ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025

Panthera1981 said:
Which, of course is in full evidence from the newsreel where one of the adult bears is chewing the bars and attempting to climb them!

Remnants of the old enclosure are still there if you know where to look! A small staircase that, apparently, leads to nowhere is still situated close to the Cafe near the circular car parking area
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That bear is very close to the top there!

it’s always interesting to see these old films and be able to see the remnants of the old enclosures. Would be nice if Whipsnade took the polar bear adventure again!

Must have been a windy spot up there though.
 
polarbear said:
The enclosure was finally fully covered over as part of the SSSI work on that area of the Downs, with the inside areas becoming a bat hibernation (hybernaculum?) as did the original tiger and lion dens. I have an original (small) part of the bars / gate from that area from when it was being covered over.
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Are these areas included in the Heritage Walks. If not, I think that they should be.
 
Strathmorezoo said:
Are these areas included in the Heritage Walks. If not, I think that they should be.
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From recollection, No. The old Escarpment enclosures were mentioned in passing, but only regarding displaying bear cubs in the old Children’s Zoo (now Bird Garden).

I don’t know about the new itineraries but I agree they ought to be included as they are an important part of the zoo’s history. And let’s not forget lions were still being exhibited up there well into the 1990’s!

As I’ve mentioned, the footprints/foundations of the Lion/Tiger Dells; Polar bear, and smaller enclosures neighbouring the penguins are still there if you know where to look…or trip over in the case of the latter!
 
Panthera1981 said:
The BBC has released archive footage of the first twin Polar bear cubs born the UK. The short newsreel of Aurora and Polaris dates from April 1960.

Whilst the brief synopsis doesn’t state what became of the cubs, the footage is nonetheless interesting as it also shows the old exhibit
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Many thanks for posting this; the newsreel footage is very interesting.

However it appears the BBC have the date wrong; the polar bear cubs couldn't have been filmed in April 1960 as, according to the ZSL Annual Report, they were born in December 1960. See the extract below:

"Important births at Whipsnade include twin Polar Bears, one Reindeer, one Banteng, two Moose, two Hippopotamuses, one Giraffe and a Severe Macaw. The Polar Bear cubs were born at Whipsnade in December 1960. They were not seen by the keeper until the end of January when it was confirmed that there were two animals and not one. This is the first time two Polar Bears have been born and reared successfully in the United Kingdom"
 
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Dr. Loxodonta said:
The cubs were amazing at the end of the day, glad I came to see them. Thank you for the information about the queuing system as that influenced both my visit and great views of the cubs.
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Sorry, could you say what cubs these are? I can’t locate it earlier in the thread.
 
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