The release at the time seemed to imply they were hand-reared specifically to enable them to be brought into closer quarters with humans at Regent's Park - but maybe that was spin or my misreading.
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The release at the time seemed to imply they were hand-reared specifically to enable them to be brought into closer quarters with humans at Regent's Park - but maybe that was spin or my misreading.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Potentially but that doesn't sound very ZSL - perhaps the most likely case was they had to be hand-reared and the zoo saw the opportunity to introduce them to London because of it. I don't think they integrated very well, with most people never seeing them due to the shyness. Dik-dik should be a lot more confident and easy to spot
re:Axolotl
The Axolotl page on the London Zoo website also has been taken down. Strangely they had such a page even without the species in the collection, which was noted there - though the page made note of the similar Patzcuaro Salamander they had.
It will be interesting then to see what goes in the old tank. I would like it if it was another ambystomid - maybe an Anderson's Salamander out of sheer unique ... but axolotl is fine too
The Axolotl page on the London Zoo website also has been taken down. Strangely they had such a page even without the species in the collection, which was noted there - though the page made note of the similar Patzcuaro Salamander they had.
It will be interesting then to see what goes in the old tank. I would like it if it was another ambystomid - maybe an Anderson's Salamander out of sheer unique ... but axolotl is fine too
As CWD have multiple births I presumed this was a single 'litter' (or whatever the correct term is as it relates to deer...) that needed to be handraised for some reason and maybe they then decided to bring them in to London as an exhibit.
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The link below
'Vampire' deer are hand-reared at Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo
Includes the comment
large birds could still easily scoop them up, so we are hand-rearing the fawns in a sheltered, protected space at the Zoo
implying the Chinese water deer were hand-reared to protect them from predatory birds.
Given Chinese water deer have been breeding at Whipsnade for many decades, I wonder how many fawns are lost to predators.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I saw and photographed some young fawns that were being reared by their mother in the paddock with the rhinos at the end of June, so some at least are raised that way. Or they were so well hidden there in those weedy clumps the keepers didn't see them to remove them until more past the danger stage.
Crows and the larger gulls can indeed take / kill them in more exposed areas as you say. Given you can see small fawns in the short grass in Passage through Asia, perhaps they were moved from there.
There is generally a very high mortality rate among CWD fawns, particularly multiples. There are some interesting stats here on mortality at Whipsnade and elsewhere in captivity.
Water Deer Reproduction - Fawn Survival | Wildlife Online
I've been doing a lot of CWD photography lately at a place with a big wild population, they are a really interesting species.
There's another interesting article on Chinese water deer (which includes a history of the Whipsnade animals) here:
Water Deer In Captivity | Wildlife Online
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Fascinating and it's quite something to see how they ended up in the wild.
I had no idea they were quite as interesting tbh until I started reading up to find out why they vary in colour so much, how they sound and how they move around so I could find them!
What is clear is that they enjoy a large home range (particularly in the way the bucks establish territory and how they spread out vs enjoying / moving in a herd like say Fallow, so when scared they might be in a group but then scatter widely) and there are a few comments of them being hard to hold captive in comparatively small spaces, so perhaps that's linked to their move from London.
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
I am equally looking forward to seeing what they’ll display. I wonder if the Lake Patzcuaro has gone to Chester in an attempt to breed. Anderson’s was in the pet trade about 10 years ago, but still a critically endangered species and would be a good addition
I've spoke with one of the keepers involved in hand-rearing the deer several times over the last few years. They did their first sweep during the Covid-19 lockdown of June 2020, and collected eight fawns for hand rearing in a protected enclosure. The keeper told me that hardly any fawns had survived the previous couple of years, owing largely to corvid predation (and, presumably, the low level of cover in PtA where does often seem to drop). Apparently, the corvids learned over the years when a doe was in labour and would follow her around and wait nearby, attacking the fawn pretty much as soon as it was born. All the hand-reared fawns did well, and some bred during the subsequent winter and successfully reared their fawns. The process was repeated in June of 2021, with ten fawns recovered and reared by the keepers. The hand-reared does did such a good job at raising and caring for their fawns that when they did the collections in 2022 and 2023, only female fawns were collected. This year they only collected one female, and apparently they don't need to hand rear any more for the foreseeable future. The deer (all females) went to London to see if they could live peaceably together, rather than as a breeding population, and as has already been mentioned, as a species they often seem to struggle in smaller enclosures.
Water deer fawns are very vulnerable to predators, particularly corvids and foxes. More info on that (including some of the info given above) here:
Water Deer Mortality - Predators | Wildlife Online
Water deer fawns are very vulnerable to predators, particularly corvids and foxes. More info on that (including some of the info given above) here:
Water Deer Mortality - Predators | Wildlife Online
So good to see Owls back on show!ZSL London Zoo, 18th
News:
- A Eurasian Eagle owl which has lived at the zoo for nearly 20 years now, has just come on show near the Alpaca Paddock.
