zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Yes i had heard that as well somebody at Flamingoland told me that theres was the first successfull one done in the U.K not sure how true that is,as for Dublins yes they are father and son.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade Report
- Thread starter JamesB
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Very probably it was- after all there are now very few (4?) male Hippo in UK at all.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
I would say its 4 if you count Dublins if you don`t then its just the 2,personaly i think its time we saw more in the U.K
2 at Dublin, I at West Midlands, 1 (castrated) at Flamingo Park. I guess no-one is that bothered about breeding them at present, West Midlands have a big group anyway, and Whipsnade could just keep their 2 females indefinately. But it would be nice to see a another bull added to these groups.
It was only Ben. He had a shed and a very small outdoor enclosure with the usual filthy pool. I'm sure it disappeared a long while ago. I cannot remember excatly where it was- somewhere near the mansion/penguins I think.
Hippo enclosure-I can still visualise it, but not the exact location- somewhere to the rear or side of the mansion I think. Elephant House was in or near a rose garden if I remember rightly..
Bad news for the both the gaur and the hippo lovers, had it confirmed that both the male hippo and the male gaur had passed away in the last few weeks. The cheetahs in the old enclosure are the pair that were on loan until the new cheetahs had gone through quarantine and were in cheetah rock for its opening. The pygmy hippos are still there though.
So that explains the absence of the male Gaur and Ben.
Where were the pygmy hippos? I was outside the hippo complex for about half an hour and saw no sign (apart from some water in the indoor pool). The guide book mentions them, but uses the names Nicola and Thug (who are the London hippos).
Gaur male is a worse loss than the Hippo- he will be harder to replace that's if they continue with them. This 'pair' have swapped partners already- I believe the current female is a replacement for one that died, now she's the survivor. A new pair would be even better, giving them a trio plus the young male.
I didn't see any Pygmy Hippos last summer or this year either. Their outdoor and indoor enclosures all seem to be empty.
I didn't see any Pygmy Hippos last summer or this year either. Their outdoor and indoor enclosures all seem to be empty.
This 'pair' have swapped partners already
I didn't see any Pygmy Hippos last summer or this year either. Their outdoor and indoor enclosures all seem to be empty.
Original pair of gaur were Hansel and Gretal, both were getting on in years when gretal passed away. Young female was obtained while they looked for a younger male. The arrival of the female perked up Hansel but I'm suprised he made it as long as he did as well as producing a calf.
The pygmy hippos were getting on in age, if the guide book gives the names of the London pair it suggests to me that they were moved to Whipsnade as the whipsnade ones had maybe passed away. If the pygmy pool is filled it would make sense that something is occupying this area. They used to have corrugated metal shelters outside where they liked to hide, but I was assured that they are still there. I'm back in the Uk for a few days in a couple of weeks, will be trying to make time for a flying visit.
Funny names for such huge animals!!
Do you know roughly when the female Gaur arrived at Whipsnade? I think she's been there quite a long time now so she is probably 'middle-aged' by now. If they are serious about keeping them on I think they should try to add a new pair, not just another male.Everyone whose been to Whipsnade recently seems to agree the Pygmy hippos aren't there. The green 'pig arks' are still in the little outdoor paddocks but the grass has grown long- something it never did when the hippos were in them.
I think it would be great i Whipsnade could get a pair of Gaur to go with the two they have and i really hope they continue with these aninals. so many of the large mammals that they used to keep have since gone now such a shame
My sentiments exactly. Its still a great collection but each time another species disappears, nothing seems to replace it, so its one less species. However, in recent times they've also gained the Arabian Oryx and Sloth Bears so its not entirely one way traffic.