Why, oh why are there no other British zoos showing any interest in these handsome beasts, it is really quite disappointing.
Surely there are enough African mixed exhibits in the UK, that could accomodate a small group of sable antelope.
Marwell Wildlife My Monthly Updates 2009 #2
- Thread starter Zambar
- Start date
- Status
Why, oh why are there no other British zoos showing any interest in these handsome beasts, it is really quite disappointing.
Surely there are enough African mixed exhibits in the UK, that could accomodate a small group of sable antelope.
MARK
Well-Known Member
Why, oh why are there no other British zoos showing any interest in these handsome beasts, it is really quite disappointing.
Surely there are enough African mixed exhibits in the UK, that could accomodate a small group of sable antelope.
What happened to the group they had at Port Lypmne?
mhale
Well-Known Member
I assume so, but there was no indication on the notice. Certainly the tamarins could still be seen in their non-walkthrough area, so they had not been taken offshow (just the exhibit itself!)
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
Sable antelope are fairly aggressive and highly-strung animals, and far more dangerous that say a group of lechwe or zebra.
Port Lympne I think only had a pair until the late 1980s.....at that stage the mantra was 'if it doesn't breed well, we don't keep it'....and I think also their indoor quarters for an exposed site such as Port Lympne were not much more than wooden stables at that time. Some calves were born but I don't think they survived (I could be wrong).
Port Lympne I think only had a pair until the late 1980s.....at that stage the mantra was 'if it doesn't breed well, we don't keep it'....and I think also their indoor quarters for an exposed site such as Port Lympne were not much more than wooden stables at that time. Some calves were born but I don't think they survived (I could be wrong).
exatley, you see my point, i think these species would complete longletes east african game reserve!
taun
Well-Known Member
Safari Parks will not risk animals that can turn on a person or vechicle, ever wonder why they only ever hold white rhino's? Because these are the most placid of the Rhino's
taun
Well-Known Member
True, but I hate to see the Cape Buffalo at WMSP in there enclosure. It is too small and they will never be given anything better
There's another reason too- this is the only species they can normally get hold of
- but you are right that safety is no doubt the predominant reason.
taun
Well-Known Member
There's another reason too- this is the only species they can normally get hold of
I would hate to drive throu one with anyother species of Rhino (by that I mean Black or Indian). Had breeding male at WMSP inches from my car on the last visit that was scary enough!.
Like everywhere Port Lympne has its faults. To expect African animals to breed under such spartan conditions isn't very realistic- its as if they wouldn't accept their poor quality housing might have something to do with failure.
I think the best situation for fresh Sable groups would be other more traditional Zoos & Parks with good Paddocks and indoor housing- Chester or Whipsnade being obvious examples- however both now have Roan and the two species (to visitors) are too similar probably, to exhibit both.
Yes I had similar experiences at WMSP & Woburn- I'm never entirely sure they aren't going to take fright and charge as a result-I wonder if they ever do in any of the many parks they are kept in Worldwide?
That's fantastic news! John Knowles is one of my zoo heroes, and I just can't wait for it. Along with people like John Aspinall and Gerald Durrell, Knowles was one of the British Zoo Founders who realised that animals weren't just a sort of entertainment and were in desperate need for their habitat's and their own protection.
Interestingly the same publisher as the John Knowles book is also publishing a book by Jeremy Mallinson "The Touch of Durrell" on the same date (29th October). You had better start saving up!
Interestingly the same publisher as the John Knowles book is also publishing a book by Jeremy Mallinson "The Touch of Durrell" on the same date (29th October). You had better start saving up!
mhale
Well-Known Member
Marwell keep both roans and sables (and have certainly had great breeding success with them this year), so surely another U.K. collection could do the same? Marwell exhibit them in different areas of the park and I always see visitors looking at both species. The roans have their own paddock, but the sables share a paddock with congo buffaloes (and used to share with the giraffes as well until this year).
Last edited:
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I think we're now at a stage where captive populations are supposedly self-sustaining and those collections which did have Sable antelope but weren't able to establish viable herds have slowly disappeared, the last being Paignton. Those last few zoos to house this species in the UK were among the better ones, I can see a collection like Woburn however proving itself over time and building up more significant antelope groups. It's like now the cloak of the chipperfields has left Longleat and Woburn, they are starting to engage in regional and national conservation plans and the environments they offer, provided there is the husbandry to match (which there is) may afford them more than bachelor groups of bongo or nyala. Woburn is further forward in this respect and has already started to breed important ungulate species.
As the visitor expectations on Marwell change, and Marwell fits to meet that change, maybe Woburn will take on the management of multiple, large, antelope herds in small mixed or individual herds, only with more paddock space. I would like the Woburn of 10 years time to be the former Marwell in its diversity of ungulates and breeding record.
As the visitor expectations on Marwell change, and Marwell fits to meet that change, maybe Woburn will take on the management of multiple, large, antelope herds in small mixed or individual herds, only with more paddock space. I would like the Woburn of 10 years time to be the former Marwell in its diversity of ungulates and breeding record.
Woburn certainly have the space to do this, although the layout of the present 'African Plains' areas is nothing special, but the potential is there if they wanted to use it. The whole area leading to and around the entrance of the Safari Park area seems largely unused( its not part of the Deer Park either.)And it does seem they are starting to keep some rather more unusual species than the usual Safari Park range of species.
- Status