- A pair of Little Owl, a new addition to the zoo, has now appeared in the old Patagonian conure Aviary.
- The Lion cubs has grown brilliantly, I saw Bhanu and Arya having a well deserved rest with the triplets.
- Behind the Sardinian brook salamanders (at the entrance of SLoRA) were multiple amphibians such as: Iberian & Majorcan midwife toads (Alytes cisternasii & muletensis), Lake Oku clawed frogs (Xenopus longipes), Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri).
- Behind the Laos warty newt tank in the hallway towards the main SLoRA Building are multiple Congo Caecilian Tanks, presumably being the individuals previously kept in the Old Aquarium Building.
- In this same Hallway, behind the Big-headed Turtle Exhibit, there are multiple tanks of hatchlings of this species. Great news to see ZSL support in the breeding of this reptile and to see the new building fulfilling this purpose.
- In the Egernia stokesii exhibit are at least 10 hatchlings alongside the 3 (counted) adults. Behind this Enclosure were multiple tanks, which appeared to house Lygodactylus williamsi.
- The Philippine Crocodile enclosure was re-opened. After asking a keeper, the tank was boarded up due to a design fault, leading to a crack in the interior glass sheet. It took three weeks before a new panel could be fitted.
- In the Aquatic Caecilian Tank, a bristlenose catfish has been added.
- I spotted at least 1 Tadpole in the Lake Titicaca water frog tank, more good news.
- In the Luristan newt tank, multiple larvae were lurking in the foliage.
- Sadly the Lake Pátzcuaro salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii) has left the zoo (according to the Zoos website: Lake Patzcuaro salamander | London Zoo)
- There has been a Breeding recommendation for the Asian small-clawed Otters.
- After Thugs unfortunate passing, ZSL are currently waiting for a suitable male Pygmy Hippo to breed with Amara but as of current, none are free.
- Inside the Zebra Paddock are new Tree Guards which unusually cover up the trees to their entirety. I wonder if the Giraffe will soon have access into this paddock?
- In the Rainforest Life Building; the Bokiboky pair were separated, the old sengi exhibit was boarded up and painted over, and Alaotran bamboo lemurs now inhabit the old Spider Monkey habitat.
- In the Nocturnal Life Building, the Malagasy Giant Rats had access to both enclosures on the left hand side (as you enter the section) and the enclosure opposite this is currently empty.
- The old Penguin signs have been removed and repurposed as part of a game. New signage is now in Penguin Beach.
- The old Tiger Cubs have still not left for different zoos, any ideas why?
- Nice new signage in the Blackburn Pavilion, including an interactive rolling sign.
- A Juvenile Orange-headed Thrush was running about in one of the aviaries.
- Two Purple-naped Lory chicks were hatched on the 5th July, leading to last year’s chick moving to the aviary on the left as you enter the Blackburn Walkthrough.
- Inside the other aviary on the left is the male Fischer's Turaco. This is because ~1 month ago the pair successfully hatched a chick. However, shortly after the male began to chase after the female and chick. Currently the individuals have not been successfully reintroduced to each-over.
- The scarlet-chested sunbirds seem to have a nest and a couple of chicks.
- The lone male sunbittern has been taken out of the Blackburn Pavillon and put offshow because they hope to bring in a new female to breed with.
- At the end of the main Blackburn Walkthrough are a pair of White-crowned Robin-chat who hatched on the 25th and 26th April.
- The reason that the Gorillas have not yet been sexed and named publicly is because they have only recently been sexed. According to a keeper, it shall be announced soon.
Hopefully this is helpful (Sorry if anything has previously been mentioned and feel free to question)
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
A real shame if you ask me. The water deer were a lovely addition and far more exciting than dik-dik in my opinion, who could have made a lovely mix with the Okapis and duikers. I’m sure the zoo have their reasons, but at surface level this is unfortunate.
Some good news all round, but especially regarding the sunbirds. Some of the best ZSL news of the year in my opinion, and hopefully a sign that this once-common species could start making a gradual comeback in European collections. Of course further down the line gene pool variety could be an issue without imports from Africa, but it’s a start. Also good news about the Sunbitterns, but a shame that any mating will be offshow as I have always wanted to see a male display!ZSL London Zoo, 18th
News:
- A Eurasian Eagle owl which has lived at the zoo for nearly 20 years now, has just come on show near the Alpaca Paddock.
- A pair of Little Owl, a new addition to the zoo, has now appeared in the old Patagonian conure Aviary.
- The Lion cubs has grown brilliantly, I saw Bhanu and Arya having a well deserved rest with the triplets.
- Behind the Sardinian brook salamanders (at the entrance of SLoRA) were multiple amphibians such as: Iberian & Majorcan midwife toads (Alytes cisternasii & muletensis), Lake Oku clawed frogs (Xenopus longipes), Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri).
- Behind the Laos warty newt tank in the hallway towards the main SLoRA Building are multiple Congo Caecilian Tanks, presumably being the individuals previously kept in the Old Aquarium Building.
