I always feel so sorry for the keepers who do everything to make sure the animals mix and are healthy. Must be so sad for them 
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2023
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Would be a good space for wolves again as you say and could possibly be linked to Europe area wise without too much of a stretch as it’s only across the car park. It could be argued they don’t need the dogs in both ZSL locations. Unless they can get the pack going of course.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Such a shame that they haven't seen success at Whipsnade. They suit the zoo wonderfully and look stunning emerging in and out of the long grass - easily the biggest (and probably best) enclosure for the species in the country. But I do admit the wolves always felt more at home there, with the abundance of mature trees in the background that makes the enclosure look so beautiful also making it shamelessly obvious that you are still in Northern Europe.
The species that I would most like to see return to Whipsnade would be the European Moose, who would look excellent in front of the woodland, but I do understand that the enclosure has a history with canines, and that the indoors in particular would have to be redesigned quite drastically.
The species that I would most like to see return to Whipsnade would be the European Moose, who would look excellent in front of the woodland, but I do understand that the enclosure has a history with canines, and that the indoors in particular would have to be redesigned quite drastically.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Moose would be stunning though is it correct they don’t do that well captivity wise? Though I think Knowsley have them. I agree the dogs are lovely in the enclosure. They just don’t seem to thrive. Which is strange as it’s a great space.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
You're correct. From what I gather, it's a combination of a difficult diet and being prone to infections. Whipsnade always seemed to be decently successful (and were even the first UK zoo to breed them in 1961), but when the bull died in 2017, they sent the cow to Longleat. I understand if they don't want to take the risk again, but I do miss them.
Knowsley does indeed hold them, as do Wildwood Trust, the Scottish Deer Centre and Highland Wildlife Park (the latter bred them as recently as 2021, with the calves being born just a day after my visit
) And the 25 or so German zoos that hold the species seem to have forgotten that their supposed to be difficult to care for! 
Have I missed something, what happened to the remaining original females, have they all died now ?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
In the 2022 inventory there were 3 females listed. In 2023 it shows 2.
There were some introductions which went wrong after three hunting dogs arrived from WMSP on 1st Feb 2023. the BBC covered their arrival.
Zoo welcomes African wild dogs in breeding bid - BBC News
“The three males, named Earl, Elvis and Einstein, arrived at the zoo in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, from West Midlands Safari Park on 1 February.
Staff hope the males will bond with sisters Beebee and Ginger and form a new pack.”
The fighting / issues resulted in death of some of the dogs it would appear though Whipsnade haven’t said anything official. Very sad for the keepers and the dogs if the case. There’s some discussion on it earlier on in this thread so crediting those who mentioned it there.
Two females according to the inventory list and they said females when I last attended a talk. So I was surprised to see it said above there were two males as I didn’t think the females were all gone. However the inventory was done in Jan before the issues. Rosie observed ‘the three new arrivals were no more’ but this means the remaining two are female not male as there were no other male dogs to start with. I thought there were actually three remaining after all the issues myself (one male two female).
There were some introductions which went wrong after three hunting dogs arrived from WMSP on 1st Feb 2023. the BBC covered their arrival.
Zoo welcomes African wild dogs in breeding bid - BBC News
“The three males, named Earl, Elvis and Einstein, arrived at the zoo in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, from West Midlands Safari Park on 1 February.
Staff hope the males will bond with sisters Beebee and Ginger and form a new pack.”
The fighting / issues resulted in death of some of the dogs it would appear though Whipsnade haven’t said anything official. Very sad for the keepers and the dogs if the case. There’s some discussion on it earlier on in this thread so crediting those who mentioned it there.
Two females according to the inventory list and they said females when I last attended a talk. So I was surprised to see it said above there were two males as I didn’t think the females were all gone. However the inventory was done in Jan before the issues. Rosie observed ‘the three new arrivals were no more’ but this means the remaining two are female not male as there were no other male dogs to start with. I thought there were actually three remaining after all the issues myself (one male two female).
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I can’t remember which gender but it’s definitely two of the same gender, and this the problem, as they are afraid to bring in more animals If the same fate was to happen again, especially now asking other collections for more wild hunting dogs doesn’t look good!
I agree; I would love to see moose back at Whipsnade again.
Apologies for being pedantic but moose first bred at Whipsnade in 1960 not 1961.
The original dogs (6 females) were the offspring of the previous breeding pair at London.
I don’t think they should. The zoo’s more than big enough to hold 2, possibly 3, species of canid. I’ve no doubt wolves will return, that was the original long term vision when the last individuals were euthanised. There was talk of converting the old Woodland Walk area adjacent to the main entrance into a new wolf exhibit.
If the zoo didn’t stick so rigidly to its zoogeographic theming I’d say bring in Dhole!
Dhole would fit well with Passage Through Asia
I can confirm, via a conversation with a keeper at the zoo, that the two Wild Dogs are a male and female. So fingers crossed they will breed!
m1stermoomoo
New Member
Fingers crossed. When they first arrived to Whipsnade the whole area looked amazing and my family had lots of luck to see lots of activity from them as a pack. Its a shame that its going downhill.
News article about the Francois Langur born early in August
An endangered Francois langur baby has been born at Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo
An endangered Francois langur baby has been born at Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The BBC have picked it up which is good to see
Whipsnade Zoo 'over the moon' at birth of endangered monkey Zoo 'over the moon' at birth of endangered monkey
Enjoyable, yet very hot, afternoon up at Whipsnade. Biggest highlight was seeing the baby Langur whilst the troop were fed indoors. The Babirusa were then allowed in so it was amazing to see them all toghether.
Still no luck with the Porcupines, but I will persist!
Monkey Forest progress is really coming along well, photo below.
Still no luck with the Porcupines, but I will persist!
Monkey Forest progress is really coming along well, photo below.
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Charles
Well-Known Member
Is monkey Forest the sulawesi crested macaques and anoa enclosure or something new?
Sorry I should have explained more, yes its the macaque/anoa area
Did you take this photo from within Passage Through Asia? Trying to work out exactly where the exhibit will be.
Also do you remember if there’s many trees in the space for the future enclosure?
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