They could - but for now it appears Tapir and Capybara are the replacements for the foreseeable future.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Lafone
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I would be doubtful of that, as the whole area is not a great size. I think if they ever had them again it might be in a fresh location but I don't hold out much hope.
It must have been an emotional day for everyone who loves and looks after the hippos for many years but the bright side as they have now moved to Longleat and the future plan for them is to be mixed with the other 2 from Czech Republic called Matylda and Manon and will be living in Half Mile Lake alongside the sealions, gorillas and colobus monkeys who lives on an island and fingers crossed there'll be a pitter patter of hippo feet at Longleat
Took my daughter to the trolls event today, didn't get to see much animal wise but did check out the Nilgai and definitely only 7 which is what there has been for a while, must admit 1 did look like it had tiny horns though as a previous poster had stated.
Still no sign of the breeding male zebra so I'm pretty sure he had moved on.
They are trying to get the tiger into more enrichment as they want to start up the "meet the tiger" experience again but he is having none of it.
Have to say one of my favourite animals the Gaur seem to be spending so much time in the little wooden hut, such a shame as they are an amazing animal in such a big enclosure and I love it when you get up close to them.
Still no sign of the breeding male zebra so I'm pretty sure he had moved on.
They are trying to get the tiger into more enrichment as they want to start up the "meet the tiger" experience again but he is having none of it.
Have to say one of my favourite animals the Gaur seem to be spending so much time in the little wooden hut, such a shame as they are an amazing animal in such a big enclosure and I love it when you get up close to them.
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Was there a few weeks ago and they both came out of the hut towards the end of the day and were wandering around the rest of the enclosure, and it was great to see them.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Now it's warmer I've seen them later on just before closing or first thing, though I saw them the other day under the trees. Cattle and shade!
I think the answer to the nilgai conundrum may be shown in the comments for this photo from 2019.
I recall seeing this brown nilgai with horns in 2023. I always assumed it to be a male that was neutered somehow
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Link for anyone who wants to read it, it's an odd mistake to make if it is one. Some of the actually present but perhaps more common species are not mentioned (Hog deer, CWD, Fallows etc) so the advert is emphasising the less common ones.
Zookeeper - Deer and Antelope in Whipsnade Zoo | ZSL
White Lipped Deer are not in the ZSL 2025 inventory but it doesn't mean they are not on site if they were acquired since the stock take. I guess if any zoochatters had seen them publicly they would have mentioned it.
Adding those deer would of course be in keeping with recent Asian acquisitions.
There are few holders in the UK with two in Scotland and Watatunga - the latter had a fawn reported in June but there are not many holders generally in Europe it seems. Would be fun to have them if they were to appear.
Exciting news. Last November, I posted the following:
I thought my comments about white-lipped deer were just wishful thinking. If Whipsnade have now acquired the species, it's excellent news.
I would be surprised if that is the case, but then it would be a pretty big mistake to make!
How reliable is zootierliste if I may ask
How reliable is zootierliste if I may ask
The link’s pretty clear cut. If true, evidently there’s someone at ZSL with an obscure ungulate fetish!
Does make you wonder what’s coming next (discounting the capybara/tapir)
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
Impossible - the UK Government's 'Bluetongue' policy bans all such imports.
Hi Tim, would this also be the last time there was no common hippo at any ZSL site? Further to this, do you happen to know the last time common hippo was held at Regents Park?
I've been off the site for the last 5 days so I may have missed this, but is there any evidence to suggest they're going into Tapir, or is this just speculation?
cerperal
Well-Known Member
A keeper told a member (I'm terribly sorry, I can't remember who!) and it was mentioned earlier in the thread that tapir would be joining the capybara. Obviously nothing guaranteed but I'd say it's fairly certain that's the case
London Zoo continued keeping common hippos for about ten years after Whipsnade acquired the long-lived "Henry" and "Belinda" in 1950.
The last common hippos at London Zoo , "Neville," and "Fifi," were sent to Whipsnade in the autumn of 1960 and, at about the same time, the pygmy hippo “Peggy” was sent to Paignton Zoo. The old Hippo House (adjacent to the Giraffe House) was demolished shortly afterwards.
Sadly, a few months after they arrived at Whipsnade, the female “Fifi” attacked and fatally injured the male “Neville”; “Fifi” was subsequently sent to Belle Vue Zoo (Manchester).
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