- In this same Hallway, behind the Big-headed Turtle Exhibit, there are multiple tanks of hatchlings of this species. Great news to see ZSL support in the breeding of this reptile and to see the new building fulfilling this purpose.
- In the Egernia stokesii exhibit are at least 10 hatchlings alongside the 3 (counted) adults. Behind this Enclosure were multiple tanks, which appeared to house Lygodactylus williamsi.
- The Philippine Crocodile enclosure was re-opened. After asking a keeper, the tank was boarded up due to a design fault, leading to a crack in the interior glass sheet. It took three weeks before a new panel could be fitted.
- In the Aquatic Caecilian Tank, a bristlenose catfish has been added.
- I spotted at least 1 Tadpole in the Lake Titicaca water frog tank, more good news.
- In the Luristan newt tank, multiple larvae were lurking in the foliage.
- Sadly the Lake Pátzcuaro salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii) has left the zoo (according to the Zoos website: Lake Patzcuaro salamander | London Zoo)
- There has been a Breeding recommendation for the Asian small-clawed Otters.
- After Thugs unfortunate passing, ZSL are currently waiting for a suitable male Pygmy Hippo to breed with Amara but as of current, none are free.
- Inside the Zebra Paddock are new Tree Guards which unusually cover up the trees to their entirety. I wonder if the Giraffe will soon have access into this paddock?
- In the Rainforest Life Building; the Bokiboky pair were separated, the old sengi exhibit was boarded up and painted over, and Alaotran bamboo lemurs now inhabit the old Spider Monkey habitat.
- In the Nocturnal Life Building, the Malagasy Giant Rats had access to both enclosures on the left hand side (as you enter the section) and the enclosure opposite this is currently empty.
- The old Penguin signs have been removed and repurposed as part of a game. New signage is now in Penguin Beach.
- The old Tiger Cubs have still not left for different zoos, any ideas why?
- Nice new signage in the Blackburn Pavilion, including an interactive rolling sign.
- A Juvenile Orange-headed Thrush was running about in one of the aviaries.
- Two Purple-naped Lory chicks were hatched on the 5th July, leading to last year’s chick moving to the aviary on the left as you enter the Blackburn Walkthrough.
- Inside the other aviary on the left is the male Fischer's Turaco. This is because ~1 month ago the pair successfully hatched a chick. However, shortly after the male began to chase after the female and chick. Currently the individuals have not been successfully reintroduced to each-over.
- The scarlet-chested sunbirds seem to have a nest and a couple of chicks.
- The lone male sunbittern has been taken out of the Blackburn Pavillon and put offshow because they hope to bring in a new female to breed with.
- At the end of the main Blackburn Walkthrough are a pair of White-crowned Robin-chat who hatched on the 25th and 26th April.
- The reason that the Gorillas have not yet been sexed and named publicly is because they have only recently been sexed. According to a keeper, it shall be announced soon.
Hopefully this is helpful (Sorry if anything has previously been mentioned and feel free to question)
The plecos have been with the caecilians since SLoRA opened, and not just in that tank. In the crocodile pool, and potentially a few others, they can be seen, presumably to aid with cleaning. The skink hatchlings were born around May or June and appear to be maturing nicely from your picture.
Brilliant to have mature owls back onshow after a few chicks (Burrowing and Great Grey) having been seen around Animal Adventure over recent years, especially with the Littles being, as you say, a new species. The developments in the bird department recently have been admirable indeed.
Surely the damage to the fox-proof perimeter fencing that also meant there could be no more free-ranging birds was also a factor, just as much as birds of prey. This would explain why the hand-rearing is only a recent event, too. Birds of prey have been an issue at Whipsnade forever but foxes are a more recent threat.
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On my latest visit, the room visible through the Egernia tank also had an additional Ethiopian mountain adder, in the lower of the bigger left-side enclosures. The only reason I noticed it was because it was considerably more active than the pair living in the on-display enclosure.
When I visited the other day I saw burrowing owls in that aviary, not little owls
I’m sure I was told they were 3 burrowing owls with names, Hurricane, Spitfire and Firefly. Think they came from Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Yes, there were newly (April/May) arrived Burrowing chicks in the aviary near the Alpacas, with signage indicating that they were quarantining.
My mention of Little Owls was not based on my own experience (I haven’t seen them either), but on @Dr. Loxodonta ‘s post where he said that Littles have arrived from another collection and were onshow by the Alpacas.
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
I’m so sorry, my mistake. These are Burrowing Owls.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
That’s quite okay, mistakes happen. In that case, was there still a sign that the animals are quarantining and has the mesh, which was very thick and made the whole aviary quite dark, been modified (I assumed this was a quarantine measure, as it was very annoying and hard to see through)?Sorry, my mistake. These are Burrowing Owls.
I was there today. Didn’t see the owls, who were most probably inside, and didn’t notice any quarantine signs. The mesh just looked the same as when the previous residents were in there.
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