ZSL Whipsnade Zoo whipsnade visit march 26 2011

anidude

Well-Known Member
went to whipsnade yesterday and made the following observations :

1 the argentian boa exhibit in discovery now has the spiny turtles in it which were by the crocs the old turtle exhibit seems to be having work done to it as there was black bin bags over the window and there was wood chips in some of the exhibits and the burmese python had leaves to forage in .

2 the pot bellied pig on the farm is undergoing vet treatment

3 the sealion house now has a jetty type area in front of the seating area possibly something to do with training also the outside area has boards up near the fence by the pool possibly encouraging the sea lions to put flippers up against in and they seem to have new balls for them to jump and touch on a pulley like system

4 the two tigers were sleeping also doing building work around the fence possible viewing / seating area maybe

5 both gaur were out and they seem to have a sand yard area now too

6 onager were out

7 rhino were inside the old house and in the yard area the front paddock had lots of sand in

8 saw the cheetahs and babys lying down by the antelope

9 the bird walkthrough area was still chained up but with a lower fence no visible signs present

feel free to ask questions il do my best to answer them
 
I too was at Whipsnade on Saturday 26th March 2011.

It is, perhaps, worth adding that the Hippopotamus House was closed; there was a notice on the door stating this was because the female pygmy hippopotamus had recently given birth.

The three common hippos were visible in their outdoor enclosure.
 
Were they all together?

No the three animals were not all together; when facing the hippos, the enclosure on the left held two hippos, the one on the right a solitary individual.

I posted three hippo photos from this visit in the gallery.

The links below are to pictures of one of the two animals in the left hand exhibit:-

http://www.zoochat.com/216/hippopotamus-whipsnade-26th-march-2011-a-207748/

http://www.zoochat.com/216/hippopotamus-whipsnade-26th-march-2011-a-207833/

The link below is to a picture of the animal in the right hand exhibit:-


http://www.zoochat.com/216/hippopotamus-whipsnade-26th-march-2011-a-207747/
 
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From the bulky shape of the one in the righthand enclosure my guess would be that is 'Nigna' and the two together in the other one are the daughter and the new bull.
 
From the bulky shape of the one in the righthand enclosure my guess would be that is 'Nigna' and the two together in the other one are the daughter and the new bull.

Yes, I think that you’re right; I believe that the hefty hippo in the right hand enclosure is ‘Nigna’, but I must admit that I’m not confident about identifying the individual hippos.

So are they not mixing Nigna's mother with the new bull?

The two female hippos at Whipsnade are ‘Nigna’ and her daughter ‘Lola’.

Assuming Pertinax is right (and I think he is) it is ‘Nigna’ who is not currently mixed with the new bull.
 
Yes, I think that you’re right; I believe that the hefty hippo in the right hand enclosure is ‘Nigna’, but I must admit that I’m not confident about identifying the individual hippos.

Assuming Pertinax is right (and I think he is) it is ‘Nigna’ who is not currently mixed with the new bull.

I go on the general body shape- the two together are lighter bodied therefore younger, though I've no idea which is which.
 
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