I think that the previous male Indian rhinoceros "Jaffna" fathered two calves at Whipsnade, "Asha" and "Rap", before returning to Basle.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade; 2012 and beyond
- Thread starter Nisha
- Start date
I think that the previous male Indian rhinoceros "Jaffna" fathered two calves at Whipsnade, "Asha" and "Rap", before returning to Basle.
I'm almost certain you're right on that!
johnstoni.
Well-Known Member
Given that some colllections keep their elephants indoors for 18 hours a day during winter, having a large indoor 'enclosure' (by which I mean with natural light, soft substrates, opportunity for dust and water baths, sufficient space to wander more than a few metres) is important in temperate zoos.
BongoHardwood
Well-Known Member
Hmm, I know there have been mixings recently, but I couldn't remember any details if I tried
I think the wolverine exhibit is great. It is nice and natural-looking and I think I have had a good view of the wolverines every time I have been to see them (bar the first time when they hadn't actually arrived yet!). It's always nice to see them lolloping along the front of the exhibit.
I'm 90% sure that there is indoor elephant viewing still, or at least there used to be. Despite being one of the must-sees for many of the Whipsnade visitors the elephants were always one that we used to miss so things may have changed!
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
I was referring to the fact that he had only got the two females pregnant once but did sire two calves at ZSL Whipsnade.
Pretty sure Ajang will leave in due course and probably the younger half-sister too.
'Jaffna' sired a calf at Basel earlier this month, born to the female 'Quetta'.
I think you are correct that 'Hugo' will stay longerterm at Whipsnade and sire several more calves with the two females.
As you've said, the cow barn was built for White Rhino, so unlike all the other features of Whipsnade's Elephant accomodation now, it wasn't purpose built for Elephants. As Johnstoni and you both point out, in winter no doubt they are indoors a lot too. So a new state of the art 'Cow House' is very much a priority there I think.
I don't think I've ever(?) seen the Whipsnade Elephants inside, but have always been able to enter the (empty) building and have never found it locked. I generally go in there for a quick look, just from habit, even when I know the Eles are all outside!
My main grouse with the current layout of the enclosures is 1. The bull is usually so far away you can't see him properly unless he's in the sanded yard. 2. Because the cow group has to be split due to their social differences, one pair of females are usually in a field where you cannot view them at all.
I ddn't realise the Elephants have twenty acres of (divided) paddocks all told.
mazfc
Well-Known Member
I love the size of the outdoor elephant paddocks, but I would love to see more things in them. A bigger water area would be great. The last te I was there the two little ones were paddling but there wasn't really room for anyone else. I'd love to see different levels (eg rocks etc) as well.
This was the point i was trying to make, the new house will make little difference to the visitor experience, because for about 75% of the year they will have an expensive state of the art indoor exhibit with no elephants to view!
I doubt an improved indoor area will have any impact on visitor figures either, a relatively inexpensive polar bear exhibit would be another matter!
Howletts have no indoor viewing at all for their elephants, so what Whipsnade have now is better than that for the visitor, if not the animals though.
Well that is something I have learned today, I never knew that the Whipsnade elephant house was originally intended for white rhino, what was the reason to change this to elephants? was it perhaps the elephants could have benefited from a new house, rather than continue to live in the Lubitkin building, whilst the white rhino accommodation was considered still up to the job? Pleased to see that they are improving things even further for the elephants, good positive news.
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Elephants and G.I. Rhinos.
When I visited in December 2010, I saw all the adult Elephant cows with their offspring in the current house which did house White Rhino previously. I also saw the bull Elephant 'Emmett' however it was from a distance.
The G.I. Rhinos- I agree I think both of the offspring of 'Hugo' will leave in due course. I think they move both adult females into the 'new' house once the two calves both leave. It's a mystery why they aren't kept in there permanently.
When I visited in December 2010, I saw all the adult Elephant cows with their offspring in the current house which did house White Rhino previously. I also saw the bull Elephant 'Emmett' however it was from a distance.
The G.I. Rhinos- I agree I think both of the offspring of 'Hugo' will leave in due course. I think they move both adult females into the 'new' house once the two calves both leave. It's a mystery why they aren't kept in there permanently.
The white rhino were originally in this area when the large herd arrived in the early 70s, and the train ran through/by their paddocks. I can only assume that by the mid 90s theLubetkin elephant house was considered sub-standard so the elephants had to be moved to a larger paddock & this was the cheapest option.
Did the move of the elephants from Regents Park to Whipsnade happen at this time too? They certainly could not have been accommodated in the Lubetkin house.
There may be another reason for building a new house. I know that the elephants that walk around the park have to be free contact (bl**din' obvious
), but may they need facilities for protected contact for some individuals eventually?Remember the old farmer's saying 'the ram is half the flock and the bull is half the herd'. To return to my previous point, you can see Emmett in the distance behind wires, or get a closer but obstructed view if he's in the sand paddock - but he is certainly not exhibited well at the moment.
Alan
Yes the white rhino occupied the area prior to the elephants, I can remember the train running through it, but was the current elephant house originally built to house white rhino, and later decided to put the elephants in there instead, opened 1997 I think.
If my memory is correct, the elephants moved to their current area in 1997, but the London ones joined them in 2001/2.
Did the move of the elephants from Regents Park to Whipsnade happen at this time too? They certainly could not have been accommodated in the Lubetkin house.
There may be another reason for building a new house. I know that the elephants that walk around the park have to be free contact (bl**din' obvious
Remember the old farmer's saying 'the ram is half the flock and the bull is half the herd'. To return to my previous point, you can see Emmett in the distance behind wires, or get a closer but obstructed view if he's in the sand paddock - but he is certainly not exhibited well at the moment.
Alan
Your memory is spot on, opened in1997 for the original Whipsnade three, later joined winter 2001/2 by the London three, tragically Anna died while giving birth to twins and Gita was later put down due to health problems.
Sorry, i'm not sure about that, but i had always assumed the white rhino were in this building prior to the elephants and although the elephant house'opened' in 1997, that it was just a re-vamp of the existing building. I didnt visit at all during the 90s, but i'm sure someone will know?
What i forgot to include in my earlier post was that for the other 25% of the time when the elephants could be viewed indoors, they will be shut in because the weather is so bad that there will be hardly any visitors to see them anyway! So if they want to improve the elephants living conditions thats fine, but spending a fortune trying to make it better for the visitor is pointless and a waste of funds! Anyone who's been there on a cold, wet and windy day in February will know what i'm saying is right. An improved indoor elephant area wont draw more visitors on those days!
Yes, Whipsnade’s current Elephant House was built for white rhinoceros. It opened in 1970; a herd of twenty white rhinos arrived in August of that year to join the two white rhinos already there.
My memory must be playing tricks!, so just to clarify, the existing green elephant house, i.e. the building itself was originally constructed for the white rhino that came to Whipsnade in the early seventies, it was later refurbished in 1997 for the three Asian elephants, and the white rhino herd then moved to where they are now, am I correct Tim?