Cheers, they hadn’t moved in / weren’t on exhibit on my last visit.
Hope to get back for one of the ‘Summer Saturdays’ - great to see they are running these as love being in the zoo in the evening
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2023
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Cheers, they hadn’t moved in / weren’t on exhibit on my last visit.
Hope to get back for one of the ‘Summer Saturdays’ - great to see they are running these as love being in the zoo in the evening
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Great time at Whipsnade today - a few school parties but pretty quiet and lovely weather. After 330pm there were very few people around. The slightly cooler weather made for some active animals with only the cheetahs asleep all day.
The chimps were out and about being fed for their keeper talk in the morning which was nice to see and they gave information on how the group is doing without Nikky now Bonnie is in charge. There did seem more squabbling over food than there used to be but everyone got some in the end.
Saw the babirusa in the new enclosure - they seemed happy pottering about. The langurs were being more cautious and sitting in their tunnel. Took some potato pics of the enclosure and will upload to the gallery. They’ve done a good job repurposing it with some new fencing and electrical and new frames and rope lines. The indoor viewing is shut off and signed as such while the new residents settle in. The anoa are signed in the enclosure near the entrance to passage through Asia which the babirusa were in before.
Work on the new monkey forest is progressing at pace and it’s quite a big site overall - took some pics again for the gallery from the passage through Asia side where you can see paths etc going in as well as two large houses being framed.
Passage through Asia has loads of fawns of all species in which was lovely to see.
The lions are rotating through the enclosure at the moment and the whole glass viewing area is blocked off with a volunteer in place to explain limited access and the new arrivals. Saw the new male in the morning from a distance and then the two females in the afternoon. They were great, playing with some enrichment bags and chasing each other around for nearly an hour.
The bears were separated again with three together and Cinderella on her own and access in turn to the main enclosure.
Near closing got to see both aardvarks outside having some food which was excellent as haven’t seen them outside before.
The chimps were out and about being fed for their keeper talk in the morning which was nice to see and they gave information on how the group is doing without Nikky now Bonnie is in charge. There did seem more squabbling over food than there used to be but everyone got some in the end.
Saw the babirusa in the new enclosure - they seemed happy pottering about. The langurs were being more cautious and sitting in their tunnel. Took some potato pics of the enclosure and will upload to the gallery. They’ve done a good job repurposing it with some new fencing and electrical and new frames and rope lines. The indoor viewing is shut off and signed as such while the new residents settle in. The anoa are signed in the enclosure near the entrance to passage through Asia which the babirusa were in before.
Work on the new monkey forest is progressing at pace and it’s quite a big site overall - took some pics again for the gallery from the passage through Asia side where you can see paths etc going in as well as two large houses being framed.
Passage through Asia has loads of fawns of all species in which was lovely to see.
The lions are rotating through the enclosure at the moment and the whole glass viewing area is blocked off with a volunteer in place to explain limited access and the new arrivals. Saw the new male in the morning from a distance and then the two females in the afternoon. They were great, playing with some enrichment bags and chasing each other around for nearly an hour.
The bears were separated again with three together and Cinderella on her own and access in turn to the main enclosure.
Near closing got to see both aardvarks outside having some food which was excellent as haven’t seen them outside before.
The original plans for monkey forest had new viewing windows and a path for what is now the babirusa/langur enclosure, do you think that’s changed?
Really like what they have done with the enclosure, looking forward to seeing both species soon!
Hopefully will get back up there soon, I normally avoid school holidays.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Guess some of the new path is for the babirusa - langur viewing but it goes to the right much further than I’d thought so it’ll be interesting to see what it turns into overall. I was quite surprised it was so large when the work folk are standing in it for scale.
It is lovely to go on a day off on a weekday when it’s not school holidays. Had loads of the zoo to myself!
Yeah it’s going to be a fantastic space for both species definitely!
Ha yeah it’s a lovely place to just wander around on your own.
It’s funny you’ve never seen the Aardvarks out, I’ve never known such active ones before ha!
You should not believe everything you hear. I scotched that rumour a while ago.
