Is he out with the herd then?
I nearly walked up to have a look yesterday but it was too cold (I needed to wear better clothing!) and I find that spot in the zoo is always freezing!
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
Is he out with the herd then?
I nearly walked up to have a look yesterday but it was too cold (I needed to wear better clothing!) and I find that spot in the zoo is always freezing!
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Apparently so, or at least able to interact with the females. Haven't been up there myself for a while but heard about it while chatting to a keeper at London. I'm surprised neither collection haven't publically announced anything, given the status of the species and how long it's been since Whipsnade bred any
For a spot that is far from the most exposed at the zoo, it always felt baltic up there well into the spring!
They might just be waiting to see how he gets on. If they announced too early and the introductions didn't go well, it would be another bit of a blow.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I assume the calf from July 2022 didn't survive then vs they didn't breed any.
Male Grevy's Zebra Zinabi has now been moved to Chessington World of Adventures Resort as part of the European Breeding Programme
Was that the previous breeding stallion at Whipsnade or the juvenile one?
Yes, Zinabi is a colt born 23/07/2023:
Zookeepers celebrate birth of endangered Grevy’s zebra | Whipsnade Zoo
And here is a photograph of him taken 10th August 2023
Grevy's zebra with foal; Whipsnade; 10th August 2023 - ZooChat
Lafone
Well-Known Member
He was a fun too when he was a foal, racing about and playing with the Waterbuck (August 2023).
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The bull is running with the cows since 20th October
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Had a fun day at Whipsnade today, fairly quiet and lovely weather. Wallabies sitting among the fallen Autumn leaves certainly signals the season changing at Whipsnade.
Signage has gone up about the bears going off for the winter (referring to hibernation vs torpor this year)
and while they might be seen in the lower area, it's now going to be 2026 until we see them regularly again.
The Scimitar Horned Oryx were all out together, with the male showing no small interest in a couple of the females. They were all in the back paddock not the front enclosure, as is routine at this time of year.
Updated signage around the place has freshened things up, with the new style signage at the Giraffes looking smart. Was sad not to see Bashu with the others. A prominent absence but great to see the rest of the herd looking good.
Was also my first visit since Koko died and it was a sad moment at the Chimp house not to see her. The others looked in good form and a talk mentioned her death hadn't disrupted the group dynamic too much as, as we know, she had a lower position in the hierarchy.
Got great views of the new Red panda cub Hattie who was super active playing in the tree with mum Ruby. Bold climbing going on and Ruby grabbed the cub a few times to try and restrain her but she was having none of it, climbing up to near the top of the tree. Fun to see. The Panda talk mentioned Nilo will probably move into his old tree and the smaller enclosure in the New Year for separation from mum and cub so we might see that reopened.
The ex Bristol Cheetah brothers Jake and Oscar have been separated after a few issues and the green curtaining has gone up on the fence between the enclosures (haven't seen that since the old Cheetahs were there) with one on each side. New signage has a small illustration of the on show and off show spaces showing the scope of the Cheetah housing to visitors, which is nice to see.
Three juveniles for the Flamingoes were out and about on the lake and three fawns in total it seems for the Barasingha this year. Good results for the zoo.
The Blue Cranes (and chick) have gone off show in the enclosure at the top of Spicer's field and been replaced by White Storks, which happened around the same time last year when the colder weather came in. For anyone looking for a Crane chick fix (might just be me) the Red Crowned Cranes are still all together in their enclosure near the yaks.
Lots of the animals were out enjoying the Autumn sunshine with good views of playing lions and running ostriches, among other things. And good views of the Tufted deer being fed near the close of the day.
Fencing has gone up, shipping container offices and diggers parked, with signs about construction in the elephant area car park, so work appears to be underway on the extension to the elephant area.
Signage has gone up about the bears going off for the winter (referring to hibernation vs torpor this year)
and while they might be seen in the lower area, it's now going to be 2026 until we see them regularly again.
