ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2023

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Przewalski's horse update:

UK zoo welcomes birth of endangered Mongolian wild horses

The foals born recently are a male and a female.

The colt has been named Luujin; the filly is as yet unnamed.

Genetic diversity is also key for pure wild herds to continue to grow and thrive, making the birth of new foals at Whipsnade even more welcome news. The female in particular has the potential to help breed more lines worldwide in the future.
 
Great day out at Whipsnade today and worth taking a day off to avoid the crowds next week! Lots of school trips but glorious weather. After 3pm to closing it was quiet and the animals were up and about. The views across the downs in the good weather are great.

Makari the Amur tiger has left the collection (yesterday) leaving Czar on his own in the tiger enclosure. He was napping in the shade in the usual style.

The two new female lions are absolutely beautiful. Very active in the enclosure and getting used to the new sights and sounds. The glass window is temporarily cordoned off as they are not used to glass yet (signage about that is displayed outside the enclosure). Lovely to have ‘Whipsnade’ lions again - striking looking and active lions are a definite bonus.

Geese and white storks are back on the bird lake though the signage hasn’t been updated.

The elephants are back using the whole enclosure now the ground is better so that was nice to see.

The three newest bears were in the main enclosure together and running / playing and swimming which was a treat to watch. The weave fencing is now just one panel on the main enclosure but completely encloses the new one (pic attached). One of the younger bears was keen on scratching and jumping up at the window in the main enclosure when people were there so the wicker fencing on the new one is probably to prevent some excitement while they settle in. There’s more not less of it at the moment though.

Lots of work going on around the old sloth bear enclosure - (pics also attached of that).

Was lucky to find both Przewalski mares and foals next to the Whipsnade mound parking area in passage through Asia, so they could be viewed (and photographed) close up on foot. Lovely looking foals.

The rockhopper chicks are growing well.

The chimps were even out in their main enclosure enjoying the sun - always a sign of the good weather!

All round excellent day out.
 

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Lafone said:
Great day out at Whipsnade today and worth taking a day off to avoid the crowds next week! Lots of school trips but glorious weather. After 3pm to closing it was quiet and the animals were up and about. The views across the downs in the good weather are great.

Makari the Amur tiger has left the collection (yesterday) leaving Czar on his own in the tiger enclosure. He was napping in the shade in the usual style.

The two new female lions are absolutely beautiful. Very active in the enclosure and getting used to the new sights and sounds. The glass window is temporarily cordoned off as they are not used to glass yet (signage about that is displayed outside the enclosure). Lovely to have ‘Whipsnade’ lions again - striking looking and active lions are a definite bonus.

Geese and white storks are back on the bird lake though the signage hasn’t been updated.

The elephants are back using the whole enclosure now the ground is better so that was nice to see.

The three newest bears were in the main enclosure together and running / playing and swimming which was a treat to watch. The weave fencing is now just one panel on the main enclosure but completely encloses the new one (pic attached). One of the younger bears was keen on scratching and jumping up at the window in the main enclosure when people were there so the wicker fencing on the new one is probably to prevent some excitement while they settle in. There’s more not less of it at the moment though.

Lots of work going on around the old sloth bear enclosure - (pics also attached of that).

Was lucky to find both Przewalski mares and foals next to the Whipsnade mound parking area in passage through Asia, so they could be viewed (and photographed) close up on foot. Lovely looking foals.

The rockhopper chicks are growing well.

The chimps were even out in their main enclosure enjoying the sun - always a sign of the good weather!

All round excellent day out.
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Really looking forward to seeing the new Lions! Yeah it’s nice to have Lions that can call Whipsnade home!

Monkey Forest has been a long time coming but macaques, anoa and langurs…I can’t wait!
 
On another note does anyone know what has happened to Nikki (chimp)?

On the stock list in 2022, there were six chimps listed (4:2), Nikki being one. I haven't seen them all together for a while with the bad weather etc. I didn't see him today (usually it's only Koko who might be off to one side). Took a look at the Whipsnade website, there are only five chimps noted and Nikki isn't mentioned.

At the Zoo, we have an adult family group of five chimps. Bonnie is the mother of two sons, Phil and Elvis, she is a devoted, protective mum. The group also includes male Grant and 'adopted aunt' Koko.
 
Lafone said:
On another note does anyone know what has happened to Nikki (chimp)?

On the stock list in 2022, there were six chimps listed (4:2), Nikki being one. I haven't seen them all together for a while with the bad weather etc. I didn't see him today (usually it's only Koko who might be off to one side). Took a look at the Whipsnade website, there are only five chimps noted and Nikki isn't mentioned.

At the Zoo, we have an adult family group of five chimps. Bonnie is the mother of two sons, Phil and Elvis, she is a devoted, protective mum. The group also includes male Grant and 'adopted aunt' Koko.
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This doesn’t sound very positive.

If the worst is confirmed, and what with Nikki being the dominant male, I wonder if this would hasten the departure of the species from Whipsnade? Unless plans have changed (and I’m more than happy to be corrected!) the group was being “bred to extinction” with most of the group having underlying health issues anyway. If a transfer were to happen, I’m assuming hypothetically only Monkey World or Twycross would take them?
 
Dublin zoo had a similar situation with their alpha male died, and usually they will just let the group live together till the end, similar to what they did with the elderly lions.
 
Panthera1981 said:
This doesn’t sound very positive.

If the worst is confirmed, and what with Nikki being the dominant male, I wonder if this would hasten the departure of the species from Whipsnade? Unless plans have changed (and I’m more than happy to be corrected!) the group was being “bred to extinction” with most of the group having underlying health issues anyway. If a transfer were to happen, I’m assuming hypothetically only Monkey World or Twycross would take them?
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They seemed to be going along ok so I guess that’s a factor for the keepers and it’ll be interesting how things develop as you say.