Just seen the stock list for 2023 and see only 1 male Bongo remains , I wonder of they will phase this species out like the Gaur.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
I would find it unlikely, he's a very popular animal and the breeding program is still ongoing. Does seem strange Marwell received more animals recently despite already holding several + calf.
Plus, he's actually interested in doing something other than laying down like the sitatunga
I've also noticed that the zoo only has 3 female Gemsbok left (they had 5 (1 male and 4 females) last January). It will be a shame if they phase this species out because they are the only individuals in the UK and Gemsbok are a fascinating species.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure they've not long got that male ? I was on a lodge stay the other week, and I am sure they said he had recently arrived and was part of the breeding program and they are hopeful of being sent females as well.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Yes, this is what I was told around Easter. He's only recently started to settle in, I'm unsure of his age or origin. Hopefully imported, given how well they have been breeding in UK zoos.
A Red-crowned Crane hatched on 2nd July. After years of fostering other chicks, this is their pair’s first chick who have been together since 2009: Vulnerable, red-crowned crane chick gets first health check at four-days-old | Whipsnade Zoo
Just back from my first vist for a while, was lovely as always up there and quite busy.
Finally saw the new bears and they were loving life in the pool, also to my shock the aardvark were awake and one was having a stroll around it's paddock, still only 3 meerkat in that huge enclosure(surely they will get more?)
Liked the new babirusa/laguar enclosure and caught the babirusa exploring while the laguar looked on from the entrance to there house.
Seems there are only 3 Indian rhinos now with signage to the baby removed so I'm guessing it has moved on, however Hugo the male had another rhino in with him so maybe they are trying to breed again?
Finally saw the new bears and they were loving life in the pool, also to my shock the aardvark were awake and one was having a stroll around it's paddock, still only 3 meerkat in that huge enclosure(surely they will get more?)
Liked the new babirusa/laguar enclosure and caught the babirusa exploring while the laguar looked on from the entrance to there house.
Seems there are only 3 Indian rhinos now with signage to the baby removed so I'm guessing it has moved on, however Hugo the male had another rhino in with him so maybe they are trying to breed again?
The
They really are the most active Aardvarks I’ve ever seen!
Looking forward to eventually seeing the langurs and babirusa for myself!
The porcupines also share the meerkat area but I’ve never seen them. The aardvark enclosure is also linked so maybe eventually they will be open to all of the three species
They really are the most active Aardvarks I’ve ever seen!
Looking forward to eventually seeing the langurs and babirusa for myself!
The porcupines also share the meerkat area but I’ve never seen them. The aardvark enclosure is also linked so maybe eventually they will be open to all of the three species
Both females have had reproductive issues after previous calf’s so Hugo has the female with him for company but neither one will breed again…
The new young male wolverine, which has not been named yet, was moved from off show to the smaller wolverine enclosure this morning. Fi has the run of the larger area and they can see and smell each other through the fencing.
A keeper told us that Puff had been showing signs of pain, which is very unusual for wild animals like wolverines, and due to his age, 14, was put to sleep. Apparently wolverines usually live to 6 in the wild and around 13 in captivity.
A keeper told us that Puff had been showing signs of pain, which is very unusual for wild animals like wolverines, and due to his age, 14, was put to sleep. Apparently wolverines usually live to 6 in the wild and around 13 in captivity.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That’s sad news. Thought that might have been the case as they wouldn’t have two males.
Puff has been a great wolverine to watch. I’ll miss seeing his pink nose as he bombs about the place. had a lot of fun hours at that enclosure.
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Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
That's a lovely picture by the way.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Thanks that’s my last picture of him. Glad he ran over for it
I thought at the time maybe there was a little blood test / some medical patch on his right paw.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
That's tragic news. His morning feeding zoomies was always a highlight and he would never fail to impress visitors. I'd never realised his age, goes to show how great the husbandry is.
Thanks that’s my last picture of him. Glad he ran over for it
I've never managed to get a good picture of him myself, brilliant photo that really sums up what he was like
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