ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025

Pertinax said:
The last time I was there(staying at the Center Parcs) I went in the park several times during the week. One time near the gate leading out the North side we had a great experience. The whole(?) herd of Pere David were grazing on one side and then crossed the road running toward the Abbey. We video'd it, it was like something out of Africa !

True about other deer parks, though most have Red/Fallow/Sika and none can boast the same selection as Woburn, except Watatunga who probably actually have even more exotic species than Woburn now but not the numbers (Barasingha/Sambar(two subs)/Sika//Axis/Whitelipped/ Pere David/Philippine) For the record I can remember when even Whipsnade had European Red deer, a large herd in the paddock where is now the Cheetahs and Barasingha/Hog deer.
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Definitely worth a trip Woburn wise, it's great to watch the deer moving around, they flow like water across the landscape when there are that many! A spectacle. Was there the other weekend (for the Red Deer rut) and the Pere Davids were all right near the path on the way in, quite a sight. Most of the other parks have non exotics, but I do like a big herd and to see all the behaviours (the deer have no clue they are in a park of course!).
 
Lafone said:
Definitely worth a trip Woburn wise, it's great to watch the deer moving around, they flow like water across the landscape when there are that many! A spectacle. Was there the other weekend (for the Red Deer rut) and the Pere Davids were all right near the path on the way in, quite a sight. Most of the other parks have non exotics, but I do like a big herd and to see all the behaviours (the deer have no clue they are in a park of course!).
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Do you get to see the Barasingha there? They are in a little seperate park around Paris House, which is a restaurant. You can (usually) drive in through the big archway on the main road, and then turn around up by the building. But they aren't always visible as they can retreat into a plantation if they want.
 
Pertinax said:
Do you get to see the Barasingha there? They are in a little seperate park around Paris House, which is a restaurant. You can (usually) drive in through the big archway on the main road, and then turn around up by the building. But they aren't always visible as they can retreat into a plantation if they want.
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I don't usually go up there in the car, but I have seen them on foot from the path as you can follow it up from the other end of the park, though as you say they can be a bit evasive (I didn't see them last time I was there though I did go up to the restaurant area for the black squirrels as there are some good dreys there around the big horse chestnuts and the light is nice).
 
Lafone said:
I don't usually go up there in the car, but I have seen them on foot from the path as you can follow it up from the other end of the park, though as you say they can be a bit evasive (I didn't see them last time I was there though I did go up to the restaurant area for the black squirrels as there are some good dreys there around the big horse chestnuts and the light is nice).
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Originally they used to be in the main park but I never saw them until on one occassion I saw three stags . They were losing them to road accidents and numbers were down to just a handful or so, so they moved them for safety. They multiplied rapidly after that, I think I counted about 60 at one time in the small park but suspect they cull them to keep the herd the right size for the grazing in there.
 
Conservationbiologist said:
The things I hear from some of the institutions I cross paths with at work is following:

1: the public is ever harder to please. They want ”big bang for their bucks” so to say… and hoofstocks that are not zebras etc is not that for the general public.
2: problems with fertility, sex-ratio distortion etc due to past genetic bottlenecks.
3: Large herds cost to feed, clean, house, veterinary attention etc.
4: landuse pirority
5: Curatorial preferences. If a zoo has a bird-fanatic at higher positions, they are more likely to have great bird-facilities, and if a zoo has a management that does not care specifically about hoofstock taxa, the more likely there is that they provide the audience with a generic savannah setup with zebras, giraffes and wildebeast, and thats it.
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The biggest problem by far is import restrictions caused by DEFRA failing to review bluetongue movement restrictions. The suggestions you have made pale into insignificance beside this factor
 
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Pertinax said:
For the record I can remember when even Whipsnade had European Red deer, a large herd in the paddock where is now the Cheetahs and Barasingha/Hog deer.
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Indeed in the late 1970s, Whipsnade used to have a large herd of red deer but stopped keeping the species in 1979.

The ZSL Annual Report for 1979, states there were forty-eight red deer at Whipsnade on 1st January 1979 and none there on 31st December 1979.

According to this report, the size of Whipsnade's red deer herd was increased in 1976 to see whether they could be economically farmed. By 1979 it was clear this wasn't economically viable, so Whipsnade stopped keeping the species.
 
