So it’s a pair of Mangalica pigs! I suppose that’s something different. Are these the only pair in the UK?
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 2021
- Thread starter Jedd Cullinan
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Doubt it. I've seen them on private farms in the past. Usually spelt 'Mangalitza.'
Tilgate Nature Centre had them a couple of years ago, not sure if they still do though. There is a photo in the gallery
Mangalica is its name in Hungarian and Slovak language. Mangalitza is a Geman transription, apparently used also in English.
With African swine fever taking Hungary over at frightening pace, traditional way of keeping this breed in large open paddocs or free in fields is very endangered. Might be an interesting thema for an educational poster or two at Whipsnade.
I’ve always thought the Children’s Farm has never really lived up to the potential it could have. It would be nice to have it as a rare breeds centre, or house curiosities like the new pig breed. Alternatively, like the railway, why not hand it to an outside enterprise and advertise as a “working farm,” in the loosest possible sense.
chaotic_froggie
Well-Known Member
Think I’ve seen Mangalitzas at Cotswold, I wasn’t aware they were rare.
I think they are more unusual than rare, at least these days. Some of them are thought to contain genes of the now extinct British breed, the Lincolnshire Curly Coat, some of which were exported to 'improve' the Mangalica/Mangalitza breed, before they died out here.
Its very much in contrast to what I saw in Paira Daiza- there a much smaller and simple area just inside the entrance contains a wealth of Pygmy and Angora goats, lambs, geese, ducks, turkeys, colourful breeds of fowl (both large and bantam) all mixed together in a petting/touchable situation where you walk among everything and it creates a nice friendly atmosphere too. Perhaps this variety reflects the more rural Belgian culture- by contrast Whipsnade's 'farm' has large rather austere buildings and paddocks but not many animals.
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Using the Children's Farm as a rare breeds centre is an attractive idea; however, it should be noted, that keeping rare breeds of domestic livestock has been tried at Whipsnade before.
A quote from the 1961 ZSL Annual Report:
"The Council has decided that disappearing breeds of British and foreign domestic animals should be kept at Whipsnade in order to establish a "gene bank" of rare and disappearing breeds".
Seven years later, the 1968 Annual Report states that the flocks of sheep in the "gene bank" (nine different breeds altogether) were transferred elsewhere; some breeds to the National Agricultural Centre and some to the Department of Agriculture, Reading University.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
No - they are commercially bred in the UK for speciality fatty pork. David Armitage imported some of the first when he was at Banham.
Several native breeds are much rarer, and officially classed as endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, which took up the challenge when the ZSL 'transferred them elsewhere', as above.
I tried and failed to include a link, but a quick Google will take you straight to it.
I remember now- that is the first place that I saw them.
They do, to my mind, make noticeably good pork... but I may be straying off topic!
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
This might be a bit of a superficial comment but just practically speaking I'm not sure they would be the best species to house in an aviary next to a cafe in terms of visitors.
James Wren, ZSL Finance Director, was interviewed on BBC 3 Counties Radio this morning discussing COVID, government help (or lack of) and the detrimental effect both have had on ZSL.
Not the most upbeat of interviews I’m afraid.
Not the most upbeat of interviews I’m afraid.
Is this all the sealions? If so, why would that be?
Yes, and because of the expense of the facilities to house them.
So are they going out of Sea Lions completely? Didn't they just spend a lot of money expanding the Sea Lion pool?
Yes, completely.
I think the eventual results were not was hoped for with the money put in. Looks like the “refurb” turned out to be nothing more than a sticking plaster.
I think most of us are now awaiting with intrigue/trepidation as to what will replace the sealions.
I can't believe I missed this news. Thank you very much for filling me in!