Absolutely agree. Far, far larger than most of the others with a large group living in it.
Best UK Red River Hog enclosure
- Thread starter britishzoofan
- Start date
Howletts is many times larger than either of these. Paignton's group is much reduced to just a couple(same sex) nowadays, so likely to discontinue in time.
I'm not entirely sure but I seem to remember @ThomasNotTom saying that the hogs at Wild Place were given access into the giraffe exhibit just behind occasionally?
This species was actually absent from UK collections from the 1960s, when there were just two individuals living at Paington & Dudley, onwards, until pairs were imported by Belfast and Port Lympne, some decades later.( I cannot remember exactly when, 1990's probably.)
Is it one of those species that got imported quite fast quite recently, a bit like meerkats? (But on a smaller scale of course.)
Yes, rather like that. I'm not sure where they all came from initially- Belfast's did breed but Port Lympne's pair didn't, so other imports(from Europe) were probably made. The bright colour and comical appearance of these pigs probably made more zoos suddenly want them as a good exhibit...however, they aren't endangered and I think they are gradually being replaced by Visayan Warty pigs in some of the more conservation-conscious zoos now.
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The Howletts exhibit definitely merits a strong second place, but for me the exhibit at Edinburgh (as noted above located in the old hunting dog exhibit and not the exhibit photographed in the OP) is the clear winner.
I doubt this photo of a green meadow and a couple of trees, before the hogs moved in is a fair reflection of what the enclosure looks like now!!Is this the exhibit you are talking about?
No, it will be a muddy bare patch by now probably, like all the rest!
For the record, where has the largest group currently? I count 13(?) in the Woburn photo- Howletts, London and Colchester(enclosure too small for the number they had at one time) are others I know with sizeable groups, which always make a better exhibit IMO.
I knew I should have counted them at Howletts yesterday! I reckon at least 10 were in clear view, but there are hidden areas at the back of the enclosures(of which there are two which it appears the hogs are moved between)
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Well, the trees and enclosure size are still accurate at least
but as you note there is rather less grass now!A shame, as I may well have voted for that enclosure, it was really good. I probably won't vote as haven't seen many of these, although Howletts probably looks the best from the pictures. Folly Farm looks... well, less good!
It has a proper house with indoor viewing since the warty pigs arrived, and a little separation paddock as well, so if anything it's actually even better now - but just not a Red River Hog enclosure any more..!
That's right, the Red River Hogs have access to the "Savannah" which they share with giraffes, zebra and eland.
taun
Well-Known Member
While an admirable argument, if we take that approach then shall we give up keeping Asian Elephants or many forest dwelling birds esp those that live up in the canopy of the forest.
Or the enclosures could be dressed up so it looks like they have come to a forest clearing to drink. While usually more lush are often quite boggy affairs.
I do not want to turn this into a game of whatterboutery (or even derail this thread any further) but literally yes! Surely that should be a cornerstone of exhibit design?
I think that is probably their full total. I saw about 8-9 last year, maybe they have bred another litter since or have they restricted breeding nowadays. London have about 8 also.
Score update. Howletts currently have a comfortable lead with just over half the vote. Their large wooded paddock has proved to be the most popular. The rest of the votes are spread out amongst various other collections with Paignton in second with another larger/wooded enclosure. In general I would agree with what has been said previously that there are some really poor enclosures for this species within the UK.