Melanistic grey squirrels have been very common in Hertfordshire for years (with a hotspot around Hitchin/Letchworth), and in recent years have been spreading out into neighbouring Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. I've seen them in Hitchin.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 2021
- Thread starter Jedd Cullinan
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I've seen them fairly regularly at Woburn over the years. Saw one last visit just before the first lockdown.
Most interesting that they are still seen at Woburn as sometime in the 1970s I was lucky enough to spot both a melanistic and albino (or, at least, white) one on the same tree in Woburn. Frustratingly I was unable to take a photo as that was an unlikely experience to see again.
Thanks for the information.
I knew the numbers of melanistic grey squirrels were increasing but I've seen very few myself and never noticed one at Whipsnade before.
I was surprised to see that we very few posts about Whipsnade this year, and none at all about the current state of the zoo. I visited today and I noticed several changes since my last visit, almost a year ago.
First of all the zoo now has animatronic dinosaurs, fenced off in a compound between the flying bird display area and the otter pen: it is called 'Zoorassic Park'
They are to go after October half term. I was surprised by the number of families with young children at the zoo, considering it was a dull Saturday in September, so perhaps dinosaur magic still works in Bedfordshire.
The penguin pools have been netted (good news) but I couldn't see any rockhoppers (bad news, unless I was just unlucky). The first pen just held ducks - mostly eiders and hooded mergansers.
I thought that the bird show would start a 3 pm, but it was already happening when I passed by at 2:15. I saw a peregine first, then an African grey parrot. Then came the macaws - 2 military, 3 scarlet and a pair of hyacinths, followed by 2 couples of Harris hawks.
The aquarium continues to delight. I was pleased to see my favourite Tanganyikan cichlids again instead of the matamata turtles. Beautiful rainbow goodeids (Characodon lateralis) have replaced the mangrove rivulus, and I was interested to see chequered pupfish (Cualac tesselatus) for the first time.
First of all the zoo now has animatronic dinosaurs, fenced off in a compound between the flying bird display area and the otter pen: it is called 'Zoorassic Park'
They are to go after October half term. I was surprised by the number of families with young children at the zoo, considering it was a dull Saturday in September, so perhaps dinosaur magic still works in Bedfordshire.The penguin pools have been netted (good news) but I couldn't see any rockhoppers (bad news, unless I was just unlucky). The first pen just held ducks - mostly eiders and hooded mergansers.
I thought that the bird show would start a 3 pm, but it was already happening when I passed by at 2:15. I saw a peregine first, then an African grey parrot. Then came the macaws - 2 military, 3 scarlet and a pair of hyacinths, followed by 2 couples of Harris hawks.
The aquarium continues to delight. I was pleased to see my favourite Tanganyikan cichlids again instead of the matamata turtles. Beautiful rainbow goodeids (Characodon lateralis) have replaced the mangrove rivulus, and I was interested to see chequered pupfish (Cualac tesselatus) for the first time.
Sounds like Whipsnade is becoming as dull as London zooI was surprised to see that we very few posts about Whipsnade this year, and none at all about the current state of the zoo. I visited today and I noticed several changes since my last visit, almost a year ago.
First of all the zoo now has animatronic dinosaurs, fenced off in a compound between the flying bird display area and the otter pen: it is called 'Zoorassic Park'
The penguin pools have been netted (good news) but I couldn't see any rockhoppers (bad news, unless I was just unlucky). The first pen just held ducks - mostly eiders and hooded mergansers.
I thought that the bird show would start a 3 pm, but it was already happening when I passed by at 2:15. I saw a peregine first, then an African grey parrot. Then came the macaws - 2 military, 3 scarlet and a pair of hyacinths, followed by 2 couples of Harris hawks.
The aquarium continues to delight. I was pleased to see my favourite Tanganyikan cichlids again instead of the matamata turtles. Beautiful rainbow goodeids (Characodon lateralis) have replaced the mangrove rivulus, and I was interested to see chequered pupfish (Cualac tesselatus) for the first time.
. As someone that use to visit both these zoos in the past and liked their collections it bothers me to see them both a shadow of what they both once were. I hope there's an answer to their decline, Perhaps new managers could turn things around, maybe someone from overseas that's not connected in anyway, But something needs to happen. I was surprised to see that we very few posts about Whipsnade this year, and none at all about the current state of the zoo. I visited today and I noticed several changes since my last visit, almost a year ago.
First of all the zoo now has animatronic dinosaurs, fenced off in a compound between the flying bird display area and the otter pen: it is called 'Zoorassic Park'
The penguin pools have been netted (good news) but I couldn't see any rockhoppers (bad news, unless I was just unlucky). The first pen just held ducks - mostly eiders and hooded mergansers.
