Yes, I was taking this through the front and back doors of the house.
As for the rhino challenge, we didn't even go into the house as we saw all of the rhinos outside [Hugo in the hardstanding/smaller area area behind the main Rhinos of Nepal house, Asha in the small paddock opposite the gaur and the other two pairs in their respective hardstandings of [what I assume is] the old rhino house].
It is still a mystery to me why the two mothers and calves are kept in the old quarters. (I think this must be due somehow to the watermoats in the new building) Since they built the new house, the only rhino living in it a lot of the time has been the male 'Hugo' He's certainly the only one I've ever seen in there.
The Gaur house dates back to the late 50s/early 60s, when it held Whipsnade's first White Rhino pair. As such it must be pretty close to the oldest unmodified building in the park.
The Southern White rhino herd of 20 animals was installed into the present Elephant House in 1970. I don't remember that, but I do remember Indian rhinos being in this house in 1973.
It stayed in use for that species until the upgrade of the old Black Rhino house in 1998/9, at which point the Gaur were swapped over.
It is still a mystery to me why the two mothers and calves are kept in the old quarters. (I think this must be due somehow to the watermoats in the new building) Since they built the new house, the only rhino living in it a lot of the time has been the male 'Hugo' He's certainly the only one I've ever seen in there.
I too was amazed as to why only the bull 'Hugo' was kept in the new house. The females and offspring were in the old house, maybe they were using it for separation like with their young bull 'Ajang'.
I too was amazed as to why only the bull 'Hugo' was kept in the new house. The females and offspring were in the old house, maybe they were using it for separation like with their young bull 'Ajang'.
There are some shortcomings in the 'new house' (not so new now) though I am not clear exactly what the problem is or if there's more than one. It has been variously mentioned on here that its to do with the indoor pools, or the number of outdoor yards, or the number of paddocks that can be accessed from the stalls. Very confusing. But something makes them still keep the breeding females and small calves in the old sheds and yards, and use the new house like an overspill-instead of the other way around.
