ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade Report

[MARK]

yes i was very surprised to find out that the Sloth bears had moved there as they where a big thing for London a few years ago.
I would of loved to off gone there when they had animals like Mush ox, Black Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, Polar bear and others

Yes they used to have a great collection of animals there in the 70s, hoof stock of many species also a good breeding record for Sumatran tigers ,

It's better now in some ways as can be seen with the Asian elephant (breeding) group also with the Indian rhino (breeding) group.

The huge group of 20 white rhinos they got in 1970 (plus the 2 they had before the group made 22) was a sight to be seen lumbering around their 30 acre paddock. Hippo babies were common as were the Cheetah babies, they were one of the few early zoos to breed this species and had much sucess with them

 

[Pertinax]

yes i was very surprised to find out that the Sloth bears had moved there as they where a big thing for London a few years ago.

They were a big thing only until it became clear they didn't make a good exhibit as they hid away a lot. Finally they moved them to Whipsnade where they actually seem a lot more contented.

 

[Pertinax]

It's better now in some ways as can be seen with the Asian elephant (breeding) group also with the Indian rhino (breeding) group.

Hippo babies were common as were the Cheetah babies, they were one of the few early zoos to breed this species and had much sucess with them

I think Whipsnade had to modernise, like zoos worldwide, and focus more on breeding endangered species rather than just keeping a very diverse collection. Its a pity for the zoo enthusiast but if Whipsnade was still in a 1950's 'timewarp' I'm sure it would get huge critisism nowadays. I think despite(or because of, maybe some of both?)) moving with the times it represents one of the best Uk collections nowadays- partly the collection but also the new exhibits too.

the common Hippos have been breeding regularly right up to the present- the last female calf being born about three years ago. Lets hope they will replace her father 'Ben' who died very recently, to continue this record.

Was Whipsnade in fact the first zoo to breed Cheetah?

 

[MARK]

Unsure if they were the first, maybe the first in the UK, but they were breeding them before it became more common place as today,

I think the pair of Hippos I saw were Billy and belinda? who had many calfs, I getting the idea from some of you UK guys that Hippos are becoming less common in the zoos there now?

 

[taun]

I think the pair of Hippos I saw were Billy and belinda? who had many calfs, I getting the idea from some of you UK guys that Hippos are becoming less common in the zoos there now?

I can only think of a few place that hold them.

 

[Pertinax]

Unsure if they were the first, maybe the first in the UK, but they were breeding them before it became more common place as today,

I think the pair of Hippos I saw were Billy and belinda? who had many calfs, I getting the idea from some of you UK guys that Hippos are becoming less common in the zoos there now?

I think the very first to breed Cheetah was the private chap in Italy( Spinetti?) who had a tame female and 'borrowed' two males from Rome Zoo. I think Whipsnade might have been the next.

Whipsnade Hippos were Henry & Belinda. That line must have died out as the more recent breeding pair were Ben(born Chester) and Nigna (can't remember where she came from) not sure how many calves they've had - at least two, maybe more.

There are only four British/UK zoos currently with Common hippo- Whipsnade(now) o.2. Flamingo Park 1.2( but male castrated) West Midlands Safari Park 1.8 (bad exhibit though- filthy 'black' foetid water in lake) Dublin Eire, 2.1.

 

[CZJimmy]

There are only four British/UK zoos currently with Common hippo- Whipsnade(now) o.2. Flamingo Park 1.2( but male castrated) West Midlands Safari Park 1.8 (bad exhibit though- filthy 'black' foetid water in lake) Dublin Eire, 2.1.

Don't forget Longleat has 0.2 (spot and sonia is it?)

 

[taun]

Don't forget Longleat has 0.2 (spot and sonia is it?)

That is correct, but out of those 5 places only 3 are of breeding age?? Is that correct?

Hopefully with Chester planned exhibit there will be a few more Hippo's in the UK.

 

[JamesB]

if chester was to get a hippo enclosure im pretty sure it would be for pygmys as they are much more rare

 

[taun]

if chester was to get a hippo enclosure im pretty sure it would be for pygmys as they are much more rare

Chester still own a couple of Hippo's, they used to be housed in what is now the bull yard for elephants.

There is talk in their "Natural Vision" plans to bring Hippo's back with an underwater viewing.

 

[JamesB]

which type taun? common or pygmy?

 

[CZJimmy]

which type taun? common or pygmy?

Common hippos are planned for Chester in the new African themed area.

if chester was to get a hippo enclosure im pretty sure it would be for pygmys as they are much more rare

I know you say that zoos are focussing on pygmys rather than common ones due to the rareity, but I think it is more a case of modern UK zoos lacking the facilities for the common hippos (f.e. you can't imagine common hippos at London, Edinburgh or Bristol).

