Zoo Leopad ty for your post,know he was a gift to The Queen but i got the yr wrong !. Remember seeing him in the house in the earley 80,s while delivering animals from Marwell.
i don't know where they dreamnt that statement up from. 'Mangal Peary' was a large full mature Asian female- she is probably the one at the end in the photo and featured on some of the postcards too.
Some explanation on the idea of keeping only "young" elephants in this building from the following link: Royal Institute of British Architects
"Each of the four Indian elephants was allotted a separate circular unit. The use of top lighting and continuous long windows which could be closed in the winter combined the need for public display with the comfort of the animals. The buildings are relatively small because it was only intended that young elephants should be housed at Whipsnade, the older ones remaining in London. However, larger elephants replaced the original inmates and the Zoo authorities accordingly made some alterations to the buildings."
I don't know why they would think this way since elephants don't stay small for long.
On the new heritage sign by the elephant house they said they have future plans for it? Grr I usually photograph signs I like to keep for reference but sadly missed this one so can't remember the exact wording!!
I do hope they restore it to its former glory and keep it as an example of amazing architecture but also as an example of how animal welfare has thankfully progressed.
How did this exhibit work in the winter? Did those openings where the people are reaching through have glass doors that would be closed and people could see the elephants through, or is that an enclosed walkway that they are standing in?
That could be me( the little boy) being held out to feed them, except the style of dress (and hats!) was different in the 1950's to this. Also by then the moat was dry and didn't have water in it.
