ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 2020

[Gavialis]

Big news in a member's email this morning - the sea lions are to leave the collection in November, and the exhibit redeveloped for a new species, to be announced at a later date

Sad to hear but - in this case, at least - I suspect I can take a guess at their reasoning. The current enclosure (despite recent renovations) is far from adequate and sea lions are expensive to keep and aren't particularly rare - either in zoos or in the wild.

Given ZSL's finances, though, I'd be surprised if the redevelopment is anything too dramatic. I can't think of many species that would suit the enclosure as is and be dramatic enough to make an impression - except, maybe, a larger penguin species.

 

[Panthera1981]

Big news in a member's email this morning - the sea lions are to leave the collection in November, and the exhibit redeveloped for a new species, to be announced at a later date

So yet another iconic species departs ZSL. A crying shame, but the building (particularly the underwater viewing) had been falling apart for years. It all makes sense now.

At least I can take solace in the fact that it won’t be left empty (like the Lubetkin elephant house) though let’s hope it doesn’t become another Mappins! I’m not sure of the age of the building but I’d imagine it’s a structural headache. Anyway, let the speculation begin-I’m saying manatee as a replacement, but they’ll probably just fill it with cichlids!

 

[rhinofan12]

Big news in a member's email this morning - the sea lions are to leave the collection in November, and the exhibit redeveloped for a new species, to be announced at a later date

Off to a brand new enclosure in the UK wonder where??

 

[pipaluk]

Big news in a member's email this morning - the sea lions are to leave the collection in November, and the exhibit redeveloped for a new species, to be announced at a later date

I cannot believe that in the same email they announce the loss of a major species they go on to mention 'the great new things' about to happen - kids getting to meet Santa and improving hullabazoo outdoor play area, as if it is some kind of compensation! Unbelievable

 

[pipaluk]

Off to a brand new enclosure in the UK wonder where??

YWP?

 

[Panthera1981]

I cannot believe that in the same email they announce the loss of a major species they go on to mention 'the great new things' about to happen - kids getting to meet Santa and improving hullabazoo outdoor play area, as if it is some kind of compensation! Unbelievable

I expect nothing less from the ZSL marketing team! Watch the video and you can imagine the keeper, Alex, is dying inside as she saying those words.

Of course from an animal welfare perspective it’s good for the sealion, but from an emotional point of view it’s horrible. I’m sure all of us have many happy memories of the sea lions - some of us no doubt have grown up watching the demos. And Alex herself has been working with them for YEARS, so I can only imagine what she’s going through.

After the sagas with the Aquarium and Mappins at London, ZSL cannot afford to cock this up!

 

[Tim May]

I’m not sure of the age of the building but I’d imagine it’s a structural headache.

The building is nearly half-a-century old; it was built for the bottle-nosed dolphins that arrived in 1972.

I’m saying manatee as a replacement....

Manatee would be my personal choice too; there haven't been any manatees in the UK since those in the London Zoo Aquarium in the early 1960s. However I would be very surprised if Whipsnade does acquire manatees.

 

[oflory]

Manatee would be my personal choice too; there haven't been any manatees in the UK since those in the London Zoo Aquarium in the early 1960s. However I would be very surprised if Whipsnade does acquire manatees.

In an ideal world: manatee, sea otters, British sea-bird aviary (puffin, guillemot, kittiwakes etc).

In a possible world: common seal?

In a probable world: African/Humboldt penguins.

 

[Panthera1981]

In an ideal world: manatee, sea otters, British sea-bird aviary (puffin, guillemot, kittiwakes etc).

In a possible world: common seal?

In a probable world: African/Humboldt penguins.

Or, in a ZSL world, cichlids...lots and lots of cichlids!

I’ll imagine they’ll go for the cheapest option but, if it’s another penguin species, surely they can go for a deep-diving species? Bring back the Kings?

Thinking outside the box, could the building lend itself to a croc species, or even a primate?

 

[Dassie rat]

Thinking outside the box, could the building lend itself to a croc species, or even a primate?

Proboscis monkeys?

 

[oflory]

Or, in a ZSL world, cichlids...lots and lots of cichlids!

I’ll imagine they’ll go for the cheapest option but, if it’s another penguin species, surely they can go for a deep-diving species? Bring back the Kings?

Thinking outside the box, could the building lend itself to a croc species, or even a primate?

ZSL do do a lot of work in the Thames Estuary, so I could envisage it being a seal rescue/rehabilitation (despite Whipsnade being miles from the sea). Very social media friendly as well...

 

[Panthera1981]

Proboscis monkeys?

I think we can all agree that ZSL need to be ambitious here, regardless of the post-Covid environment. After years of quick fixes, withering excuses and loss of species a lot of Fellows, and maybe a lot of Members, will not forgive them if they weren’t.

 

[Gavialis]

Agree that penguins are most likely and that kings would be lovely. Manatees would be amazing but require a phenomenally expensive conversion and, sadly, I think Apenheul's recent experiences may put ZSL off proboscis monkeys. oflory's suggestion of seals or (preferably) sea otters could be workable though.

Thinking outside the box, could the building lend itself to a croc species, or even a primate?

Unlikely, perhaps, but given ZSL's extensive work with them in Nepal, could gharial be a possibility?

As others have said, something bold needs to be done. I can't imagine the Society getting away with another half-hearted, underwhelming conversion...

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

I haven’t posted on here in a while, I decided to take a back seat as the negativity from a few members on here was impacting on my mental health and considering the current situation, my anxiety has been very high. I just wanted to say my bit on the news that the Sea Lions are leaving Whipsnade. First off, yes, it’s sad. I have very fond memories of the Sea Lion shows as a kid, especially Barkley. The Sea Lions going will leave a big hole in anyone who loves Whipsnade. It’s really sad news.

