Big hoof stock herds at Whipsnade are a thing of the past
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 2020
- Thread starter Panthera1981
- Start date
I rather suspect that the closest one can now come to Whipsnade at its height within Europe is a visit to Dvůr Kralove.
Highlights of my visit today
Watched all 4 wolverine very active and chasing each other around.
The 3 European bison were the most active I have ever seen them, charging around their paddock and the former moose (musk ox) paddock which they also had access to.
The remaining 3 hunting dogs were also the most active I've seen them since they moved in!
Saw a young Sealion diving off a rock into the indoor pool through the glass outside
Indian rhino calf gave good views in the old paddock.
Now for the lowlights
Apart from the Gemsbok (6), White rhino (5) and Nilgai, Scimtar Horned Oryx all of the hoofstock groups appear to be diminishing fast and I still feel a Marwellesque sense of decay about the place. Whipsnade hit a peak of improvement after wild Whipsnade was developed followed by 4 antelope species arriving in months a few years later, but the Thomson gazelle impala, kudu and roan are gone along with onager and only saw one blesbok today. Only 4 Gaur left and in their old paddock just 2 emu.
Only 4 lions left, but for once they were all on the hill instead of lying in front of the glass viewing area
Still enjoyed my day today, unusually busy despite the rain, just wish I could feel more positive.
Watched all 4 wolverine very active and chasing each other around.
The 3 European bison were the most active I have ever seen them, charging around their paddock and the former moose (musk ox) paddock which they also had access to.
The remaining 3 hunting dogs were also the most active I've seen them since they moved in!
Saw a young Sealion diving off a rock into the indoor pool through the glass outside
Indian rhino calf gave good views in the old paddock.
Now for the lowlights
Apart from the Gemsbok (6), White rhino (5) and Nilgai, Scimtar Horned Oryx all of the hoofstock groups appear to be diminishing fast and I still feel a Marwellesque sense of decay about the place. Whipsnade hit a peak of improvement after wild Whipsnade was developed followed by 4 antelope species arriving in months a few years later, but the Thomson gazelle impala, kudu and roan are gone along with onager and only saw one blesbok today. Only 4 Gaur left and in their old paddock just 2 emu.
Only 4 lions left, but for once they were all on the hill instead of lying in front of the glass viewing area
Still enjoyed my day today, unusually busy despite the rain, just wish I could feel more positive.
The whole point of the antelope arrivals was due to visitors complaining of too many empty paddocks, so I’d love to know the reasoning behind the zoo’s regression!
I was not aware of only 3 Hunting dogs remaining nor only 4 lions. Anyone know the remaining pride individuals? Spike the male died a few years back so I’m assuming it’s the 2 mature females that may have died?
Also add to the list no American bison or Red river hogs and 1 remaining Sloth bear.
All very depressing
... I hear Hamerton calling.There are (were?) These are the 2 mature females I refer to in my previous post.
Not forgetting the moose and lechwe too!! The paddocks are usually just filled with surplus males of duplicate species.The whole point of the antelope arrivals was due to visitors complaining of too many empty paddocks, so I’d love to know the reasoning behind the zoo’s regression!
I was not aware of only 3 Hunting dogs remaining nor only 4 lions. Anyone know the remaining pride individuals? Spike the male died a few years back so I’m assuming it’s the 2 mature females that may have died?
Also add to the list no American bison or Red river hogs and 1 remaining Sloth bear.
All very depressing
It is the 2 older lions that have died in the last year
The lechwe have gone too?!?!? Im sorry but that simply isn’t good enough and there certainly needs to be some accountability taken here!
The Marwell comparisons are stark! What the Hell is going on at Whipsnade?!?!?
The lechwe have been gone for a year or two, maybe more!
So is that the 3 castrated male lions and one female left ?
Did you take your car in, was it easy to move it around or do you have to leave it in one place.?
I normally have camera gear and picnic in the car and stop on the
hump in the deer drive through for lunch
Not booked yet hopefully will sometime in August will see what there is when they release the next lot of fellow/member slots
Did you take your car in, was it easy to move it around or do you have to leave it in one place.?
I normally have camera gear and picnic in the car and stop on the
hump in the deer drive through for lunch
Not booked yet hopefully will sometime in August will see what there is when they release the next lot of fellow/member slots
Theoretically yes. The plan was to let the existing pride die out then start from scratch, although I always wondered why they couldn’t build from the female cub Kia. Having said that I’m guessing the cubs themselves are quite old now too (2006 birth?)
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Whipsnade use to have a really good collection of hoof stock and big cats among other animals I just wonder how far the managers will let it go down hill before the public stop going as a place of little value!The whole point of the antelope arrivals was due to visitors complaining of too many empty paddocks, so I’d love to know the reasoning behind the zoo’s regression!
I was not aware of only 3 Hunting dogs remaining nor only 4 lions. Anyone know the remaining pride individuals? Spike the male died a few years back so I’m assuming it’s the 2 mature females that may have died?
Also add to the list no American bison or Red river hogs and 1 remaining Sloth bear.
All very depressing
If I remember rightly from talking to one of the keepers, they couldn't risk bringing in another male whilst the other 3 were there as despite their castrated status they would still have possibly killed it
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Also a question of infrastructure. As I’ve said in previous posts, Whipsnade is very much a blank canvas uninhibited by the burdens that weigh down London. It’s over-ripe for investment animal wise, and has been for many years (decades?). However, as an example, it’s still working off the original plumbing installed in the 1930s!
So...do we spend money on the animals or functioning toilets?
I understand what you say and agree but I would like to know how much the top rank and file are paid (not keepers) to run a place that is sub standard and slipping away by the year how far can they cut down on animal species before the public dont visit any more and at the end of the day who will take the rap for it?
I dread to think, but these type of individuals always seem to come out of these situations unscathed so I doubt they’re overly concerned!
Certainly, in all the years I’ve been visiting, I’ve never seen the place look so...unloved (and this was well before COVID hit!)
There were no problems getting around or parking anywhere for me yesterday
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Whipsnade is probably my favourite UK zoo although I am very disappointed by the way ungulate herds have been reduced.
I remember when there were more than twenty white rhinoceroses, over twenty Thomson’s gazelle, more than a dozen American bison, about twenty European bison....
The most recent ZSL animal inventory still lists over a hundred fallow deer though and I think the big herd of black fallow deer makes an impessive display.
As mentioned above, I am disappointed by the reduction of the ungulate herds but I think it's very harsh to describe Whipsnade as sub-standard; there is still plenty to see and some superb exhibits.
That reminds me, I forgot to say that I got my best view of the black fallow in a long time yesterday, only 50 or so yards from the fence. Quite often they are either at the far side of the field or invisible.
I think you are right, it isn't that Whipsnade is sub-standard, just that certain parts of the collection have been allowed to fade away. It will always have the big draws like elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, bears, big cats, penguins, but unfortunately the deer and antelope, probably horses and cattle don't appeal to the public as much. Hopefully the current decline can be reversed, as the enclosures are there waiting to be filled again.