ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Hippos at Whipsnade
- Thread starter JoB198
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At least 30 years ago, and that was work on the house and stables only! Prior to that, and I could be wrong, I’m not sure there was ever any public access to the house save for a viewing window. I don’t think the outer paddocks have ever been touched except to improve drainage.
It would be nice if ZSL invested in a state-of-the-art hippo facility (underwater viewing etc) but I’d imagine the costs are astronomical. Plus both species have bred well over the years so “if it ain’t broke…”
The hippo area was redeveloped in 1996. Paddocks increased in size and the house which was pretty much a hut obviously made a lot bigger. You could go into the old house as I remember a large window that was so scratched that my mum had to lift me up.
I've been a regular visitor to Whipsnade for decades and have no recollection of ever going inside the old Hippopotamus House, so I'm intrigued by @ajmcwhipsnade's comment. The original old building looked like a large, somewhat dilapidated, garden shed and I didn't know visitors were ever allowed inside.
Yeah, I thought the breeding success would probably mean a big shrug really. It just struck me as one of the few sites which have seemingly had almost nothing added, removed, developed, improved in my lifetime.
Like, I remember the elephants in the house where the lemurs are now, and the lions on the hillside, and so much else has changed but the hippos still basically just (hippo)pottering around.
There was a little wooden bridge, pretty much in the same place as the current bridge. I say the glass was scratched, but it may well have been covered in something else!
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Does the hippo enclosure need updating? Deep pools indoors and outdoors, the former heated, with solid separation options in both, grass to graze on, plenty of space and an offshow portion. Probably one of the best hippo enclosures that I have seen. There is no underwater viewing, but that is just a visitor luxury, the animals don't mind. Compare it to Prague where €10 million (far more than ZSL should ever reasonably spend on such a thing) was wasted on underwater viewing, but there isn't a patch of grass on the tiny, concrete land area. From what I gather many other enclosures throughout Europe have a similar narrative. Some have a deep pool, some have grass, and some have a sufficient heated indoor area, but very few have all three, and often the ones that have sacrificed a lot of their budget on underwater viewing are especially lacking in some other departments. Whipsnade has all three, and it's big, and the visitor experience is still very pleasant - the benches at the bottom, with hippos on one side, oryx on the other, and dragonflies and wagtails fluttering around the lake, is one of my favourite areas of the entire zoo. Viewing of the indoor area is more than what most zoos can say as well. The Pygmy Hippo enclosure is excellent as well.
This isn't to say it can't be better. There is always room for improvement with everything. But ZSL don't have a limitless budget and they have to think through what they spend their money on. Updating an enclosure that is already excellent just because it hasn't been updated in thirty years is wholly unnecessary.
I think my thinking was that, when they're all in the house (as they were yesterday), it seems a lot of animal in a small space.
Also, just asking a question - it is one of the older exhibits in the zoo, so not unreasonable to just ask when it was last updated. I wish there was a book which gave this kind of information. I didn't actually say they *should* update it, just wondered when it had last had any attention of significance.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
I may be totally incorrect but aren't there multiple indoor pools for them? I would be surprised if not given they have to clean the house daily and there's multiple paddocks.
My only issue with the hippo area is the viewing is generally not fantastic. If they're in the house then it's good, or if they're asleep on the paving just outside the house, but multiple times I've visited and they're sleeping at awkward viewing angles or nowhere to be seen. Obviously ZSL quite rightly prides itself on allowing the animals to choose when and where they go within the exhibits, but I don't know...I guess the whole area has always seemed a little scruffy and forgotten about to me? But I completely agree that having the oryx next door along with what must be the best pygmy hippo exhibit in Europe is lovely.
I think perhaps it's the viewing issues that add to the misconception the exhibits themselves are outdated or too small as I've often heard. The hippos have a huge amount of space, both water and grazing, and a lot of it is hidden from view. I think it was more obvious when Lola's mother (her name escapes me currently) was still around and in the further paddock. I don't see the area getting massively redeveloped especially as I don't think Whipsnade intends to have a particularly large bloat - after all, they've had breeding success from the current setup for decades.
Off topic - any updates on the banteng? Are they still somewhat off-show and is there any news about where they'll be moving to? And just to echo what's been said about the Gaur, I don't see Whipsnade going out of them unless they intend to replace them with something like black rhino. If I'm correct the current pair are both fairly old females and though the herd was definitely wasted by not breeding, I would imagine ZSL would want to completely restock with younger individuals especially now zoos like Berlin have started breeding again
I do think there are avenues Whipsnade can improve for sure - getting rid of the dump-and-fill system they currently have in favor of a filtration system, for example. Werribee Open Range Zoo saves significantly on filtration costs through the construction of a wetland system. Underwater viewing (on a budget!) is actually feasible as evidenced by Dallas Zoo's and Ellen Trout Zoo's setup (a pane of glass on the end of the pool rather than spanning the pool) though whether the ends justify the means is another discussion altogether.
