Binturong, perhaps?
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade 2014 #2
- Thread starter Nisha
- Start date
Common sense would dictate that you could use one of the off-show primate species that came from London. I'd like Whipsnade to increase its primate collection so, personally, I'd like to see a species of gibbon!
The red panda exhibit is one of the best in the zoo-simple yet effective!
The otter pool's been a bit of dead end since they went down to 3 or 4. Not really sure what you could have on there!
The red panda exhibit is one of the best in the zoo-simple yet effective!
The otter pool's been a bit of dead end since they went down to 3 or 4. Not really sure what you could have on there!
That part of the zoo is a favourite of mine. For me the Red Panda enclosure, as you say is effective in its simplicity and I believe at one time Gibbons did live on the old Squirrel monkey enclosure.
Otters were perfect for the old seal pool, so maybe some more otters will arrive in the future.
Otters were perfect for the old seal pool, so maybe some more otters will arrive in the future.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
With all due respect, ajmc, you seem to have a problem in terms of seeing constructive criticism.
I started my piece by pointing out that Whipsnade had never really found a primate species that combined visibility on the island with it not being potentially destructive.
Lar Gibbons and then "Grey" Gibbons (at a time when Muller's weren't recognised as being distinct from Moloch) were kept on the island until the early 1970s, when "it became necessary to remove them" in the phrase I remember reading at about the time when the Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys were introduced in 1979.
The island had at that time been empty for some six or seven years. Whatever the issues had been with gibbons, the island had obviously been deemed sub-optimal for them.
The otter pool was installed in the 1930s to hold Chimpanzees!! It has always been ugly as sin and from my observations there are also drainage issues. After 80 years of undistinguished later service for California and Patagonian Sealions, followed by solitary Grey and Common Seals before the present conversion for Asiatic Short-Clawed Otters, it might I think fairly be suggested that it is due for removal.
In between there is the Red Panda enclosure, which is fine, but other trees in "Asia" do exist and could be put into service. And if there was any thought put towards revamping this area - agreed, not a priority, but with one enclosure empty and another outdated, surely permissible to speculate upon - then the Red Pandas might just have to be moved.
Much as I love Whipsnade, I know that I'm not its only devotee who looks at its abundant possibilities, is thrilled by them, and wonders aloud how things might be improved.
To constantly decry any suggestions of change or improvement does seem a tad hard. Oh well, each to his or her own.
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With all due respect, ajmc, you seem to have a problem in terms of seeing constructive criticism.
I started my piece by pointing out that Whipsnade had never really found a primate species that combined visibility on the island with it not being potentially destructive.
Lar Gibbons and then "Grey" Gibbons (at a time when Muller's weren't recognised as being distinct from Moloch) were kept on the island until the early 1970s, when "it became necessary to remove them" in the phrase I remember reading at about the time when the Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys were introduced in 1979.
The island had at that time been empty for some six or seven years. Whatever the issues had been with gibbons, the island had obviously been deemed sub-optimal for them.
The otter pool was installed in the 1930s to hold Chimpanzees!! It has always been ugly as sin and from my observations there are also drainage issues. After 80 years of undistinguished later service for California and Patagonian Sealions, followed by solitary Grey and Common Seals before the present conversion for Asiatic Short-Clawed Otters, it might I think fairly be suggested that it is due for removal.
In between there is the Red Panda enclosure, which is fine, but other trees in "Asia" do exist and could be put into service. And if there was any thought put towards revamping this area - agreed, not a priority, but with one enclosure empty and another outdated, surely permissible to speculate upon - then the Red Pandas might just have to be moved.
Mucj as I love Whipsnade, I know that I'm not its only devotee who looks at its abundant possibilities, is thrilled by them, and wonders aloud how things might be improved.
To constantly decry any suggestions of change or improvement does seem a tad hard. Oh well, each to his or her own.
All I wrote was my personal opinion that is all. I personally do not see a problem with that part of the Zoo but you feel it could be improved which is fine. Not everyone is going to have the same opinions on things (in football for example some like James Milner...I personally feel he offers nothing) and I was just stating my point of view.
I remember Gibbons on this Island. From memory it has four mature trees on it- Beech and Oak? I never remember seeing any damage to the trees, but there was only a rickety-looking little 'indoor' house. Were the Gibbons all year round though or removed offshow in winter? The problem for any other Primates placed on here would be to provide decent more modern indoor shelter as well.