Secondly though, if we think about all the best Pinniped enclosures (Colchester, Bristol, Blackpool) in the country, sadly the Sea Lion enclosure at Whipsnade probably doesn’t stand up to modern standards. I think nostalgia can get in the way of clear thinking, and as much as we may be fond of the Sea Lion enclosure, we have to be realistic.

Thirdly, no one could have predicted the pandemic and the massive financial pressure Zoos would be put under. Perhaps this has not been helped by bad spending in the past but that goes for so many things. Professional sport, the health service, we can’t blame the past for what is happening now with Covid. I honestly don’t think it’s the time to jump on bandwagons and criticise, we need to be realistic and understand that the current situation is going to have impact on Zoos.

I have just watched the video from the Sea Lion keeper, and of course she is sad. People who say that keepers don’t care for the animals need to just watch it. She has worked with them for so many years and of course its sad. But as I said, its probably for the best and the sound of the enclosure where they are heading for does sound really good.

Please don’t gang up on ZSL at this current moment. You may feel its been mismanaged over the past few years but this is not the time for that. We still need to support our Zoos. I really hope you are all well and keeping safe.

 

[oflory]

I haven’t posted on here in a while, I decided to take a back seat as the negativity from a few members on here was impacting on my mental health and considering the current situation, my anxiety has been very high. I just wanted to say my bit on the news that the Sea Lions are leaving Whipsnade. First off, yes, it’s sad. I have very fond memories of the Sea Lion shows as a kid, especially Barkley. The Sea Lions going will leave a big hole in anyone who loves Whipsnade. It’s really sad news.

Secondly though, if we think about all the best Pinniped enclosures (Colchester, Bristol, Blackpool) in the country, sadly the Sea Lion enclosure at Whipsnade probably doesn’t stand up to modern standards. I think nostalgia can get in the way of clear thinking, and as much as we may be fond of the Sea Lion enclosure, we have to be realistic.

Thirdly, no one could have predicted the pandemic and the massive financial pressure Zoos would be put under. Perhaps this has not been helped by bad spending in the past but that goes for so many things. Professional sport, the health service, we can’t blame the past for what is happening now with Covid. I honestly don’t think it’s the time to jump on bandwagons and criticise, we need to be realistic and understand that the current situation is going to have impact on Zoos.

I have just watched the video from the Sea Lion keeper, and of course she is sad. People who say that keepers don’t care for the animals need to just watch it. She has worked with them for so many years and of course its sad. But as I said, its probably for the best and the sound of the enclosure where they are heading for does sound really good.

Please don’t gang up on ZSL at this current moment. You may feel its been mismanaged over the past few years but this is not the time for that. We still need to support our Zoos. I really hope you are all well and keeping safe.

@ajmcwhipsnade, thank you for this well-considered post. It makes me sad too, when people criticize ZSL on here, but I think (and hope) it comes mostly from a place of love for London and Whipsnade and a desire to see them be the best that they can be. That's where my (infrequent!) criticisms come from anyway!

I hope you're well and keeping safe as well.

 

[lintworm]

Please don’t gang up on ZSL at this current moment. You may feel its been mismanaged over the past few years but this is not the time for that. We still need to support our Zoos. I really hope you are all well and keeping safe.

One should never waste a good crisis, ZSL could re-invent itself now amid all the changes. Whether that happens is something else.

 

[pipaluk]

@ajmcwhipsnade, thank you for this well-considered post. It makes me sad too, when people criticize ZSL on here, but I think (and hope) it comes mostly from a place of love for London and Whipsnade and a desire to see them be the best that they can be. That's where my (infrequent!) criticisms come from anyway!

I hope you're well and keeping safe as well.

I think that is exactly why those of us who criticise ZSL choose to do so.
The decline at ZSL is not unique, other zoos have declined over the last decade too, Marwell and Edinburgh being prime examples.
In fact I struggle to think of many that have improved over the last 5 years other than Chester, Hamerton, Exmoor and Wingham. Yorkshire wildlife park being a new zoo probably has more scope to be able to improve year on year so is a different case to the others.
The problems at ZSL’s zoos started long before the pandemic though. Some of us worry more about the situation than others I guess and that may be seen as negativity by some. None of us enjoy criticising ZSL or any other zoo.

 

[Pertinax]

In fact I struggle to think of many that have improved over the last 5 years other than Chester, Hamerton, Exmoor and Wingham. Yorkshire wildlife park being a new zoo probably has more scope to be able to improve year on year so is a different case to the others.

I'd add Twycross to that list, at least in respect to the main new builds and departure of the Elephants.

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

thank you for the considerd responses, most anyway. As i said i know you may consider the problems to have started before the covid situation but everything has to reasses now. Its pretty much like starting from scratch. No one knew this would come up, so no matter what started before it has to now be approched in a very different way.

@ajmcwhipsnade, thank you for this well-considered post. It makes me sad too, when people criticize ZSL on here, but I think (and hope) it comes mostly from a place of love for London and Whipsnade and a desire to see them be the best that they can be. That's where my (infrequent!) criticisms come from anyway!

I hope you're well and keeping safe as well.

Thank you, I am doing my best to keep well!

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

One should never waste a good crisis, ZSL could re-invent itself now amid all the changes. Whether that happens is something else.

I dont personally think thats a very kind way of looking at things. I may have totally got you wrong and if so i appolgise, but wasting a good crisis? Whats good about a crisis?