ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2023

[pipaluk]

Yes, I was referring to both Commons and Pygmys.

Tapon should be seventeen years of age; he's their 'former' breeding male and I have noticed he's mentioned a lot in their media.

London indeed does have a pair; Thug and Nicky. Although I don't believe they've breed to date.

Nicky died last September so London only have a male now too

 

[Lafone]

Nicky died last September so London only have a male now too

That's a shame.

Would be nice to see pygmy hippos bred at ZSL again.

 

[Trudie]

The breeding male hippo left for flamingo land I believe

 

[Jambo]

The breeding male hippo left for flamingo land I believe

Do you mean the Common Hippos? I don't believe Flamingo Land have Pygmy hippos.

 

[Trudie]

Do you mean the Common Hippos? I don't believe Flamingo Land have Pygmy hippos.

Yes sorry

 

[Panthera1981]

Do you mean the Common Hippos? I don't believe Flamingo Land have Pygmy hippos.

As it stands, unless otherwise:

Whipsnade: 1 Pygmy Hippo (male) and 2 Common Hippo (Mother and Son)

Flamingo Land recently acquired Whipsnade’s breeding male Common Hippo

 

[Jambo]

As it stands, unless otherwise:

Whipsnade: 1 Pygmy Hippo (male) and 2 Common Hippo (Mother and Son)

Flamingo Land recently acquired Whipsnade’s breeding male Common Hippo

Whipsnade's trio of hippos would be:

Pygmy Hippo: 1.0 Tapon (2005)

Common Hippos: 0.1 Lola (2003), 1.0 Hodor (2017)

Common Hippo, 1.0 Hoover was the male recently sent to Flamingo Land.

 

[Jedd Cullinan]

If anyone who wanted to know how Hoover is. So spoken to a colleague who works at Flamingo Land and she told me that he was nervous of his new surroundings to begin with but soon settled in well in his new home

 

[Lafone]

Had a very enjoyable first visit of 2023 to Whipsnade today though the rain at times was so heavy the roads were streams! Lots of animals were out though and got good views of the camels and Przewalski’s horses with the camera as they were up the top of the paddock. Didn’t catch sight of the otter pups unfortunately (though I lurked for some time) though both the adults were out and active and fetching more straw for the house.

The cheetahs were out and about. There is some new wicker fencing strapped onto the fence between their paddock and the deer etc next door - the new and younger cheetahs probably have more energy to chase the deer up and down so they have blocked sight of them.

The lake near the cafe continues to have only the pelicans on with the other birds off show. The shortcut to the elephant paddock that runs between the warty pigs and Indian rhinos is blocked off again - the yearly signal a muddy winter has set in!

In response to a question (and in front of a fair number of people) one of the volunteers said Khari the lion is due to move on to new temporary home soon as a new pride is coming in ‘shortly’. Far from official and obviously speculative but first time I’ve heard anything about a pride arrival in the lion space - it was said lions would join Khari previously. Who knows.

 

[Lafone]

Forgot to add the platforms have now gone from the front of the tiger enclosure where it faces out to the school meeting point etc..the posts at the top were very scratched and chewed and there were some visible nails so am guessing they have been removed as they were rotting / less safe. However they were also a great way to see the tigers. And the vertical posts are all still there which looks a bit odd. Hopefully something will be installed in their place / the platforms will be replaced.

 

[Embu]

Well Khari is/was "supposed" to be returning to Blackpool at some point. Wonder where else Khari would move to from here?

 

[Rosie183]

Blackpool only Loaned Khari for whipsnade to have a Lion exhibit and make it easier for them to build his new enclosure, it was always the plan for him to return and for him to form a new pride in Blackpool,
whipsnade was looking for their own new long term lions in which to form a pride and potentially breed , since they haven’t had any luck at London x

 

[Rosie183]

Lancashire zoo's 'king of the pride' lion dies aged 16

 

[Lafone]

Lancashire zoo's 'king of the pride' lion dies aged 16

The article you’ve quoted states "We are now in discussions with other UK zoos to decide which lions will be joining him to create a new pride. Khaki will become the head of the group and it will return to Blackpool Zoo when the new facility is open in Spring 2023.” This implies, by the wording used, that the intention was to form the pride at Whipsnade.

Still it’s all speculation.

 

[Rajang-GOAT]

Is it the one year old from Chester ?

It would appear so!
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo on Instagram: "Our aardvarks are making good use of their Christmas present from our Amazon wish list! And yes, there are three of them - Dobby has recently joined Nacho and Terry…"

 

[Jedd Cullinan]

It would appear so!
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo on Instagram: "Our aardvarks are making good use of their Christmas present from our Amazon wish list! And yes, there are three of them - Dobby has recently joined Nacho and Terry…"

It is confirmed it is Dobby from Chester Zoo and she's now living with Nacho and Terry

 

[pipaluk]

Don't think I've seen this mentioned previously but there are currently 2 Babirusa on the hard stand paddock at the entrance to the drive through, next to the Anoa

 

[Fallax]

Don't think I've seen this mentioned previously but there are currently 2 Babirusa on the hard stand paddock at the entrance to the drive through, next to the Anoa

Are these the London animals? Or does Whipsnade have some different ones, from Chester perhaps? Either way, great to see more babirusa in other zoos.

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

Can Babirusa be mixed with other species? Mixing with the langurs perhaps?

 

[Kalaw]

Can Babirusa be mixed with other species? Mixing with the langurs perhaps?

Chester mixes their babirusas with ASCO, so a mix with langurs is entirely plausible.

Are these the London animals? Or does Whipsnade have some different ones, from Chester perhaps? Either way, great to see more babirusa in other zoos.

If they are the London animals, then they arrived in the past three weeks, as both were definitely present on the Cassons on the 1st of December. Chester seems more likely...