From my last count it was nine (2.7) and they're all non-sub's (so either hybrids or origins are unknown).
Wingham Wildlife Park Wingham Wildlife Park News 2025
- Thread starter Animallover1998
- Start date
There was a feature on the chimps at Wingham end August 2021 that may indicate numbers and gives a neat little life history for the current group. At this time there were 2.6 chimpanzees.
SOURCE: Our Chimps – Who’s Who? - Animal Experiences At Wingham Wildlife Park In Kent
It may be that since 2021 things have changed considerably.....though!
I think they have just hd the one more recent birth.
I did some digging/surfing the net and I can confirm another chimpanzee female was born on December 23rd, 2003 to female Tara (and her sire Fritz).
BTW: Tara, her baby and consequently also the male Fritz are all pure-bred West-African verus chimpanzees. Unsure about the others ... though. If anyone has more information that be well appreciated.
Here is SOURCE: https://winghamwildlifepark.co.uk/its-a-girl/
I visited Wingham today. They were 2.7, the youngest female being 2 years old. They say that they are West African. As this group came from a university lab in Georgia and are not related to any chimpanzee in Europe they expect the two daughters to be sent to other facilities as they are of the correct subspecies.
According to the keeper talk:
- All came from the same university in America except the 0.2 born at the park
- The 2.0 are half brothers
- One of the females is a sister of the dominant female.
The photo of the older daughter Ezizabeth certainly indicates P.t. verus origin as she appears to have the dark facial mask apparent in younger animals of that subspecies.
Current population:
1.0 Fritz (1988) Brother of Lucas - Western
1.0 Lucas (1993) Brother of Fritz - Western
0.1 Georgia (1976) Aunty of Tara - Western
0.1 Elvira (1988) Eastern?
0.1 Faye (1992) Western?
0.1 Agatha (1993) Central?
0.1 Tara (1995) Niece of Georgia - Western
0.1 Elizabeth (2018) Fritz x Tara - Western
0.1 Margaret (2023) Fritz x Tara - Western
It's also possible some of the chimps are hybrids (at least besides Fritz, Tara and their daughters from what Wingham have stated).
Are you claiming that the ones you marked with Western are all West African chimpanzee Pan troglodytes verus and the Eastern? (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) and Central? (Pan troglodytes troglodytes)?
I was sure on Fritz, Tara and their 2 offspring Elizabeth and Margaret. Lucas and Georgia are new to me and the others ... well I just did not know untill you posted this information.
Two more questions on the Wingham group:
Did Wingham WP have their chimpanzees with the latest EEP studbook genetics tests done? Be nice to know....!
Second question that pops up is ... How much information do we have on the original Yerkes Primate Center founders and from what sources have their stock been sources? So, all their current chimpanzees were imported direct from Yerkes Primate Center (including both males Fritz and Lucas)????
The ones with question marks are just guesses on my behalf.
Lucas is Fritz's brother (although they apparently have different fathers). Therefore we can garner that Lucas is at least 50% Western. It's possible he's a non-sub if his father isn't a Western.
Georgia being Tara's Aunty also means she's also at least 50% Western. She is the sister of Tara's mother (who would have to be a Western too).
Not sure regarding the exact origins of the Yerke's founders. It's difficult to trace as they lead back more than a century now, and there have been multiple sources - a large number from a private collection within the US, a large number from France and of course, some of Yerke's purchases himself from zoos.
However, yes all of the chimps did come from Yerkes (Fritz and Lucas included).
Piece of Late March 2025 News Not Mentioned:
On March 26th, the zoo announced that 3 red-necked wallabies were born which are on exhibit.
Pouched for a Purpose - Marsupials Uncovered - Animal Experiences At Wingham Wildlife Park In Kent
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On June 27th, the zoo mentioned that 2 greater rheas hatched which are now on exhibit.
Wingham Wildlife Park
On March 26th, the zoo announced that 3 red-necked wallabies were born which are on exhibit.
Pouched for a Purpose - Marsupials Uncovered - Animal Experiences At Wingham Wildlife Park In Kent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On June 27th, the zoo mentioned that 2 greater rheas hatched which are now on exhibit.
Wingham Wildlife Park
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Wingham have posted their Conservation Plan and Summary 2025.
There is a very interesting list of animals they have gained from customs seizures, including all 152 of their Gooty Ornamental Tarantulas involved in the EEP. As well as these are many other species of tarantulas, snails, Emperor Scorpions, the Australian geckos Underwoodisaurus milli and Nephrurus laevis, Sambava Tomato Frogs amongst others. They also received 41 “Tropiocolotes” dwarf gecko species. They are on display and are quite the rarity. Hats off to them!
Lemur Leaf Frog and White-clawed Crayfish projects seem to be moving on nicely with stock transfers, releases of CB Crayfish into Bristol rivers and the potential for future Agalychnis juveniles to be released back into their natural habitat in collaboration with Manchester Museum.
Finally, WWP have expressed their desire to work with Socorro Dove, Partula Snail sp and native Glutinous Snails in the future
https://winghamwildlifepark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Conservation-Plan-2025.pdf
There is a very interesting list of animals they have gained from customs seizures, including all 152 of their Gooty Ornamental Tarantulas involved in the EEP. As well as these are many other species of tarantulas, snails, Emperor Scorpions, the Australian geckos Underwoodisaurus milli and Nephrurus laevis, Sambava Tomato Frogs amongst others. They also received 41 “Tropiocolotes” dwarf gecko species. They are on display and are quite the rarity. Hats off to them!
Lemur Leaf Frog and White-clawed Crayfish projects seem to be moving on nicely with stock transfers, releases of CB Crayfish into Bristol rivers and the potential for future Agalychnis juveniles to be released back into their natural habitat in collaboration with Manchester Museum.
Finally, WWP have expressed their desire to work with Socorro Dove, Partula Snail sp and native Glutinous Snails in the future
https://winghamwildlifepark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Conservation-Plan-2025.pdf
DCzootripper
Well-Known Member
Seen as wingham have stated that they plan to keep more lions after clarence and for breeding this time*, so where do you think they would keep them, would they take up more of the surrounding enclosures for the big cats, in an expansion area, or somewhere completely different?
*Don't quote me on that
*Don't quote me on that
DCzootripper
Well-Known Member
Thanks tankyboi
With the Asiatic lions due to join the park eventually, I feel like Wingham will likely focus more on that subspecies of lion after Clarence goes.
On a similar note, how are the rhino/Pygmy hippo exhibits coming along?
On a similar note, how are the rhino/Pygmy hippo exhibits coming along?
DCzootripper
Well-Known Member
Is it known information what species of rhino they are getting, as I have never heard this before.