ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2023

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rjh said:
In the new meercat/porcupine building. The adults were sleeping almost hidden from view at the back of the enclosure on the right, the porcupette was on its own in the back left hand corner.
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Great thanks, I’ll spot them one day!
 
Lafone said:
Had a fun day out at Whipsnade today. Chilly and the wind was certainly blowing at the top of the downs. Gliders were out in force and getting quite low over the top of the zoo. Not too busy and only one school trip.

There was a fire service and ambulance exercise going on in the zoo (signs at the entrance and vehicles and people inside) so lots of appliances parked around the place. Was nice to see the emergency personnel enjoying the rhinos while on their lunch break!

On arrival the walkway to the lynx and the viewing platform were cordoned off as work was going on to put new fencing along the path, this was complete by lunchtime.

The wild boar are signed as off show now and returning in the Spring. The bears are still out, but not very active. I'd expect them to be going off into torpor soon and signs suggest it is imminent.

Work continues at pace in the new monkey forest area. Cladding is going onto the buildings, the paths are being reinforced and finished and a new glass sided viewing platform is under construction. Couple of slightly grim phone pics taken from passage through Asia below.

The blue cranes are no longer signed in the enclosure at the top of the rhino paddock. Couldn't see them or another location for them. Might be a seasonal thing I hope we see them back on show there again. The white stork sign is still there though and the stork was wandering around.

The oryx were in the rear enclosure so didn't get a sighting of the new male.

Great views of active lions, tiger, wolverines and the young yaks and crane. The cheetahs are enjoying their new potting shed and were piled up inside it.

The otters were fed while I was waiting there so saw the new pups for the first time which was lovely. The red panda cubs were also having bamboo near the front of the enclosure and, as it was quiet, the Nilgai were also down near the fence and the gaur were out. Sometimes you get a lucky corner of the zoo!
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Sounds like the work on Monkey Forest is coming along well isn't it
 
Though I wonder...
are the yaks sometimes shut in for the evening?
That's what it looked like when I visited...
though maybe it was that I was simply unlucky - I went to Whipsnade I think about a week after the calves were born
 
dillotest0 said:
Though I wonder...
are the yaks sometimes shut in for the evening?
That's what it looked like when I visited...
though maybe it was that I was simply unlucky - I went to Whipsnade I think about a week after the calves were born
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I think you were just unlucky they can go into the house if they want to in the day - they were inside in the morning when I was there and out again later on.
 
A few updates from todays visit.

The Wild Boar are now on show in the end section of the Gaur building for the winter.

The young Japanese Crane has been moved from its parents and taken up residence in the enclosure by the white rhinos, already signed so doesn't look like a temporary move. The White Stork, like the Blue Cranes, is no longer there.

Nilo the male red panda is back in the old red panda enclosure until the spring to keep him separated from Ruby during the breeding season.

Good to see the Francois Langur up the trees in their paddock now they are allowed outside again, they obviously don't mind a bit of cold & rain when there is food to be had.
 
rjh said:
A few updates from todays visit.

The Wild Boar are now on show in the end section of the Gaur building for the winter.

The young Japanese Crane has been moved from its parents and taken up residence in the enclosure by the white rhinos, already signed so doesn't look like a temporary move. The White Stork, like the Blue Cranes, is no longer there.

Nilo the male red panda is back in the old red panda enclosure until the spring to keep him separated from Ruby during the breeding season.

Good to see the Francois Langur up the trees in their paddock now they are allowed outside again, they obviously don't mind a bit of cold & rain when there is food to be had.
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Seems like an early move for the young crane it’s been very close to the parents still and I did think they stayed with them for a bit longer. It doesn’t have its adult voice yet. Hopefully all will go well in the new space.
 
Not sure if this is unique to Whipsnade (and regular visitors will attest to the site sometimes suffering four seasons in one day!) but the zoo now offer a Weather Buster Guarantee - a free revisit if you suffer 90 minutes of continual inclement weather. Currently only limited to certain dates.
 
Panthera1981 said:
Not sure if this is unique to Whipsnade (and regular visitors will attest to the site sometimes suffering four seasons in one day!) but the zoo now offer a Weather Buster Guarantee - a free revisit if you suffer 90 minutes of continual inclement weather. Currently only limited to certain dates.
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I think Chester also started doing this?
 
A former Mayor of Dacorum and associates is looking to purchase the White Lion from the zoo due to its level of disrepair. However, ZSL have so far refused the numerous offers.
 
Panthera1981 said:
A former Mayor of Dacorum and associates is looking to purchase the White Lion from the zoo due to its level of disrepair. However, ZSL have so far refused the numerous offers.
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Interesting. I can’t imagine they would want to sell the land given it’s an asset. If someone wanted to take it on for them they’d probably be open to that. But it could cause access and other issues particularly if people wanted to monetise it to visitors etc so can’t really see them selling it though stranger things happen.
 
Lafone said:
Interesting. I can’t imagine they would want to sell the land given it’s an asset. If someone wanted to take it on for them they’d probably be open to that. But it could cause access and other issues particularly if people wanted to monetise it to visitors etc so can’t really see them selling it though stranger things happen.
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Now an article on BBC local news feeds for Beds,Herts and Bucks
 
I went to whipsnade today and I noticed that there is a new species coming soon sign where the waterfowl pond is on the map. Does anyone know what species they may be talking about?
 
Panthera1981 said:
Latest IUCN listings just released have now downgraded the species to Endangered, previously Extinct in the Wild.
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A great achievement for the Sahara Conservation Fund.

A further downgrading, I will only support, if and when 4 or 5 major Sahelian nations will have managed to re-establish self-sustaining populations of scimitar horned oryx (each at 400-600 individuals ... preferably even more), addax and other aridland species like Dama. Slender-Horned and Dorcas gazelles and the various predators like cheetah, leopard, lion, wolf, striped hyaena, golden Jackal.....
 
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