Tim May said:
Indeed in the late 1970s, Whipsnade used to have a large herd of red deer but stopped keeping the species in 1979.

The ZSL Annual Report for 1979, states there were forty-eight red deer at Whipsnade on 1st January 1979 and none there on 31st December 1979.

According to this report, the size of Whipsnade's red deer herd was increased in 1976 to see whether they could be economically farmed. By 1979 it was clear this wasn't economically viable, so Whipsnade stopped keeping the species.
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They were kept in the current oryx paddock right?
 
Tim May said:
The ZSL Annual Report for 1979, states there were forty-eight red deer at Whipsnade on 1st January 1979 and none there on 31st December 1979.

According to this report, the size of Whipsnade's red deer herd was increased in 1976 to see whether they could be economically farmed. By 1979 it was clear this wasn't economically viable, so Whipsnade stopped keeping the species.
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Interesting fact. I do remember seeing a large herd.
 
I’m thinking about visiting whipsnade on sunday however seeing that it closes at 4pm, i’m not sure if i’ll be able to get around all the zoo. Also, is it worth taking the car in for driving from point to point, or is it worth it for passage through asia. Is there anything you can’t see walking and only in the car in passage through asia. Or is it not worth taking the car in.
 
Willem123 said:
I’m thinking about visiting whipsnade on sunday however seeing that it closes at 4pm, i’m not sure if i’ll be able to get around all the zoo. Also, is it worth taking the car in for driving from point to point, or is it worth it for passage through asia. Is there anything you can’t see walking and only in the car in passage through asia. Or is it not worth taking the car in.
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I would recommend it, even just if you don't want to walk for certain parts, pretty much one entire side of the zoo is mainly just the view a few African paddocks with large animals visible from the road such as Rhino and Ostrich, and it is like that from the reindeer to the African outpost.
 
Willem123 said:
I’m thinking about visiting whipsnade on sunday however seeing that it closes at 4pm, i’m not sure if i’ll be able to get around all the zoo. Also, is it worth taking the car in for driving from point to point, or is it worth it for passage through asia. Is there anything you can’t see walking and only in the car in passage through asia. Or is it not worth taking the car in.
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You can see everything but A Passage through Asia in a car and can't access everywhere in one, however I do take my car in (I have a pass that sways it more of course) as I find it's a useful base for leaving things in and it helps if you want to go around more than once or revist an area as it is a big site and so would recommend it. It's fine to do it without one though. I've not had a problem getting around from opening to 4pm closing, but repeating an area is easier with the car.
 
I've yet to take a car in. But I don't mind a walk and have developed some shortcuts. And rarely do the whole zoo in a day.

I do plan to take the car in one day for Passage Through Asia but at £12-15 (that's with the membership discount) it's a shot I don't want to use unnecessarily!
 
Some sad news announced earlier, copied off Facebook. This leaves 3:1

We are deeply saddened to share that Koko, our eldest chimpanzee, has passed away.

Koko lived to the remarkable age of 52, having outlived the average chimp by more than a decade. Sadly, progressive age-related arthritis and mobility issues were impacting her quality of life.

Like any geriatric animal in our care, Koko had been under veterinary observation for some time, and she had her own treatment plan for any ailments as she advanced into the latter stages of life, including arthritis in her hands.

However, earlier this week, Koko’s keepers noticed that she had reduced mobility when moving around the paddock, and was unable to use her right arm or leg properly when walking. Vets increased her pain medication to treat the condition, but they could see that her ability to walk was not improving.

An examination of Koko under general anaesthesia confirmed that she had progressive age-related arthritis. Knowing that Koko would only continue to worsen as she wasn't responding to treatment, it was decided that the kindest option for her would be euthanasia.

Teague Stubbington, Curator of Mammals at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “Koko lived an incredibly long and full life, a reflection of the dedication and care shown to her by her keepers and vets. Those who worked with her formed a deep and lasting connection, and she will be remembered fondly as a sweet and special member of the chimpanzee troop.”

Born at Dudley Zoo, Koko moved to London Zoo when she was nine, before heading to Whipsnade at age 33. She lived through many milestones, including meeting the late Dame Jane Goodall when she visited Whipsnade Zoo.

