when did it die out?

Tempest said:
Yep... West Midlands Safari Park had a good sized herd of wildebeest when I went, though that's a few years ago now.
Click to expand...

But where did they come from??

Did Wildebeest become extinct in the UK for a while, before these two more recent groups were established at West Midlands & Port Lympne? Port Lympne's came from an Austrian Zoo only a few years ago to add to their 'African experience' area.

I'd be interested to know if the West Midlands ones are descended from original UK stock, or were imported too. ANYBODY?
 
But where did they come from??
Click to expand...

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that... I just know they were there.
I remember being surprised to see them 'cause I didn't think there were any in the UK.
 
certainly Knowsley has kept them for many years as did Chester.
Click to expand...

Oh does Knowsley have them? I can only remember some of the animals they had - it seems an age since I went there.
 
Chester's wildebeest came from East Africa in 1951 and were kept at the zoo until the remaining 4 females were sent away in 1994.
 
Last edited:
Im trying to remember what other zoos apart from Chester kept Wildebeest in the UK within the recent past. I'm pretty sure Whipsnade had a group but not for many years now.. Marwell had a trio of white-tailed Gnu for a while when it first opened also.

Bongorob reports that Chester's Gnu arrived in 1951- so they (or their descendants) were at the zoo a long time till their departure. If Knowsley's are the animals from Chester, I'm now wondering where West Midlands' stock came from?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top