Even I can't remember the Chimps on the other island,
though I have the b/w postcard of one at the water's edge. Similarly I wonder if they were also removed in winter, or even every night, or what sort of indoor housing was provided for them.I remember the gibbons on that island,I seem to remember it became a safety issue for the keepers.The only access to the hut meant going onto thr island ,where a gibbon could descend at speed; there was an underground cable to work the slide on the shed but this was impractical.
I never saw chimps on the island, i understood that they lived in a building opposite which had 2 connected barred cages; the chimps were carried out by the keeper and rowed pver to the island for the day.
They must have been youngsters, but i never remember seeing large chimps at London in the 50's, when they retired from the Tea party they soon left; a group went to new zealnd on a liner and have been mentioned fairly recently as dying
The first real adult I saw was at Chester zoo in 1957 on the Island.
I never saw chimps on the island, i understood that they lived in a building opposite which had 2 connected barred cages; the chimps were carried out by the keeper and rowed pver to the island for the day.
They must have been youngsters, but i never remember seeing large chimps at London in the 50's, when they retired from the Tea party they soon left; a group went to new zealnd on a liner and have been mentioned fairly recently as dying
The first real adult I saw was at Chester zoo in 1957 on the Island.
I believe most of the Chimps at London in those days were 'teaparty' Chimps, so were quite young. There was one well-known adult pair as well, during the early 1960's though- Dick and Abena. Abena was born in 1945, Dick was a few years younger. Dick was very humanised and was a 'smoker'. He wasn't a breeder either but I know that before living with him for many years, Abena had previously had a baby( which died) by a different male, which means there must have been others there nearing maturity. After Dick died, Abena joined the late 1960's breeding colony in the Lubetkin house and I think successfully had another baby, in her quite old age. She died circa 1980.
The Chimp in the Whipsnade b/w postcard is quite young.
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Work begins in earnest next week upon the new Main Entrance. Hopefully the temporary exit through the Woodland Walk is retained-it will look quite smart IMO once the trees return to full bloom.
really looking forward to the new entrance. Really needed in my opinion!
No surprise in that though!
Some news regarding the redevelopment of the elephant barns: The indoor viewing will be akin to that which is seen at Giraffe Heights or at Paignton-the visitor looks down and across the interior barn. The barns will also have deep-sand substrate.
The new Cloisters butterfly development should house 30+ species.
The new Cloisters butterfly development should house 30+ species.
This is becoming one of my pet hates with indoor viewing at some Zoos.
Where you look down on large mammals. It means viewing isn't impeded by rails or fences but instead often all you can see is their backs. The very worst (local- UK) example I know is Colchester's 'Out of Africa' House. I hope Whipsnade can avoid that feel.
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This is becoming one of my pet hates with indoor viewing at some Zoos.
Only based on the sketches I've seen. Anyway, any improvement on the current indoor viewing is a bonus!
Viewing in the Elephant house was much better before they put the barriers up. I think kids were misbehaving or there was just a general lack of respect for what is a building for animals. Its a shame other spoil it for the majority!
A growing trend I've noticed at both collections in the last 18 monthes Im afraid to say.
I would suggest its a growing trend in general. I was out in town earlier and I saw some people just throw litter on the ground which was really poor. I know im only 25 and im sounding like a old person but still I think behaviour in public has gone down.
You can put up all the 'don't knock on the glass' signs etc but that wont stop someone from it!
I don't know what its like now but the last time I went in there it still seemed okay. Mind you, I can't remember the last time I actually saw any Eles at Whipsnade indoors....
6 female Blackbuck have arrived from the Netherlands, currently in quarantine. The plan is to eventually mix them, and the lone male, with the Nilgai.
Tentative plans are underway to bring in Emperor tamarin (a personal favourite!) and Rockhopper penguin.
Work has now begun on the new butterfly exhibit.
Tentative plans are underway to bring in Emperor tamarin (a personal favourite!) and Rockhopper penguin.
Work has now begun on the new butterfly exhibit.
The lone male is presumably the last survivor of the old London Zoo stock. This herd must have been very inbred having had (afaik) very little or no out-crossing over the years. So females from Holland are a welcome arrival. Hopefully they will thrive and multiply. Good to see another positive move like this too. Whipsnade is certainly experiencing a bit of a renaissance stockwise at present.