Given the website info and his sign not being there I assume he has died as I am guessing a transfer would be unusual. Was hoping someone might say otherwise tbh!

I do hope the current group get to live out the rest of their days at Whipsnade - it would be such a sad day to see them go. They aren’t a breeding group now of course but they still offer a lot of pleasure for visitors.
 
Nicky did indeed died his keeper said in December, and what they didn’t expect but has happened is his female bonnie is now alpha. Very unusual since their are males in the group but since they are castrated their has been arguing , but Bonnie has just cast it aside and says I’m in charge. Her youngest son Elvis has also backed his mum , and so the keeper just said we will keep them as a non breeding group till they all pass. And since Elvis is still in his 20’s they would hope it’s many happy years together as group of 5.
 
In other news their could be a new white rhino in the future as their has been seen breeding from two female rhinos with the male .
The brown bears have settled down as the 3 newbies are happy , but as soon as Cinderella joins their is arguing over alpha female, so they are going to take it slow and hope it will resolve over time.
Czar tiger seemed happy sunbathing in the sun, Couldn’t see the otters and they need to cut down the grass as impossible to see the hunting dogs and lions, both hidden in the grass,
 
Rosie183 said:
and they need to cut down the grass as impossible to see the hunting dogs and lions, both hidden in the grass
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I'd hazard the long grass in with the lions is to allow them to get comfortable and feel like they have a place to hide.

The rhinos have been breeding for quite a while now, so fingers crossed!
 
Rosie183 said:
Nicky did indeed died his keeper said in December, and what they didn’t expect but has happened is his female bonnie is now alpha. Very unusual since their are males in the group but since they are castrated their has been arguing , but Bonnie has just cast it aside and says I’m in charge. Her youngest son Elvis has also backed his mum , and so the keeper just said we will keep them as a non breeding group till they all pass. And since Elvis is still in his 20’s they would hope it’s many happy years together as group of 5.
Click to expand...

Sad news about Nikki. It's a shame the zoo didn't say something publicly given how long he has been there but Whipsnade are always up and down news wise. Of course it is sentimental to be fond of zoo animals after visiting for many years, the animals absolutely don't care, but, all the same, it is sad when they die. Good if they intend to keep them going as a troop.

I quite like the long grass, it makes it more interesting to spot the animals if they are moving around and they can hide if they want to.
 
Rosie183 said:
Nicky did indeed died his keeper said in December, and what they didn’t expect but has happened is his female bonnie is now alpha. Very unusual since their are males in the group but since they are castrated their has been arguing , but Bonnie has just cast it aside and says I’m in charge. Her youngest son Elvis has also backed his mum , and so the keeper just said we will keep them as a non breeding group till they all pass. And since Elvis is still in his 20’s they would hope it’s many happy years together as group of 5.
Click to expand...
Honestly It's not so strange for an female to be alfa. Alfa status in female chimps is already more important then generally known, so it doesn't surprise me that in a small group a female takes the lead. It's not like in Bonobo's where females always lead but it does happen and they do have a lot of influence. Mama at Burgers zoo actually was a large part responsible for who took the alfa role in the group.
 
Personally I always expected Elvis to rapidly mature and become the dominant male once Nikki died. Now, after reading this, my mind can’t escape Bonnie and Elvis being the chimpanzee equivalent of Agnes and Seymour Skinner from The Simpsons!
 
Hi we drive when we go whipsnade and their is 2 babirusa now on the entrance to passage through Asia? Are they new to whipsnade? Any idea where they might be housed, as I presume they were their on quarantine?
 
Rosie183 said:
Hi we drive when we go whipsnade and their is 2 babirusa now on the entrance to passage through Asia? Are they new to whipsnade? Any idea where they might be housed, as I presume they were their on quarantine?
Click to expand...

There has been a Babirusa there for at least a couple of months now. Not sure where they will go but it’s great to have them at whipsnade!

Just had a look at it’s been at the zoo since at least January
 
2023 News Not Mentioned (2):

On April 27th, the zoo announced, in partnership with 2 facilities in the United Kingdom and 1 facility in the United States, bred and released ~3,000 snails in the Partula genus to the islands of Tahiti and Moorea in Frech Polynesia.

Huge success for snails! Conservation zoos like London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo have the power to reverse biodiversity loss. And we’ve played a vital role in the largest reintroduction in history for ‘extinct’ snails! http://ow.ly/PWPn50NWSAX Thousands of Partula snails reared at London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and Saint Louis Zoo, were carefully flown over 15,000km to the islands of Moorea and Tahiti earlier this month. Despite their small size these snails are of great cultural, ecological and scientific importance – they're the Darwin’s finches of the snail world, having been researched for more than a century due to their isolated habitat providing the perfect conditions to study evolution. This collaborative conservation initiative is, without a doubt, helping to bring these species back from the brink of extinction and shows the conservation power of zoos to reverse biodiversity loss. With nature across the world increasingly under threat, these little snails represent hope for the world’s wildlife. The Partula snail reintroduction project is made possible due to funding from supporters including the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, who have enabled ZSL to continue this vital work and bring species back from the brink of extinction. | London Zoo |

On May 15th, it was announced that (1.1.1) white-faced saki monkeys named Milagre, Kaituma, and Maya were transferred to the ZSL London Zoo in London.

⭐NEW ARRIVALS⭐ A trio of Saki monkeys have arrived at our Rainforest Life habitat! | ⭐NEW ARRIVALS⭐ A trio of saki monkeys have arrived at our Rainforest Life habitat! The family of three - mum Kaituma, dad Milagre and 10-month-old... | By London Zoo | Facebook
 
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