ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 2020

Tim May said:
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.
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I would say the collection is now sub standard compared to what it has been in the past yes!
 
Zorro said:
I would say the collection is now sub standard compared to what it has been in the past yes!
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That is a different thing altogether.

Sub standard would indicate it is below the usual or required standard which is simply not the case. You also need to qualify which 'standard' you are talking about when making such assertations. It would be more accurate to say that they have been well above the standard in former years in terms of the size of their herds. The fact these numbers have reduced does not make the collection as a whole 'sub standard'.
 
pipaluk said:
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.
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Interested to read that as I looked for them again on my last visit just before the lockdown and again didn't see them, so am glad to hear they are still there. I read somewhere this herd is derived from Epping Forest fallow, the reason they breed true to black with (little or) no variation. Similarly the herd in Asian Plains are all the 'menil'/brightly spotted variety and again seem very pure for their colour as I've never seen any variant in that herd over many years of seeing them.

As to the rest regarding all those 'lost' species- yes, the semi-empty paddocks are certainly still there waiting, but will a turn-around ever happen?
 
Pertinax said:
As to the rest regarding all those 'lost' species- yes, the semi-empty paddocks are certainly still there waiting, but will a turn-around ever happen?
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I wonder, what would be the “cheapest” exotic hoof stock to exhibit (maintainence/behaviour)? I was always impressed by the, albeit small, group of impala out of all the recent departures.

And why have the Black fallows always been kept off-show? Surely they’d fill a paddock as a decent stop-gap?
 
Zia said:
That is a different thing altogether.

Sub standard would indicate it is below the usual or required standard which is simply not the case. You also need to qualify which 'standard' you are talking about when making such assertations. It would be more accurate to say that they have been well above the standard in former years in terms of the size of their herds. The fact these numbers have reduced does not make the collection as a whole 'sub standard'.
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Well thats your view of it my view is what I have seen as a visitor many times over the years going back to the late 60s Whipsnade use to have a outstanding collection of many hoofed species which is simply just not the case now you can box it any way you wish but I have seen them over many years come down to what they have now and the fact is they just dont compare!
 
So there are now no Impala in U.K. zoos? If true that’s sad, I can’t recall any other places holding them.
How many Bongo Antelope are left? My last visit approximately a year and a bit ago they had 0.4. My first visit a few years before they had 6. I think they have 3 but I’m not sure. Hopefully no less though.
Plus, I wonder if they’ll acquire a male blackbuck before all the females die out...
 
Azubaa said:
So there are now no Impala in U.K. zoos? If true that’s sad, I can’t recall any other places holding them.
How many Bongo Antelope are left? My last visit approximately a year and a bit ago they had 0.4. My first visit a few years before they had 6. I think they have 3 but I’m not sure. Hopefully no less though.
Plus, I wonder if they’ll acquire a male blackbuck before all the females die out...
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I only saw two Bongo during my visit this week. I did visit the enclosure on a couple occasions and always saw just the two animals, but more may have been 'offshow' as the house was closed due to Covid-19.
 
Seemed to be a lot of desperate filling of empty enclosure space with today’s visit - boar in the old RRH paddock, emu in the old Gaur paddock! Also, are there any reindeer left? Another apparently empty area.

One notable “highlight” - observing a family having a picnic (and causing merry hell) by one of the large lakes in Passage thru Asia, despite signs clearly stating not to get out of your car! Thankfully the deer kept well away.
 
Pertinax said:
I love it....!!:D:D
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Clearly deer can smell the “stupid” odour!

Despite this, doing the drive thru (which I’ve not done in some time) further reinforced to me that, with not a significant spend, this area would make an excellent Polar bear exhibit.
 
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Panthera1981 said:
Seemed to be a lot of desperate filling of empty enclosure space with today’s visit - boar in the old RRH paddock, emu in the old Gaur paddock! Also, are there any reindeer left? Another apparently empty area.
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The Gaur are still at the collection aren't they - I thought they'd just moved?

Either way - not sure those two examples constitute the above in bold.
 
Zia said:
The Gaur are still at the collection aren't they - I thought they'd just moved?
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I haven't visited Whipsnade since the lockdown but I think "Panthera1981" is referring to the previous gaur exhibit which, on my last few visits, housed scimitar-horned oryx.
EDIT: apologies "ajmcwhipsnade" our posts crossed.
 
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Tim May said:
I haven't visited Whipsnade since the lockdown but I think "Panthera1981" is referring to the previous gaur exhibit which, on my last few visits, housed scimitar-horned oryx.
EDIT: apologies "ajmcwhipsnade" our posts crossed.
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Thankyou Tim yes, the paddock opposite the GOH rhino. This is currently home to a solitary emu!
 
Panthera1981 said:
Thankyou Tim yes, the paddock opposite the GOH rhino. This is currently home to a solitary emu!
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There are pair of emus in this paddock. Also there are now a pair of otters, a male and a female who've come from different zoos, back in the enclosure near the Red Pandas.
 
Hi everyone,

After a visit a few years ago to Whipsnade, my girlfriend and I’s favourite giraffe was Willow. However after returning to the zoo the other day, we were sad to see he was no longer there. Does anyone happen to know what happened to him?

Thanks in advance :)
 
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