ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade; 2012 and beyond

Just a quick question, that I'm sure someone can answer:
On the ZSL website, an article about the pygmy hippos states that last year's calf Sapo was the first male pygmy hippo born in Europe, it gives no time scale so implies first ever! surely this can't be right? otherwise where did all the males across Europe come from.
 
The first ever is certainly not true. Maybe the first male in that year. Pygmy hippos breed well at zoos but more females are born then males, so each male birth is welcome.
 
pipaluk said:
Just a quick question, that I'm sure someone can answer:
On the ZSL website, an article about the pygmy hippos states that last year's calf Sapo was the first male pygmy hippo born in Europe, it gives no time scale so implies first ever! surely this can't be right? otherwise where did all the males across Europe come from.
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Many male pygmy hippos have been born in Europe including at the ZSL (male pygmy hippos have been born at both London and Whipsnade).
 
Tim May said:
Many male pygmy hippos have been born in Europe including at the ZSL (male pygmy hippos have been born at both London and Whipsnade).
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Thanks to you both, it just said first without any limitation, which to me read as first ever, which i thought couldn't be right!
 
Nisha said:
Giraffe calf has been named, "Jengo"
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Cute, I like it :) I know some people don't like the whole 'naming an animal with something in a native range language' thing but I do!


Few bits from today:

1. Still can't reveal the arrival, but guesses have been guessed.

2. Much to my amazement Mia the gaur hasn't given birth yet! I was sure I'd be seeing a cute little gaur calf today but alas, it wasn't to be. Hopefully next Monday I'll have more luck!

3. It was confirmed to me today that Behan is pregnant and due next month :D I am assuming Beluki is too but didn't get the chance to ask that.

4. Karamat has no set date for her move to Belgium, but it will be soon.

Think that was it from today... :)
 
Visited Whipsnade today;

- There is now a baby gaur, they were lying inside their barn in a corner, mum being very protective over visitors. The window has been boarded up and fenced around.

- Lots of commotion round with the Greater One Horned Rhinos today, could be nothing, but seemed a bit odd to me!

- Apart from that, nothing else to report, pretty usual day to me!
 
Riziki said:
Visited Whipsnade today;
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You may have seen me! I was at the rhinos for quite a bit chunk of the day... Not the greatest weather for a visit, though at least there's free car entry now!

Riziki said:
- There is now a baby gaur, they were lying inside their barn in a corner, mum being very protective over visitors. The window has been boarded up and fenced around.
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Darn, you beat me to it! :p Gaur calf was born on Thursday and is a little male again. I did ask about future plans and they are supposed to be building the herd up so no plans to move Odin on. Not sure how a 3:1 male to female ratio is going to work though... Maybe there'll be some exchanges with another zoo in the future? That's not a hint, just a thought!

Riziki said:
- Lots of commotion round with the Greater One Horned Rhinos today, could be nothing, but seemed a bit odd to me!
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Nothing exciting was happening! One thing - Kara due to move within a few weeks.

Couple more points:

The camel who moved down to Whipsnade a while ago, Naomi/Noami has now gone back to London :)

0.1 hog deer due to arrive tomorrow

Lechwe move postponed. No new date as far as I know.
 
The ZSL Gaur breeding record really is extraordinary. Over thirty years there must have been 7 or 8 calves born between London and Whipsnade, and every single one has been a bull.
 
IanRRobinson said:
The ZSL Gaur breeding record really is extraordinary. Over thirty years there must have been 7 or 8 calves born between London and Whipsnade, and every single one has been a bull.
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That really is an amazing record, good news of another successful birth in a great year for breeding at Whipsnade!
Still no confirmation of what the 'exciting' new arrival is, 3 weeks on! Tiger seems to be favourite, i should be visiting this weekend so may have to have a nose around!
 
pipaluk said:
That really is an amazing record, good news of another successful birth in a great year for breeding at Whipsnade!
Still no confirmation of what the 'exciting' new arrival is, 3 weeks on! Tiger seems to be favourite, i should be visiting this weekend so may have to have a nose around!
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I know sorry! Shouldn't be long now. It was mentioned though that the animal in question may be let out for the first time this week so you never know you may be lucky and see it! :)
 
AdamD601 said:
I know sorry! Shouldn't be long now. It was mentioned though that the animal in question may be let out for the first time this week so you never know you may be lucky and see it! :)
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I can confirm there are 2 tigers at whipsnade today!
 
Sorry, that was posted the moment i saw the new one leaning out of the hatch into the small isolation enclosure, judging by the size of its head i would say it's a larger animal than the one in main enclosure(Anastasia?), but im pretty sure theyre both amur. Only just got home, will post a few observations from visit later.
 
pipaluk said:
I can confirm there are 2 tigers at whipsnade today!
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pipaluk said:
Sorry, that was posted the moment i saw the new one leaning out of the hatch into the small isolation enclosure, judging by the size of its head i would say it's a larger animal than the one in main enclosure(Anastasia?), but im pretty sure theyre both amur. Only just got home, will post a few observations from visit later.
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Woohoo! So I can reveal that is the news, as you had guessed Pipaluk! The new Amur tiger arrived a few weeks ago. It's a male called Botzman from Moscow Zoo. From what I can remember he's about a year and a half old. Hopefully we'll be able to hear the pitter patter of little tiger feet in the future, though we shouldn't be thinking about that so early on... :D :P Exciting stuff!
 
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Anastasia is 11/12 years old? And has never bred before, maybe they may have missed breeding age with this one...
 
Riziki said:
Anastasia is 11/12 years old? And has never bred before, maybe they may have missed breeding age with this one...
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Hence the new breeding female (ex Wuppertal) who is temporarily in holding at Dudley
 
I make no judgement, but I would point out that the Whipsnade Tiger facility comprises one enclosure, whereas the new London facility will have two.

I realise that different subspecies are involved, but I've never seen it suggested that there are substantially different husbandry requirements between them. Any comments?
 
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