 

[taun]

I know you say that zoos are focussing on pygmys rather than common ones due to the rareity, but I think it is more a case of modern UK zoos lacking the facilities for the common hippos (f.e. you can't imagine common hippos at London, Edinburgh or Bristol).

Exactly, most zoo don't have the space or funds to build a decent hippo enclosure. Pygmy's hippo cost less to house and are prob more active than common, thus making them an ideal new species to zoos.

 

[zebedee101]

Exactly, most zoo don't have the space or funds to build a decent hippo enclosure. Pygmy's hippo cost less to house and are prob more active than common, thus making them an ideal new species to zoos.

This is why there was a long gap between Nigna and Bens offspring. Prior to the current female calf being born they had a male offspring several years ago, but with few collections keeping the common hippo there was no where for it to go. As the Whipsnade Hippo house only holds three Hippos no breeding was carried out until a home could be found for the new male.

By the early 1980s Whipsnade had bred over 50 cheetah cubs. It was the African section keepers who figured it out that if you keep male and female cheetahs in close proximity they develop a sibling relationship and dont breed. By keeping them out of sight, sound and smell from each other and only introdcing them during oestrous, breeding is succesfull.

The herd of 20 white rhinos was a sight to see. Since I moved to the USA I only get back to Whipsnade about once a year, can someone confirm if the arabian oryx have replaced the scimitar, or are as well as? Will double check about the pygmy hippos too as had been told that the original whipsnade ones (tabitha and torpedo AFAICR) had passed away but they had got some from another collection. I know they also housed Bristols pygmys a few years ago when they were redeveloping the pygmy exhibit at Bristol zoo and I'm not sure that there was breeding that took place then too.

The "new" female gaur would have been maybe 5-7 years ago, so as pertinax said, not so new now!

 

[CZJimmy]

Zebedee, the scimitar-horned oryx still live in the exhibit behind the african lions and do not share with the arabian oryx.

By the way, does anyone have any photos of the massive white rhino herd? I've only seen a shot of 4 rhinos pretty close to the Great Whipsnade Railway (which i guess means the 'journey through asia' used to be an African theme?)

 

[JamesB]

hmmm prehaps jimmy!

 

[Pertinax]

Zebedee, the scimitar-horned oryx still live in the exhibit behind the african lions and do not share with the arabian oryx.

By the way, does anyone have any photos of the massive white rhino herd? I've only seen a shot of 4 rhinos pretty close to the Great Whipsnade Railway i guess means the 'journey through asia' used to be an African theme?)

1. He means have the Arabian Oryx replaced the Scimitars as far as species goes- no, they have both now(but only 4 or 5 Arabian).

2. Pygmy Hippos- I'm sure there were no Pymgy Hippos at Whipsnade at least between June 2007 - June 2008 and apparently not now either. No sign of them and long grass in the hitherto cropped paddocks..

3. I saw the White rhino herd several times. However, especially when grazing they were usually spread out in ones and two all over the paddock, so didn't often present a big group for photographs. The old pair from London were added to the herd but they still stayed rather apart moving around as a 'pair' together.

4. The railway journey was called the Umfolozi railway to tie in with the rhino group.

5. I agree that a number of zoos have opted for Pygmy Hippos because of the space availability- e.g. Bristol Zoo. I don't think Pygmy's are any more active or interesting though- and definately less impressive than the commons. A really good Common Hippo display in the Uk would be a 'first'- there's simply never been one yet...

 

[MARK]

When the railway first opened it only went in as far as the middle of the White rhino paddock and then it had the back up to exit the exhibit, it was only later (a year or two) before they extended the line into a full loop as it is today. In other paddocks near the rhinos were Grants Zebras, Gnu and Eland, I am glad that Whipsnade has come of age with a focus on breeding rare species, they seemed to of lagged behind other zoos in the UK for a long time but it appears they are making some strong headway now.

Looking at the photos in the gallery the elephant exhibit looks like it could cope with a large breeding herd its so good its all coming togeather for them.

 

[Pertinax]

Looking at the photos in the gallery the elephant exhibit looks like it could cope with a large breeding herd its so good its all coming togeather for them.

they could probably cope with a group of a dozen or so including juveniles and calves. Because two of the females don't get along there is a permanent situation of them having to be separated as two groups,but one group will no doubt get larger over time and become the 'main' group..

 

[JamesB]

i didnt see the pygmy hippos when i went, i just assumed they had moved on.