ZSL Press Office only just released this to Fellows and Members within the last hour. Was in two minds whether to post the above link considering the sensitivity of the situation but the 90th birthday events planned for this weekend have now been cancelled.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 2021
- Thread starter Jedd Cullinan
- Start date
-
- Tags
- europe uk zsl zsl whipsnade zoo
ZSL Press Office only just released this to Fellows and Members within the last hour. Was in two minds whether to post the above link considering the sensitivity of the situation but the 90th birthday events planned for this weekend have now been cancelled.
Apologies, I was sent the link from my wife, and thought it was public news.
I have deleted my post.
No offence taken! Anyway, it’s only a matter of time before it gets out to the general news feeds.
This is a tragedy on what should have been a weekend of celebration!
It is on the itv news website so not a secret, just desperately sad!
Last edited:
This is tragic news. My thoughts are with the keepers who had to make the incredibly difficult decision. This is a time to support them and the zoo.
Very sad news ... but also I presume maybe it was Cinderella and sleeping beauty who were often together who escaped, as Snow White often spent time more alone.. also the species aren’t endangered so losing two animals wouldn’t have threatened any future of breeding for the animals..
Reptile House
Well-Known Member
As sad as it is, was it really necessary to shoot the bears? The animals were in another enclosure. Could they not tranquillise the bears and only shoot the, dead if they tried to leave the enclosure.
I'd suggest there may be an easy way out of that enclosure, but equally, they were attacking other animals, we feel more affinity with bears but a boars life is equally valuable.
The detail’s in the press release but it would appear that was the fear as the boar paddock has low fencing and then faces out to a main public footpath. However, we don’t know if the incident occurred when the public were in the zoo.
With respect, I don't think the boar's life would have been considered!
Confirmed by BBC report: Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.
The press release very succinctly explains why tranquillising is a risky choice in such scenarios. Even more so if the bears had a greater chance of close contact with members of the public.
I won't comment, I will leave this one to the experts
You’ve not read the press release.....
Was it really necessary to comment on the species not being endangered?
RIP beautiful bears.
Horrible news.
They were in the boar enclosure which has a low fence, meaning they could have easily escaped and attacked people. It’s not worth taking the risk when there’s lives on the line. Also, had they attacked anyone, you’d probably be asking why they weren’t shot sooner.
It’s a very sad day. Rest in Peace to the three animals lost and my thoughts and sympathies go out to the staff.
The bear enclosure has survived relatively unchanged since the zoo first opened in the 1930s. It is/was virtually bomb-proof, so for something like this to happen underlines how freakishly tragic this incident is. There’s some big trees in that area of the zoo so anything could’ve happened- they could’ve got out and onto the main road for example.
The timing couldn’t have been more tragic either considering the zoo was celebrating 90 years this week. Personally, it brings back some haunting memories of the chimp escape 10+ years ago.
The timing couldn’t have been more tragic either considering the zoo was celebrating 90 years this week. Personally, it brings back some haunting memories of the chimp escape 10+ years ago.
One of the best bear enclosures anywhere, and maybe the first major incident in nearly a century, says it all really.
Prompt action avoided the potential situation of trying to locate lost bears in the Bedfordshire countryside.