ZooLeopard
Well-Known Member
oh yeah. I saw these this year and they were both sides of the fence to the bison paddock!
Surely this is a bit risky?
Surely this is a bit risky?
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Hoof-stock at Whipsnade
- Thread starter kiang
- Start date
The 2008 annual report lists 50 Prairie Dogs, 300 Mara and 573 Red-necked Wallabies free-ranging Whipsnade. Considering how long the colony has been there and the species' fecundidty it is surprising that their population is not larger. The winter climate should not be a problem here bearing in mind the conditions in the species' natural range. So why are they poor doers at Whipsnade? The Wallabies which, in theory, should not thrive so well, seem to do far better.
ZooLeopard
Well-Known Member
how the hell do they make sure all the boundry fence is ok? Must take ages. Imagine that, your driving along and a wallaby hops across the road! 
From memory, the Prairie Dogs have always seemed confined to the steep open slope of the Downs, mainly between the Bison and Reindeer Paddocks. I think they prefer a dry climate and the chalky soil on the downs slope is obviously well drained so possibly its this that restricts them to that area of the Park. I don't know if they have any predators e.g. Foxes that control their numbers at all. There do seem to be less of them nowadays than in the past.
Bennetts/Red Necked Wallabies come from Tasmania which, unlike the rest of Australia, has a coooler/ more temperate climate and so they seem to flourish in the UK.
Little Lion Man
Well-Known Member
The population of free roaming animals at Whipsnade do occasionally get taken by a native predator. I've seen some evidence of this on the North slope of the zoo the opposite side of the little wood to the lookout cafe behind the Oryx paddock.
When at the recent Bartlett's Society meeting at Whipsnade we were told that 'officially' Whipsnade no longer has free-ranging Prairie Marmots ( not certain exactly why this is , possibly something to do within The Downs being a protected natural site ) . If that is the case , there were some very strange 'rabbits' around their raised burrows .
It may also be an offence to encourage or maintain 'exotics' at liberty?
catinthehat
Well-Known Member
could be that.....although on the most recent inventory there are 50 listed under Black-tailed Prairie Dog, so maybe it is something to do with the SSSI and "officially" them being somewhere else around the park!
Hi all, interesting thread.
I have a couple of questions about the zebra at Whipsnade.
The Grevy's have been a successful herd for as long as I can remember, but does anyone recall what used to be in the enclosure they currently occupy? I remember they used to be where the bongo are now, and I think the Oryx or Gemsbok used to be in the Grevys' current enclosure but can't quite remember. Also I remember their being Thompson's Gazelle where the Oryx are now but they sadly died out some time ago.
Also the common zebra - how many do Whipsnade have? Are they just retired individuals from other collections or do they intend to breed?
In terms of the hoofstock thread. I agree that the collection has diminished particularly in terms of the Asian animals - blackbuck and nilgai for instance.
The bongo herd is very beautiful, and they still have roan, waterbuck, gemsbok, kudu - which have bred recently, two types of oryx, which I do think is very impressive. I would like to see some greater variety with more cattle and gazelles. The gaur have always been very impressive but I don't think they will be around for long. Also I remember a much larger giraffe group which is now dissapointing.
I have a couple of questions about the zebra at Whipsnade.
The Grevy's have been a successful herd for as long as I can remember, but does anyone recall what used to be in the enclosure they currently occupy? I remember they used to be where the bongo are now, and I think the Oryx or Gemsbok used to be in the Grevys' current enclosure but can't quite remember. Also I remember their being Thompson's Gazelle where the Oryx are now but they sadly died out some time ago.
Also the common zebra - how many do Whipsnade have? Are they just retired individuals from other collections or do they intend to breed?
In terms of the hoofstock thread. I agree that the collection has diminished particularly in terms of the Asian animals - blackbuck and nilgai for instance.
The bongo herd is very beautiful, and they still have roan, waterbuck, gemsbok, kudu - which have bred recently, two types of oryx, which I do think is very impressive. I would like to see some greater variety with more cattle and gazelles. The gaur have always been very impressive but I don't think they will be around for long. Also I remember a much larger giraffe group which is now dissapointing.
lechweoryx
Well-Known Member
They just have one common zebra stallion who lives with the Gemsbok.
They have 3 species of oryx if you count the gemsbok.
In the past Whipsnade used to have a breeding group of Chapman's Zebras but I'm not sure when they stopped keeping them. 1960's?
For many years in the 80's-90's period there was a single Chapman's male- this was the original stallion from Marwell's group who sent to 'retire' at Whipsnade. When he died a few years ago he was the oldest recorded Plains zebra in a zoo anywhere. A couple of years before he died another Chapman's male joined him though I don't know where it came from. That male is now a singleton -the one mentioned above.
The current Giraffe group are pure Reticulateds. They were imported as a group of 2.3 but haven't really prospered- most of the calves born in the group have been males (later transferred away), though the current breeding female was also born there(possibly the only female successfully produced in this group) All the original(2.3) animals have died/gone, leaving only the homebred female and a 2nd one recently imported from Eastern Europe-Dvur Kralov(?). A new bull is expected also.
lechweoryx
Well-Known Member
Does the Nile lechwe herd breed at the moment?
I'm sure they didn't come from Whipsnade where breeding ceased many decades ago now. AFAIK since then they have not had more than one or two single males for very many years and even these were not of their own original stock.
ZSL's could have come from Marwell though.
ZSL's could have come from Marwell though.