Teague continued: “Her legacy lives on not only through those she left a lasting impression on, but through the impact she has made on advancing the conservation of her species. During her time at Whipsnade, Koko was trained to use finger monitors so vets and keepers could gather ECG readings, as well as conduct ultrasound examination on her heart, to help understand more about chimpanzee cardiovascular health. This data was shared with the Great Ape Heart Project, to help create a centralised database on great ape heart health – fuelling important research projects, as well as ensuring primates receive the best possible care at conservation centres around the world.”

“The primate team will now focus on taking care of the rest of the troop at Whipsnade - Bonnie, Elvis, Grant and Phil.”

Please share your memories or photos of Koko in the comments.

Read more at An update on Koko the chimpanzee | Whipsnade Zoo
 
Embu said:
Some sad news announced earlier, copied off Facebook. This leaves 3:1

We are deeply saddened to share that Koko, our eldest chimpanzee, has passed away.

Koko lived to the remarkable age of 52, having outlived the average chimp by more than a decade. Sadly, progressive age-related arthritis and mobility issues were impacting her quality of life.

Like any geriatric animal in our care, Koko had been under veterinary observation for some time, and she had her own treatment plan for any ailments as she advanced into the latter stages of life, including arthritis in her hands.

However, earlier this week, Koko’s keepers noticed that she had reduced mobility when moving around the paddock, and was unable to use her right arm or leg properly when walking. Vets increased her pain medication to treat the condition, but they could see that her ability to walk was not improving.

An examination of Koko under general anaesthesia confirmed that she had progressive age-related arthritis. Knowing that Koko would only continue to worsen as she wasn't responding to treatment, it was decided that the kindest option for her would be euthanasia.

Teague Stubbington, Curator of Mammals at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “Koko lived an incredibly long and full life, a reflection of the dedication and care shown to her by her keepers and vets. Those who worked with her formed a deep and lasting connection, and she will be remembered fondly as a sweet and special member of the chimpanzee troop.”

Born at Dudley Zoo, Koko moved to London Zoo when she was nine, before heading to Whipsnade at age 33. She lived through many milestones, including meeting the late Dame Jane Goodall when she visited Whipsnade Zoo.

Teague continued: “Her legacy lives on not only through those she left a lasting impression on, but through the impact she has made on advancing the conservation of her species. During her time at Whipsnade, Koko was trained to use finger monitors so vets and keepers could gather ECG readings, as well as conduct ultrasound examination on her heart, to help understand more about chimpanzee cardiovascular health. This data was shared with the Great Ape Heart Project, to help create a centralised database on great ape heart health – fuelling important research projects, as well as ensuring primates receive the best possible care at conservation centres around the world.”

“The primate team will now focus on taking care of the rest of the troop at Whipsnade - Bonnie, Elvis, Grant and Phil.”

Please share your memories or photos of Koko in the comments.

Read more at An update on Koko the chimpanzee | Whipsnade Zoo
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That’s really sad news. Saw her on my most recent visit and feel lucky to have done so. She was outside with the troop. She’s been really slowing down a lot over the last year, but you always hope for a little longer.

She was the highlight of every visit for me for many years and I remember being super pleased to visit on my leave from a not too pleasant place quite a while ago to be able to spend time watching her and the troop - a nice reminder there are better things in the world.

By far my favourite Whipsnade animal and while it’s a zoo etc and animals are seen by thousands of people and just another chimp, I shall genuinely miss her. It won’t be quite the same.

The keepers have done an excellent job with her over the years and if I will miss her as a visitor I can only imagine how sad they are. The right decision made was the way to see her out properly so good work by all concerned imho.

She’s lived to a grand age for a chimp and a credit to Dudley and of course Whipsnade. I reflect what an excellent life she’s had and that she’s been a good ambassador for her species, particularly getting some nice media attention as she passed those landmark birthdays.

full
 
A remarkable age for a chimp, and a somewhat significant endnote for ZSL: afaik Koko was the last surviving chimpanzee kept at London Zoo before the Sobel Pavilions were demolished to make way for Gorilla Kingdom in the mid-00’s. Chimpanzees can be quite a “marmite” species for some people, but I always found Koko to be a very pleasant individual. I believe she was also a favourite of ex-ZSL boss David Field, who always sought her out on his visits.

With the recent premature passing of Bashu, it’s not been a pleasant few weeks for Whipsnade.
 
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