ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025

We went today and were struck by how MANY deer there were in PTA! We were watching from the monkeys as the fallow deer and then loads of Pere Davids were on the move - 2 stags seemingly in the bunch, one a silvery colour - and then around 15 calves came running after them down the hill crying for their mums who'd hoofed it without them!

Barasinga and hog deer seem to mainly be in the paddocks next to and behind the cheetah at the moment.

We saw the female rhino last week and we think this week. She's basically in the old house and can be seen in glimpses. We know we saw her last week as we also saw Hugo in the other house seconds before so definitely saw 2 rhino!

Thought it was really interesting to see how they stop the aardvark digging out of the place - and also very impressive pun on the sign: 'We're aard at work'. We assumed the massive pile of red sand in the rhino/antelope paddock (well, the antelope bit as the gate was shut between today) was to do with the aardvark.

Baby Brie (gemsbok) was shut in the house/yard with her mum again.
 
Kalaw said:
Thanks for asking about that that seems like really good news. It will be very interesting to see whereabouts they find space - not that there is any shortage of space at Whipsnade!
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I’m not sure why, but immediately I think about the roundish enclosures which hold the Red Pandas/Otters. If I recall correctly, one of those appeared unoccupied during my last visit—though I must emphasise that this is purely speculative? A bit small as well really…
 
Dr. Loxodonta said:
I’m not sure why, but immediately I think about the roundish enclosures which hold the Red Pandas/Otters. If I recall correctly, one of those appeared unoccupied during my last visit—though I must emphasise that this is purely speculative? A bit small as well really…
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There is one empty, although it is VERY small. It had the male red panda in for a bit last year, and it feels okay for him as it's got a massive tree in it. Not sure two capybaras would have a nice life in the tiny area really.

I pondered one of the rhea enclosures earlier. They've been mixed together recently, and the farmyard is just by there which has one of the very few other South American species at the zoo. Wouldn't be a great place for many visitors though.

Tbf, the promotional stuff for them at London does say they're in the city while 'a new habitat is prepared for them at Whipsnade Zoo' so could be a brand new enclosure...

(There isn't yet any obvious evidence of any new enclosures being prepared).
 
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JoB198 said:
There is one empty, although it is VERY small. It had the male red panda in for a bit last year, and it feels okay for him as it's got a massive tree in it. Not sure two capybaras would have a nice life in the tiny area really.

I pondered one of the rhea enclosures earlier. They've been mixed together recently, and the farmyard is just by there which has one of the very few other South American species at the zoo. Wouldn't be a great place for many visitors though.

Tbf, the promotional stuff for them at London does say they're in the city while 'a new habitat is prepared for them at Whipsnade Zoo' so could be a brand new enclosure...

(There isn't yet any obvious evidence of any new enclosures being prepared).
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Capybara also like water and the smaller red panda enclosure doesn't have a pond and there is not enough room for one though the 'moat' could be filled up I suppose (if it is watertight), it could get really messy and it's the only way in for keepers using a ladder so might present a few H&S issues. I'd also say some other space than that one.
 
For me the ideal place for the capybara would be to build from scratch using the area next to the otter/red panda that was formerly used for special events. Its a huge piece of land and it seems as of late all events have been held elsewhere so they must have plans for it. Unfortunately it would probably take a while to build something there and absolutely no sign of any movement so far.
 
rhinofan12 said:
I did have a brief chat with a keeper about where the capys are going, they said they still don't know, when I mentioned about the hippo enclosure he seemed surprised and said it would need so much work on that enclosure for them to go in there giving me the feeling that's not where they are going.
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Not knowing where they are going is not necessarily the same as knowing they are not going there. The surprised reaction could could just be shocked to think of the Capybara in a space that currently holds one of the largest species in the zoo, which would be pretty justifiable. It is also true that it would need some work because I'm pretty sure Capybara would fit through the hippo fence!
 
rhinofan12 said:
For me the ideal place for the capybara would be to build from scratch using the area next to the otter/red panda that was formerly used for special events. Its a huge piece of land and it seems as of late all events have been held elsewhere so they must have plans for it. Unfortunately it would probably take a while to build something there and absolutely no sign of any movement so far.
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That is definitely a big underused bit of land, right in the heart of the zoo and looking very untidy. You're right, it would also feel the right kind of spot, near other 'family favourites' like the otters, red pandas and the bird show.
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
Not knowing where they are going is not necessarily the same as knowing they are not going there. The surprised reaction could could just be shocked to think of the Capybara in a space that currently holds one of the largest species in the zoo, which would be pretty justifiable. It is also true that it would need some work because I'm pretty sure Capybara would fit through the hippo fence!
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I also think it's always worth considering the fact not every keeper knows everything. Someone was asking the macaque keeper a few weeks ago about where the emu had gone and he didn't know it had moved and the tufted deer had moved in. As he said, he wasn't a bird keeper. I wonder if there's a bit of 'not overstepping' into other departments/teams at times.
 
Lafone said:
Capybara also like water and the smaller red panda enclosure doesn't have a pond and there is not enough room for one though the 'moat' could be filled up I suppose (if it is watertight), it could get really messy and it's the only way in for keepers using a ladder so might present a few H&S issues. I'd also say some other space than that one.
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Flooding the moat would give them about 2 square foot of actual enclosure*

*obvious exaggeration for humour
 
JoB198 said:
I also think it's always worth considering the fact not every keeper knows everything. Someone was asking the macaque keeper a few weeks ago about where the emu had gone and he didn't know it had moved and the tufted deer had moved in. As he said, he wasn't a bird keeper. I wonder if there's a bit of 'not overstepping' into other departments/teams at times.
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Sometimes, keepers try to give non committed comments, I know, I've done it myself in the past
 
I spoke to a keeper and they said the capys will be going in the hippo enclosure, admittedly with some work to be done on the enclosure. They also said they are all really looking forward to working wifh capybara. It will be a wonderful space for them I’m sure!
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
I spoke to a keeper and they said the capys will be going in the hippo enclosure, admittedly with some work to be done on the enclosure. They also said they are all really looking forward to working wifh capybara. It will be a wonderful space for them I’m sure!
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Just goes to show depends which keeper you talk to, massive area for just 2 capybara so hopefully something else joins them, and hopefully they don't spend to much time towards the back of the enclosure as would be impossible to see them.
 
rhinofan12 said:
Just goes to show depends which keeper you talk to, massive area for just 2 capybara so hopefully something else joins them, and hopefully they don't spend to much time towards the back of the enclosure as would be impossible to see them.
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I think the majority of keepers worth their salt will tell you working with a semi-aquatic rodent is a significant comedown to working with Common hippopotamus!o_O
 
I honestly am completely at a loss as to why this is getting such a big backlash. It’s a decision the zoo has made, end of. There is nothing anyone can do. Will I miss the hippos yes but complaing to the heavens that capybaras are replacing them is getting tedious and incredibly repetitive.
 
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