ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 2015

However, I'd love to see, and hear, gibbons on that island! Think you'd have to do a lot of surrounding tree pruning first though!

This island was once a gibbon exhibit; it housed grey gibbons which were sent to London Zoo when the Sobell Pavilions opened in 1972.
 
I visited the zoo today. It was a very nice trip and luckily the weather stayed nice. It wasn't a very busy day only a school trip and a few parents and children.

They where still using the temporary entrance when I entered the zoo, but by 3 in the afternoon they had opened the shop in the new entrance and said they where planning to have the whole area including the cafe and using it for entry and exit ready by tomorrow ready for the start of the Easter holidays. I was quite happy that they managed to open it by the end of the day because every other shop was closed all day

The new butterfly exhibit seemed to be coming along quite well and there was a sign saying they aimed for it to be opened by late may. They where doing training sessions with the birds ready for the start of the full shows tomorrow. I don't remember anything being said that they had stopped the sea lion shows like they had the elephants but nothing seemed to be going on around there.

I managed to get some good pics of some of the animals that I will upload soon. Any questions please ask
 
Have they broken ground on the new cow/calf barn for the Asian elephants yet?
 
When I went the elephant house was closed and all of the elephants were outside. I also couldn't see through the windows of the house. So it was hard to see if anything was happening
 
When I went the elephant house was closed and all of the elephants were outside. I also couldn't see through the windows of the house. So it was hard to see if anything was happening

The plan is to build an extension to the current barn. The new building will be situated in the corner of the outdoor enclosure, where the pool now is. You would have seen the construction work without entering the house if they had started yet - so guess the answer is no.
 
The plan is to build an extension to the current barn. The new building will be situated in the corner of the outdoor enclosure, where the pool now is. You would have seen the construction work without entering the house if they had started yet - so guess the answer is no.
O right I wasn't aware of that. That would mean there wasn't anything happening as there was no sign off any building work happening or starting. I am assuming it might start soon now they have finished the entrance.
 
O right I wasn't aware of that. That would mean there wasn't anything happening as there was no sign off any building work happening or starting. I am assuming it might start soon now they have finished the entrance.

Butterflies are the next priority (end of May). I "believe" work won't start on the barns until late summer, completion by October half term-a similar timeframe that the giraffe extension ran to.
 
cannot wait to see all this on my next visit hopefully the sealion house will have something done to it in the future
 
Butterflies are the next priority (end of May). I "believe" work won't start on the barns until late summer, completion by October half term-a similar timeframe that the giraffe extension ran to.
The butterfly walk through seems to be going well and they was a sign on the fence saying that they aim for it to be ready by the 23rd of may
 
Visited today (Good Friday) and it was very quiet for a bank holiday- plenty of parking spaces across the zoo. This was probably due to a pretty poor weather forecast, though in fact there was very little rain until 4pm.
Very little worth noting, but a few observations, some linked to earlier comments:
For the first time in several visits, the bongo house was open again, though the end with the Thomson's gazelle was blocked off with temporary barriers.
2 gaur were in the paddock adjoining the older Indian rhino shed, where Ajang was usually until he left recently.
No glimpse of the squirrel monkeys, though there was food out for them & a sign up.
Saw all 7 Rockhopper penguins for the first time all together & 2 active Wolverines.
There were 3 full sealion & Bird shows today and no sign of any work at the elephant enclosure.
 
Elephant Painting?

I noticed on Facebook that someone had declared their disgust at Whipsnade for encouraging Elephants to paint and included a link to some photos from a couple of years ago. Is this still part of Whipsnade's Elephant Week?
 
The ring-tailed lemurs have produced 3 offspring.

The breeding bull European bison has sadly had to be euthanised due to ongoing health issues.
 
I do not think it was mentioned here, but there are 4.0 impala waiting in Emmen (NL) for their transport to Whipsnade.
 
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