I've heard plans Wodburn might house them again in the future. It remains to be seen whether they actually will, but as facility they do have the space to hold them. A large exhibit for a large pod could definitely be something for them to consider.
Common Hippos in the UK (and Dublin)
- Thread starter CZJimmy
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I've heard plans Wodburn might house them again in the future. It remains to be seen whether they actually will, but as facility they do have the space to hold them. A large exhibit for a large pod could definitely be something for them to consider.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
The Hippo at Woburn were where the Congo Buffalo is now. The pool is small, and it also doesn't have any fence to prevent them going on to the Drivethrough. I had a tour in one of the 4X4 the other week at Woburn and the guide then spoke as if it was a surprise they ever kept Hippo in that space and that they hoped to get more Forest Buffalo in time.
If Woburn were to get Hippo again, I can't think where they would house them. I mean that Swan Pedalo lake could always be revamped and turned into a Hippo lake for sure, but I couldn't see them getting rid of that little money earner.
If Woburn were to get Hippo again, I can't think where they would house them. I mean that Swan Pedalo lake could always be revamped and turned into a Hippo lake for sure, but I couldn't see them getting rid of that little money earner.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
It could be, but it would be a costly one and YWP have already laid off staff, halted the build of the hotel in full and conference rooms, as well as halting plans for some other once planned exhibits, so one would probably doubt that something as costly as developing an area for Escobar's Hippos would be very high on the agenda.
Same detail on BBC news website today to move 70 Hippos. No timings though.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Very sad news to announce:
Forty-nine-year old Sonia has passed away at Longleat. Luckily, Spot seems to be doing just fine.
Longleat pays tribute to 'history making' hippopotamus Sonia
Forty-nine-year old Sonia has passed away at Longleat. Luckily, Spot seems to be doing just fine.
Longleat pays tribute to 'history making' hippopotamus Sonia
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
This is the current Nile Hippo population in the UK and Dublin as of 4/25/23:
Total population: 3:9:0
Whipsnade Wild Animal Park: 1:1:0
1:0 Hodor - 7/21/17 - Hoover x Lola
0:1 Lola - 12/27/03 - Ben x Nigna
Longleat Safari Park: 0:1:0
0:1 Spot - circa 1974 - wild x wild
Flamingo Land Ltd: 1:1:0
1:0 Hoover - 7/14/01 - Henry x Linda
0:1 Godzilla - 7/7/98 - Harvey x Gertie
West Midlands Safari and Leisure Park: 1:5:0*
*one of the females has either passed away or been moved elsewhere
1:0 Ernie - 8/4/03 - Garfield x Betty
0:1 Barbel - 10/6/86 - Stenek x Brandy
0:1 Friday - 3/28/97 - Harvey x Gertie
0:1 Gussie - 8/26/00 - Harvey x Barbel
0:1 Hilary - 8/11/03 - Garfield x Friday
0:1 Helen - 7/17/04 - Garfield x Gertie
0:1 Mavis - 9/10/05 - Garfield x Gertie
Proof that one of the cows is no longer there:
Halterdetails
Dublin Zoo: 0:1:0
0:1 Heidi - 8/16/01 Wilhelm x Helvetia
Total population: 3:9:0
Whipsnade Wild Animal Park: 1:1:0
1:0 Hodor - 7/21/17 - Hoover x Lola
0:1 Lola - 12/27/03 - Ben x Nigna
Longleat Safari Park: 0:1:0
0:1 Spot - circa 1974 - wild x wild
Flamingo Land Ltd: 1:1:0
1:0 Hoover - 7/14/01 - Henry x Linda
0:1 Godzilla - 7/7/98 - Harvey x Gertie
West Midlands Safari and Leisure Park: 1:5:0*
*one of the females has either passed away or been moved elsewhere
1:0 Ernie - 8/4/03 - Garfield x Betty
0:1 Barbel - 10/6/86 - Stenek x Brandy
0:1 Friday - 3/28/97 - Harvey x Gertie
0:1 Gussie - 8/26/00 - Harvey x Barbel
0:1 Hilary - 8/11/03 - Garfield x Friday
0:1 Helen - 7/17/04 - Garfield x Gertie
0:1 Mavis - 9/10/05 - Garfield x Gertie
Proof that one of the cows is no longer there:
Halterdetails
Dublin Zoo: 0:1:0
0:1 Heidi - 8/16/01 Wilhelm x Helvetia
hari Jones
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if dublin is planning on getting a male anytime soon
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Pure spitballing so anyone with actual information do correct me, but male hippos are at a premium in Europe as far as I'm aware. Maybe Hodor will be shipped there in the future?
Don’t think so; but the best match atm for a second breeding pair would be to send Hodor over there.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Probably not. I can see them relocating Heidi in the next few years and then “taking a break” from hippos for a few years and after that deciding whether they will bring them back or not.
A Heidi, Hodor pairing seems very likely in my eyes.
Whether that’s Hodor going over to Dublin or Heidi coming to Whipsnade; it should be something explored either way.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Whipsnade has no intention of losing the species either and intends to continue breeding them. Unfortunately, hippos have been pretty rare here for at least the past 30 years
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I don't think hippos are going to go away any time soon. West Mids still have a large group and it seems both Whipsnade and Flamingo Land intend to breed. The only one that seems up in the air is Longleat which depends on what their plan is once Spot passes. I haven't been to Longleat though I get the impression the hippos are a big highlight of the boat ride so it'd be a shame for them to go out of the species.
hari Jones
Well-Known Member
For me the hippos aren't here highlight of the boat trip for me I see them on every trip I make to longleat it would be a real shame when spot passes because the lake wouldn't be the same without them
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Given the fact that there have always only been two and most of the time they were floating at the side, the excitement once they are spotted from everyone on the boat has always been lovely to see. Amazing how two grey rocks can distract people from the foghorn sea lions! It's a species Longleat has held for as long as most of us can remember, moreover the same examples too, so it would be a real shame if they didn't get more once Spot goes.
hari Jones
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't think new hippos would tolerate living with sealions
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately you're probably right. I'm not sure of the initial reaction Spot and Sonia had to them, Longleat probably got the two most chilled out hippos ever. Potentially young ones could get used to it, but also they usually kept apart anyway.
Makes you really think how weird Half Mile Lake has always been
Id be interested to know the number of holders 30 years ago (I can only recall Woburn).
Commons are hardy but I feel, until there is a concerted effort to improve the facilities that house the species, it will be the same holders that retain them or phase them out. Longleat phasing them out would be a crying shame-they could probably hold a healthy pod (bull debatable). The issue would be the unfamiliarity with the sealions
Yes, I believe if you went back 30 years the only additional holder would have been Woburn but go back 40 and there is a few more like Chester and I believe Chessington?
I've never understood why zootierliste says London kept common hippos until 2010, I know ZTL has mistakes but that one has been there for years... And there is obviously no reason to believe it!