I'm enjoying these retrospective photos of Whipsnade.
I remember this Cheetah enclosure where they first bred- about where the Chimpanzee Island is now. It was a simple run with two small sheds at the back but quite spacious for those days. It looks like you took the shot from the private area at the back, as the footpath at the front is in the shot.
I wonder if this was the original breeding female 'Juanita'?- I can't remember without looking it up as to how the dates coincide. Tim May will know though.
A few points raised there Pertinax. I am pleased that the photos are giving you some pleasure, I never thought the would be viewed in this way when they were taken. At the time to use a whole roll of film (36!)in one day was considered extravagent by some. They may not be of the highest quality but I think they have a place if only to stimulate memories and discussion.
All the 1980's shots were taken during 2 visits a couple of years apart as far as I can recall.
None were taken from private areas , all were from public access areas.
The chimpanzee house is I believe unchanged, but I do not remember the island area at the time. Was this a later addition?
The cheetahs were I thought on the other side of the road near their pre rock exhibit and I also recall small cage runs.
Yes the chimp house has been there for a long time, the cheetah enclosure in the photo was more or less where the chimp island is now. The paddocks on the other side of the path held African buffaloes and musk oxen, if I remember rightly.
Further cheetah paddocks were built in the woodland behind the small cat cages to the right of the path from the brown bears to the penguins (which is now closed off completely).
None were taken from private areas , all were from public access areas.
The chimpanzee house is I believe unchanged, but I do not remember the island area at the time. Was this a later addition?
The cheetahs were I thought on the other side of the road near their pre rock exhibit and I also recall small cage runs.
1. I guess you could go along the back of the old Cheetah enclosure-I seem to remember doing so too now I think about it.
2. The Chimpanzee House( the exterior) is as it was when it was built, but they've quite recently changed the very small indoor cages and enormous(unused) public viewing area so its now a single 'dayroom', with the brickwork of the three old small exhibition cages still evident at the back. The outside has been in three phases; the small cage, then a larger paddock with electrified fence on the site of the existing large island which replaced it.
3. I'm not sure where else the Cheetah were kept apart from near the Park entrance gates but its mentioned on the thread of your Jaguar photo too.
