ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter amur leopard
- Start date
-
- Tags
- london zoo news
- Status
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I’d argue the opposite is the case.
Tapon the Pygmy hippo is always popular at Whipsnade and the contrast between the common and Pygmy hippos in a rare opportunity to see them in their respective enclosures in the same area means visitors spend time with both. I’d suggest they are a visitor draw and talks as well as the area are always well attended.
Indeed in the places ’ve visited (Colchester for example) the Pygmy hippos are well attended visitor wise.
I’m sure lots of people will argue for Tapon to move to London (including people here) vs Amara moving and if he does and they do breed perhaps we’d get Pygmy hippos back at Whipsnade after many years. But he would still be missed and the absence commented on. Having said that they might not even have a breeding recommendation for him and her anyway.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
It would have to be mutually exclusive for the period of breeding at least as they have one Pygmy hippo at each location.
Of course they could hope for a calf and then to locate that the other way, meaning they could say (however untrue it might turn out) they would return in the end.
Still to start anything off they would have to have matched them and only the stud book folk would know whether that was possible or not. So maybe we will see other moves instead.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Tapir would be a good addition, especially if ZSL managed to get their hands on a Malayan one, but it's unlikely they'd replace the hippos at London if just because of the theming of Into Africa. The Cassons I agree would be the logical place, but I'm not sure that the current RRH exhibit would be particularly good for tapir and I must admit I enjoy seeing RRH and babirusa in the same area. In an ideal world, London gains anteater again and mixes them with tapir. It's unthinkable Whipsnade loses pygmy hippos altogether simply because they are quite proud to hold both hippos species (rightfully so!). Tapon's paddock would be wonderful for tapir, but it is much better for hippos. I would love to see Malayan tapir at Whipsnade though, as surely then they will hold the gold standard for Asian megafauna
However, the discussion is somewhat pointless from what I know and have heard from staff at both zoos. Tapon won't be moving to London, unless something seriously drastic changes, and Amara will be gaining a partner once one is available, plus ZSL intends to breed at both sites in the future.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
I haven't a clue about Tapon, so hopefully someone can fill us in there, but Amara has had a breeding recommendation since arriving and just needs to mature - Thug was matched with her which makes his passing all the more sad
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Indeed, though I meant a recommendation for them to breed together vs for the individuals but wasn’t clear.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Blaming my morning brain for that one, it's quite clear what you meant on second reading! Given London are pursuing acquiring a different male I'd assume not, but I suppose things can change
Moo Deng is very popular and crowds are queueing to see her: Baby pygmy hippo the star at Chon Buri zoo
cornu aspersum
Well-Known Member
I too would prefer that the Cassons remain a swine house since they and taxonomic sections in general are getting rarer I feel. Although I feel like Malayan tapir specifically could do with more holders especially in the UK.
cornu aspersum
Well-Known Member
If you mean the mountains, I don't think they will be ideal for tapirs even if they weren't falling apart on account of their steepness and lack of shade. The outback area on the other hand can definitely be suited for tapir with the addition of some trees for shade and a pool.
Tetradactyla
Active Member
Are there really so few pygymy hippos in captivity that the only place London can source a male from is Whipsnade (and vice-versa)? This sounds like I'm copping an attitude but I'm actually genuinely curious - are there issues getting them to breed in captivity, or is this just another species which has been winnowed down to a handful of individuals in the UK through bad luck and / or a lack of European imports?
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I can't agree with that. On a busy day, when the hippos are indoors, you can't even move within the pygmy hippo house due to the sheer number of other visitors, and they generate more crowds than the giraffes, presumably due to being cute and a little more active than the giraffes at times. If Amara does leave, then she will absolutely be missed.
For me, the ideal solution would be to source mates for both Amara and Tapon separately, and keep them both at London and Whipsnade respectively. If none are available, then I would prefer Tapon to move to London rather than the other way around from a visitor perspective, but from an animal perspective I think that the track record of Whipsnade's enclosure prompts the reverse. However, if Amara were to leave London, then I would second the suggestions upthread to move the Red River Hogs into the hippo enclosure, the Babirusas into the hog enclosure, and then bring back Malayan Tapir. And this is not the first time that such a suggestion has been made in recent times. When the Warthogs passed and sadly left their enclosure vacant, similar ideas were thrown around by zoo enthusiasts. I would love to see tapir return, but looking at the scarcity of the species, I would say it is *far* more likely that we end up with pairs of Pygmy Hippos at both London and Whipsnade.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
What is currently in the warthog exhibit?
cornu aspersum
Well-Known Member
They have regained warthogs since and it's just warthogs now, unless I'm mistaken.
You are right, 3 Common Warthogs returned to the zoo in late summer of 2023 from Colchester Zoo after being absent from the zoo for a couple of months.
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Rhinoceros Rat Snakes and a Dumeril’s Boa on display semi offshow behind the Gidgee Skinks, aswell as Iberian Midwife Toad and Cayenne Caecilian behind the Sardinian Brook Salamanders
Going back to pygmy hippos I would be disappointed if either Whipsnade or London went out of them.
The Whipsnade exhibit complex gives the opportunity to compare and contrast both hippo species. Because of its size, London has limited opportunities for housing megafauna. A smaller species that still retains the distinctive features is great for them.
The Whipsnade exhibit complex gives the opportunity to compare and contrast both hippo species. Because of its size, London has limited opportunities for housing megafauna. A smaller species that still retains the distinctive features is great for them.
a quick update from a visit yesterday:
- The African Hunting Dog area was partially fenced off with signs saying that work was being done to improve the exhibit for new arrivals.
- The remaining pygmy hippo was out in the late afternoon sun, drawing an appreciative audience
- Great to see the Babirusa piglets for the first time outside (though they then retired into the Casson)
- Spoke to one keeper about trying to find the armadillo; she said that over one year working at the zoo, she had only seen it once, when there was a heavy rainstorm hitting the roof. Mostly hiding somewhere on the forest floor during daylight hours it seems.
Does anyone have any advice for seeing this elusive creature?
- The African Hunting Dog area was partially fenced off with signs saying that work was being done to improve the exhibit for new arrivals.
- The remaining pygmy hippo was out in the late afternoon sun, drawing an appreciative audience
- Great to see the Babirusa piglets for the first time outside (though they then retired into the Casson)
- Spoke to one keeper about trying to find the armadillo; she said that over one year working at the zoo, she had only seen it once, when there was a heavy rainstorm hitting the roof. Mostly hiding somewhere on the forest floor during daylight hours it seems.
Does anyone have any advice for seeing this elusive creature?
- Status