I thought that the bird show would start a 3 pm, but it was already happening when I passed by at 2:15. I saw a peregine first, then an African grey parrot. Then came the macaws - 2 military, 3 scarlet and a pair of hyacinths, followed by 2 couples of Harris hawks.
The aquarium continues to delight. I was pleased to see my favourite Tanganyikan cichlids again instead of the matamata turtles. Beautiful rainbow goodeids (Characodon lateralis) have replaced the mangrove rivulus, and I was interested to see chequered pupfish (Cualac tesselatus) for the first time.
Did you see the male Indian Rhino 'Hugo'? He recently underwent eye surgery for cataracts as they discovered he was bumping into things in his paddock. There is some video of the procedure on their FB page.
I looked for him because I had seen about his op, but I only had distant views of 2 Indian rhinos, too far away to distinguish the individuals (particularly as both were well coated in mud). I used to be able to distinguish them by their horns, but the video showed that Hugo's horn has grown well.
It was sad to see just one brown bear (we know why) and also one Grevy's zebra and one European bison. It was also sad to see a panel hanging loose from the empty sea lion building (the Water Mammals House of old). And the state of the Tecton Elephant House is appalling.. . Perhaps new managers could turn things around, maybe someone from overseas that's not connected in anyway, But something needs to happen.
Of course there are still good things at Whipsnade, I've mentioned the Aquarium (& Butterfly House) and the Bird Show, plus the elephants, the rhinos, the nilghai herd and Hullabazoo (the children's farm and play area) and the best train ride in a British zoo - if you like that sort of thing. I haven't mentioned the big cats, antelopes or hippos because I didn't see those parts of the zoo this time.
It does seem to me that it is the area closest to the entrance that is the weakest. As well as the solo specimens listed above, there are just the lemurs (hard to see), the chimps (a quiet group of ageing animals that are also hard to see on their nice island), the lynx and the wild bores*. Ideally I would like to see the lemurs moved and a nice exhibit built for an active and attractive species, say Japanese macaques, mandrills or coatis. Perhaps they could even restore the old Elephant House for some useful purpose, even if it cannot be used for animals again.
* spot the deliberate mistake.
Is there no other zebra species?
You must have been unlucky with those two species as there was at least four zebra and a decent (if small) herd of Wisent when I was there in July.
Used to be and that would be a Common Zebra that lived with the Ostrich and Gemsbok
There are more zebras, which I didn't see as I didn't reach that part of the park. The single one was in the paddock closest to the entrance, with the wisent in the next one (perhaps there may have been more deep inside the shelter, but that is unusual for the species in my experience). But I repeat my point - if you enter the zoo and turn left, they will be the only animals that you might see until you reach the Mangalitza pigs in 'Hullabazoo' unless the lemurs have come out from their bamboo groves or the sakis are in the part of their outdoor cage where you can see through the mesh (that's another exhibit that looks really run down).
On my recent visit, I saw five Grevy's zebra (four adults and a young foal) in the paddock they share with the waterbuck. There was also another Grevy's zebra in the enclosure near the European bison.
Currently Grevy's is the only zebra species at Whipsnade.
I believe the single one is the herd stallion and he has been removed from the group paddock. He was there last year also. There were three European bison last time I went there.
I didn't stop to look at the European bison on my visit last week but I too saw three on my previous visit. This also tallies with the number recorded in the most recent ZSL Animal Inventory.
You’d throw a fit if you saw what’s currently stored inside there!
Regretably, I think the “best” we could hope for is that it’s turned into an undercover shelter/picnic area. The zoo have previously stated it’s not fit for purpose regarding animals.
Is this the one next to the new house ? As I’ve seen the elephant still use it when they don’t want the elephants to be seen by the public … or when cleaning the new house and it’s too wet cold for the elephants outside then they are in the old house for a short while…
No "gentle lemur" and "Panthera1981" were referring to the old 1930s Elephant House, designed by the architect Lubetkin, which is near the lemur exhibit.
Had a great visit on Wednesday, I love Whipsnade as it turns into autumn. Nandi the white rhino calf is absolutely adorable Was cool to see sitatunga in with the bongo as well.
The aviary next to the cafe has had a new house built for it and unfortunately I am none the wiser as to what is happening in the old Red River Hog enclosure (funnily enough that also once held sitatunga!).
Was cool to see sitatunga in with the bongo as well. The aviary next to the cafe has had a new house built for it and unfortunately I am none the wiser as to what is happening in the old Red River Hog enclosure (funnily enough that also once held sitatunga!).