As for Prague, I could be wrong on this but the hippo paddock is connected to the neighboring bongo paddock, so if the bongos are inside, the hippos can theoretically go into the bongo paddock and graze to their hearts' delight!
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Theoretically yes, and I'm still a little confused by the bongo arrangement at Prague due to them having multiple disconnected paddocks and seemingly no house. But the hippos being unable to access grass whenever they want and more importantly often being shut outside because of the constant problems with the house just isn't acceptable, especially when the pool itself really isn't all that big
Filtration is an option, but it's an expensive one. I reckon I'm in a minority here, but I don't really care for underwater viewing for hippos, and much prefer seeing them on land or bobbing about from above. It's money ZSL could spend better elsewhere
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The Prague hippo paddock is not connected to the bongo paddock, even if the bongo are inside (although it should be possible even if they are outside as hippo / antelope mixes are a proven success, for example Berlin with the Nyala).
I don’t think installing big glass panes makes up for most of the cost, rather keeping the water clean enough for actual visibility. Even a smaller window will still be expensive, and regardless would make for fairly poor viewing.
Apologies if I came across as harsh, I am aware you were just asking a question. I have seen the ‘old = bad’ mentality with regards to zoo enclosures many times in the past, so read this as another example, and believe that Whipsnade’s hippo enclosure is one of many examples that disprove this suggestion (as are quite a few of the enclosures at the zoo, now that I think about it).
I believe the hippos do have a fairly sizeable offshow indoor portion attached, but to my knowledge it does not include a pool.
Her name was "Nigna".
"Nigna" (hippopotamus) was born in Madrid in 1978 and she died at Whipsnade aged thirty-eight.)
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Speaking of hippos, does anyone know if Hodor is neutered? Lola had a non-surviving calf in October 2020 and the sire was indeed Hodor, and seeing that they chose to send Hoover away over Hodor, it leads me to suspecting that Hodor is neutered to prevent further inbreeding.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
The hippo paddock at Prague has a large steel gate that can be swung open to connect the two paddocks, but I've genuinely never heard of it being used nor seen any evidence of it being used. It's actually visible on Google maps, and in a couple of photos of the paddock itself on Google
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Hodor isn't neutered as far as I know, or at least he wasn't on my (far too long ago) last visit in April 2023.
Also, ZSL has vehemently denied Hodor breeding with Lola. I'm not entirely sure where the rumours came from but it went from being just that, rumours, to being spread as abject fact. Personally I believe the Whipsnade staff who rubbished the idea, and the idea of a 3-year-old hippo siring any offspring would certainly be an interesting discovery. Even if she did give birth, it's far more likely that Hoover was the father.
Hoover was sent away because Flamingo Land needed a bull and Whipsnade wasn't ready to move Hodor on yet. Let's try to avoid drawing conclusions based on rumour
Lafone
Well-Known Member
As mentioned that was rumoured in terms of the calf’s father and there’s no evidence for neutering Do share it if you have it though.
On a related note I thought you made a few posts criticising speculation and rumour in news threads. Does that just apply to zoos you visit?
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Yes, I am aware, having seen it in person, but I have been informed by Prague locals that it has never been used since the exhibit's construction. Which does make one wonder what the purpose of it is, but regardless, the Prague hippos cannot graze.
I only chose Prague as an example because it is clear that there all the money was spent on underwater viewing, but they are not alone. The majority of hippo enclosures throughout Europe fall short in this regard.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I guess the only reason ZSL might do it would be to have the ‘only’ underwater viewing in the U.K. but it doesn’t seem a logical way to spend development money and as you mention it’s a pretty comprehensive and well desired space already though a coat of paint might not go amiss. Might be something we see during the 2 closure weeks. A new hippo complex would be a fortune and it could lose valuable outdoor space as you say (though there is room for expansion if they wanted to).
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Completely in agreement, apologies if my reply came off as trying to disprove what you said. Prague's exhibit doubtless seems even worse given the quality on display elsewhere at the zoo but it's the only exhibit (minus the polar bears but they're getting a new one) I'm left with thinking wow, that is truly dreadful. Berlin is certainly lacking in indoor land area but the grazing space makes up for it outside - although I do think it's worth mentioning in recent years the hippos and nyala have been often separated, but I couldn't say why.
I genuinely believe Whipsnade provides one of the best exhibits for the hippos themselves in Europe and it only moderately let down by somewhat below average viewing