The Scimitar Horned Oryx were all out together, with the male showing no small interest in a couple of the females. They were all in the back paddock not the front enclosure, as is routine at this time of year.
Updated signage around the place has freshened things up, with the new style signage at the Giraffes looking smart. Was sad not to see Bashu with the others. A prominent absence but great to see the rest of the herd looking good.
Was also my first visit since Koko died and it was a sad moment at the Chimp house not to see her. The others looked in good form and a talk mentioned her death hadn't disrupted the group dynamic too much as, as we know, she had a lower position in the hierarchy.
Got great views of the new Red panda cub Hattie who was super active playing in the tree with mum Ruby. Bold climbing going on and Ruby grabbed the cub a few times to try and restrain her but she was having none of it, climbing up to near the top of the tree. Fun to see. The Panda talk mentioned Nilo will probably move into his old tree and the smaller enclosure in the New Year for separation from mum and cub so we might see that reopened.
The ex Bristol Cheetah brothers Jake and Oscar have been separated after a few issues and the green curtaining has gone up on the fence between the enclosures (haven't seen that since the old Cheetahs were there) with one on each side. New signage has a small illustration of the on show and off show spaces showing the scope of the Cheetah housing to visitors, which is nice to see.
Three juveniles for the Flamingoes were out and about on the lake and three fawns in total it seems for the Barasingha this year. Good results for the zoo.
The Blue Cranes (and chick) have gone off show in the enclosure at the top of Spicer's field and been replaced by White Storks, which happened around the same time last year when the colder weather came in. For anyone looking for a Crane chick fix (might just be me) the Red Crowned Cranes are still all together in their enclosure near the yaks.
Lots of the animals were out enjoying the Autumn sunshine with good views of playing lions and running ostriches, among other things. And good views of the Tufted deer being fed near the close of the day.
Fencing has gone up, shipping container offices and diggers parked, with signs about construction in the elephant area car park, so work appears to be underway on the extension to the elephant area.
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Ryley
Well-Known Member
I hope this is the right place to ask a few elephant related questions,
During November/December time are the elephants outside a lot? Is Ming Jung the bull currently viewable and I’ve read on here construction is planned to happen, has it already begun?
I’m planning to visit for the first time In a few weeks (all going well) and I’m particularly interested in the elephants. Thank you!
During November/December time are the elephants outside a lot? Is Ming Jung the bull currently viewable and I’ve read on here construction is planned to happen, has it already begun?
I’m planning to visit for the first time In a few weeks (all going well) and I’m particularly interested in the elephants. Thank you!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The elephants will usually be out unless the weather is bad.
After heavy rain or if it is very muddy the zoo will sometimes close the grass pathway that runs along one side of the outdoor enclosure leaving viewing from the top end, the house or into the smaller enclosure at the rear.
In the same vein if it’s muddy the zoo may close the cut through to the elephants past the rhinos but the grass pathway can still be accessed by going around the warty pig enclosure, if the grassy path is open.
If they are inside or in the rear enclosure you can still have good views from the house balcony or the viewing area which overlooks the rear enclosure.
You can usually see the male from one side of the enclosure or the other.
As noted above construction work has started with the erection of temporary fencing, machinery anrriving and signage in what is currently the elephant area car park.
Burribro
Member
My son and I were also there on Saturday! Just to add the giraffes, I noticed one of the older giraffes was off show. Saw it mentioned on here at one point that she might be pregnant, but the volunteer I spoke too wasn't aware of what was going on either!
Ahead of ZSL’s 200th anniversary, the zoo’s white chalk lion has, once again, had another restoration
Hagrid the bull Yak has been moved to Knowsley Safari Park to join the females according to Facebook
Hopefully doesn't bring a halt to the prolific breeding success at Whipsnade.
Reticulated giraffe Luna has given birth to her fifth calf, a female. Father is the recently deceased Bashu
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