be seen when you left the car park and was back going round to the start of the safari park drive though.. from what I remember they had said that yin zin barley spend anytime with the female anymore due to arguments between them so she is mainly kept with raja now for companionship .. as it seems woeburn isn’t in any rush to breed anymore elephants even though Raja only has tarli as viable offspring
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the update on the elephants, I visited in February and was quite confused as what I thought was the 'Elephant Meadow' display area was labelled as 'under development' on the map and there was no evidence of it being used on the day of my visit, or explanation of what was happening to it. I also think it may be worth mentioning it looked like a new gate had been put in at the front of the house between a couple of areas, possibly connecting to the paddock across the road? I think the upcoming law about protected contact for elephants had gone to the back of my mind a bit (it also caused Colchester to move away from free contact), but I suppose it does make sense that Woburn are choosing to move in this direction now rather than being forced into it later on. However I imagine it will make a big difference in the daily life of the elephants and keepers, especially in regard to the shows, walks and visitor experiences, but hopefully this will be a benefit to the health and relationships of the herd in the long term.
For the lions in the long term I imagine they may choose to let the current pride be phased out in favour of subspecies pure individuals that the European breeding programme is focused on, like Whipsnade have done, but I have no personal knowledge on any plans.
@Rajang-GOAT regarding the lions I believe you're correct.
Amara(born 2020) died 2024 &
Dakota (born 2005) died 2024
This only leaves 3 lionesses
Tallulah - born 2004
Abi - born 2006
Zuri - born 2014
At 21,19 & 11 it would appear they'll phase the current pride out then start afresh plus they have 5 castrated/vasectomised males that haven't been rehomed
Amara(born 2020) died 2024 &
Dakota (born 2005) died 2024
This only leaves 3 lionesses
Tallulah - born 2004
Abi - born 2006
Zuri - born 2014
At 21,19 & 11 it would appear they'll phase the current pride out then start afresh plus they have 5 castrated/vasectomised males that haven't been rehomed
Do Woburn actually have a long term plan for their elephants? With what now appears to be 2 separate groups, and no apparent breeding planned, everything seems to have come to a dead end.
I'm surprised there's no further plan to breed from Damini of whom only has one surviving daughter (Tarli). It's now been almost eleven years since she last birthed, so it's likely her reproductive window has now elapsed.
If we were to discount Damini, Tarli is the only reproductive cow, so swapping out Raja for an unrelated bull might be the goal long term.
It’s like a lot of things at woeburn they don’t like change so prefer to show animals rather then breed them! So like the lions I think it’s a similar thing with the elephants.. they like Raja and unsure who would take him given he isn’t a breeding bull! So the only option would be like they tried at whipsnade IVF with whipsnade bull Ming Jin and hope that’s successful? As they need to reproduce from Tarli pretty soon before she has reproductive complications from being an older elephant!
Raja is Tarli's father, so they won't breed them together.
A new bull would need to arrive if they were wishing to breed from her, or perhaps they could consider utilising artificial insemination, however this wouldn't be a feasible long term solution breeding wise.
That’s what I said .. but like I said who would take Raja given he isn’t a proven male given he only has 3 offspring.. but I doubt woeburn would be that worried they just enjoy showing and teaching people about their animals rather than reproducing them
This situation therefore hardly seems conducive to the breeding program! If Woburn were/are seemingly going to waste potentially 2 viable breeding cows (mother and daughter) and a bull, with no obvious long term plan, they’d have been more use helping Chester with their elephant herd (which has now been rectified by Whipsnade of course)
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
Perhaps if he isn't going to be bred with Damini at Woburn, Raja could be better use at Chester down the line when they want/require a breeding bull again? Obviously I don't know what the future holds for the herd at Woburn or an adult male at Chester but it would seem like the most straightforward option from an outside point of view (due to close proximity and Raja being quite genetically underrepresented).
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That is a good option however all of his Raja's calves have been born via AI, so I don't think that would be a worthwhile investment for Chester.
In that case however, Woburn would receive a young, socially competent bull back in Anjan who could potentially mate with Tarli.
Sound a great idea.. but from the little I spoke with the keepers previously at Woeburn.. they seemed content with just exhibiting their elephants and wasn’t in a big rush to breed them or move any animal! As they are very fond of Raja and so I’m doubtful they would want to move him and or bring in a new bull sadly! Despite it being about time they think what’s best for Tarli and stop calling her a calf instead she an adult elephant now..