ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade Zoo 2014 #1

considering the difficulties they had with the proposed plans for a new Asiatic lion enclosure on the site of the old lion enclosure, I would assume that any new work happening on the downs appears highly unlikely.

the views from the downs both on top and looking up at them are stunning, and for sure the enclosures would have one hell of a backdrop, but knowing the area and the amount of trouble anyone has with planning permission in the area I just think the downs will have to stay untouched.
 
Went today. Saw some very young wild boar piglets and I think there was at least 2 antelope in the indoor part of the antelope house which houses the roans and situngas. I believe they are blesbok but I am not sure. The blackbuck are currently in the deer park ad there are 6 baby lemurs which were quite nice too see
 
Do they have more blackbuck now? Last time I went there was only one in the passage-thru asia. Also, the Blesbok have arrived? exciting news!
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
Do they have more blackbuck now? Last time I went there was only one in the passage-thru asia. Also, the Blesbok have arrived? exciting news!
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I don't know how many therefore as they were just on the Mao and listed with the other species so I don't know sorry.
Yeah they new species of antelope should be good for whipsnade
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
considering the difficulties they had with the proposed plans for a new Asiatic lion enclosure on the site of the old lion enclosure, I would assume that any new work happening on the downs appears highly unlikely.

the views from the downs both on top and looking up at them are stunning, and for sure the enclosures would have one hell of a backdrop, but knowing the area and the amount of trouble anyone has with planning permission in the area I just think the downs will have to stay untouched.
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And yet..the lodges were able to be built. So some work on the area edged by Escarpment Avenue is possible.
 
IanRRobinson said:
And yet..the lodges were able to be built. So some work on the area edged by Escarpment Avenue is possible.
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The thong about the lodges is that I guess they are hidden by the trees, whilst further around by the old lion/tiger/bear enclosure sites you can see that part of the zoo easily from the vale of Aylesbury. Plus the lodges are not the biggest development ever.

Anything that needed earth work etc with large fencing or new building would be the main issue. With the lodges it does not alter the view, anything bigger would be a massive change on the landscape.
 
Does anyone know how the Steve Bakshall events have been progressing over the weekend? The zoo's certainly had good weather for them!
 
Just a very quick question, is there a second smaller Sloth Bear enclosure behind the house and out of view?

I probably should know, and I may be completely wrong, but for some reason I always thought there was.

Also does anyone have any pictures of the Impala or Blesbok?
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
Just a very quick question, is there a second smaller Sloth Bear enclosure behind the house and out of view?

I probably should know, and I may be completely wrong, but for some reason I always thought there was.

Also does anyone have any pictures of the Impala or Blesbok?
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Yes there is another sloth bear enclosure behind/to the left of the main one. It houses Lanka, the older female :)
 
If anyone's got a good zoom on their camera, the impala are currently in quarantine in the corner of the bongo stable. I'd imagine they'll probably be let out soon. The antelope stables facing onto the rhino paddock is currently "blacked out" so I'd guess that's possibly/ probably where the blesbok are quarantined if they need to be.
 
Panthera1981 said:
Most definitely, if it comes to fruition! Let's hope so.

Personally, I'd like to see more done with the American bison-a relocated mixed exhibit with wapiti or pronghorn perhaps? It's always seemed a shame to me that they're viewed as rather like an afterthought by the zoo-they're not even represented on the zoo map! A much larger breeding herd would be fantastic, but is the species well represented in the UK? Is building work restricted by the SSI?
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where abouts are they
 
A Przewalski's horse has been born-a male.

Some sad news-the last of the "Golden Oldie" Californian sealions has passed away.Salt was PTS at the weekend due to worsening respiratory problems. I believe she was approaching 30.
 
Latest rumours are that the zoo's next big project will be a complete revamp of the main entrance, along the lines of Colchester's. Quite how they'd manage construction of this I don't know (build it up and push it in?) but I'd like to know if they'd ever looked at improving traffic flow into the zoo. You have feel sorry for the residents of Kensworth on busy days, and Bison Hill can be a law unto itself sometimes-woe betide anyone who gets stuck behind a HGV!
 
Panthera1981 said:
Latest rumours are that the zoo's next big project will be a complete revamp of the main entrance, along the lines of Colchester's. Quite how they'd manage construction of this I don't know (build it up and push it in?) but I'd like to know if they'd ever looked at improving traffic flow into the zoo. You have feel sorry for the residents of Kensworth on busy days, and Bison Hill can be a law unto itself sometimes-woe betide anyone who gets stuck behind a HGV!
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I'm not sure what lines Colchester's entrance suggests - a big black barn, really - but Whipsnade definitely needs to look at its entrance area which is, currently, horrible. The kiosks, the sort of 'plaza' thing, the shops, the toilets - it's a shocking first impression, redolent of a 1970s shopping parade. In Crawley. Something more in keeping with the rest of the zoo would be excellent.

I thought that substantial redevelopment of the sealion pool was on the cards. Is this still the case? I have to say, for every reason I think it would be a bad step (even if the current sealion pool is pretty tatty and unalluring).
 
I would shed no tears for either the Water Mammals Exhibit nor for the entrance. However, I am uneasy at the idea of large sums of money being spent on either when there is so much undeveloped land, crying out for a rich range of species so that Whipsnade can finally join the Premier Division of Europe's big mammal zoos.

That said, a revamp of entering the park is vital if it takes on board means of getting visitors out of their cars. I realise this requires thought, but IMHO getting more buses running so that car entry is reduced to the absolute minimum - ideally only the elderly, visitors with special needs and small children in pushchairs - would improve the Park's ambience immeasurably. Bluebell Wood really is spoilt by a car park at its heart.

As for the sealions; might I suggest that one simple move would be to replace them with subantarctic penguins - Gentoo and King? The latter, at last given access to a deep pool where the temperature could be controlled, might finally thrive, which would provide the Park with a high profile species with huge appeal.
 
I have mixed feelings on the spending of vast sums of money on the entrance- i really feel what is inside a zoo is much more important. Whipsnade's entrance is a bit shabby & basic, but it is functional & no worse than most others-Colchester being one exception, though i don't think that is particularly functional.
I don't think it's the entrance that will encourage visitors in or leave a lasting impression of their day.
The only zoos i can think of where thd entrance appearance might matter would be Edinburgh or Bristol, because they front onto main through roads.
Londons's entrance is no better, i'd much rather see the money spent on adding new species to both collections.
 
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