How far are the elephants walked every day?
It really must be rather inspiring to see the group on a hillside in darkest Bedfordshire.
Well done Whipsnade.
I know Whipsnade is 600 acres but no idea how many miles of road there are! They usually do a lap and then stop and go off road
We were driving round looking for them when we spotted them grazing on the downs and went down and got really close to them, in fact had to move sharpish when Peter? (youngest calf) came running towards me lol
The keepers are so relaxed and just let them enjoy themselves but are very strict with them when they are actually walking
Its fantastic to see the look on peoples faces when they spot the line of elephants coming there way and then running alongside to keep up!
Its very interesting to contrast the two different styles of management of the two main Asian elephant herds in the UK- here and at Chester. Chester have a more cohesive herd BUT they never leave the enclosure. Whipsnade's seem never to be altogether in one group(at least in the paddocks- and the bull nearly always seems to be on his own) but the cows and calves do enjoy a very stimulating regime almost throughout the year- as this photo shows so well.
They are very strict with them but obviously they have to be 100% disciplined for the walks where there are public about. But I hope they always keep doing this, both for the elephants and benefit of the visitors too.
Woburn used to walk their(2) Asian female elephants out too but not sure if that's been discontinued.
