Reindeer Paddock

7th April 2010.

An unusual combination, are the mara meant to be in there?

chizlit said:

An unusual combination, are the mara meant to be in there?

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I beleive they are free-range.

chizlit said:

An unusual combination, are the mara meant to be in there?

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foz said:

I beleive they are free-range.

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Yup, the mara are free-range within the park (along with wallabies, water deer, muntjac etc). The reindeer pen seems to be a favourite spot for them, though!

Maguari said:

Yup, the mara are free-range within the park (along with wallabies, water deer, muntjac etc). The reindeer pen seems to be a favourite spot for them, though!

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I've seen alot of Mara opposite the new Indian Rhino house too.

Its strange that the old paddock at London zoo by the elephants held this exact mix.

This paddock seems more open than it used to be- more treeless both in and surrounding the paddock. Possibly deliberate to give the Reindeer increased 'airflow'/cooling? If memory serves correctly it used to hold Moose when Whipsnade kept them previously. Adjacent to it( in the direction of the Penguins) was a similar bare wooded paddock for Wapiti- that has now been erased.

Pertinax said:

If memory serves correctly it used to hold Moose when Whipsnade kept them previously. .

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This was, indeed, previously the moose paddock.

Has there been a change in substrate recently? I recall it being mud and fine leaf mulch, not exactly ideal for reindeer.

SMR said:

Has there been a change in substrate recently? I recall it being mud and fine leaf mulch, not exactly ideal for reindeer.

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It looks to me like the same, except given the recent warm dry spell of weather its probably dry mud and mulch at present!