ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024

[Max Blundell]

A new map has been updated to Whipsnade's website. It features the new Monkey forest with Anoa, Langurs, Sulawesi Macaques and a new updated icon for the Babirusa.
It also adds animals that weren't featured on the previous map- Przewalski's Horse, Nilgai and Indian Gaur however the Gaur icon more resembles Cape Buffalo.

Map | Whipsnade Zoo

 

[Kalaw]

In Autumn last year, ZSL released 3,000 Partula Snails to Tahiti in French Polynesia, bringing the total number released by the Society up to 24,000. Although some animals came from London, I believe the majority were sourced from the offshow breeding facility at Whipsnade, and it was indeed Whipsnade's Partula keeper, Tyrone Capel, who was responsible for escorting the animals to their new home.

 

[Lafone]

In Autumn last year, ZSL released 3,000 Partula Snails to Tahiti in French Polynesia, bringing the total number released by the Society up to 24,000. Although some animals came from London, I believe the majority were sourced from the offshow breeding facility at Whipsnade, and it was indeed Whipsnade's Partula keeper, Tyrone Capel, who was responsible for escorting the animals to their new home.

It was a shared initiative between ZSL, Edinburgh and Bristol, the majority driver at Whipsnade but a very good collaboration and conservation story.

British born snails relocate to Pacific island home - BBC News

 

[dillotest0]

A new map has been updated to Whipsnade's website. It features the new Monkey forest with Anoa, Langurs, Sulawesi Macaques and a new updated icon for the Babirusa.
It also adds animals that weren't featured on the previous map- Przewalski's Horse, Nilgai and Indian Gaur however the Gaur icon more resembles Cape Buffalo.

Map | Whipsnade Zoo

And blesbok too it looks like.
It also seems to have a goat in the Africa area - does anyone know anything about this? Are they using goats for grazing there or something else?

 

[Lafone]

And blesbok too it looks like.
It also seems to have a goat in the Africa area - does anyone know anything about this? Are they using goats for grazing there or something else?

The goats (signed Bagot) are in the enclosure at the top of the zoo opposite the rhinos / crane. They have been living on the slope in the fenced area for a while. Just being goats as far as I’m aware.

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

Just was browsing zootierliste, which I know isn’t always 100% accurate but I noticed they include Red Titi monkey, is this another new arrival or someone getting Whipsnade and London mixed up?

 

[Lafone]

Just was browsing zootierliste, which I know isn’t always 100% accurate but I noticed they include Red Titi monkey, is this another new arrival or someone getting Whipsnade and London mixed up?

I can’t think Whipsnade would bring in a small primate given the exit from others. Unless they are off show but doesn’t make much sense.

On another note members email about the huge visitor numbers at London and Whipsnade this weekend (always the same) means Whipsnade tickets are limited tomorrow. Overcrowding on bank holidays isn’t a novelty but I don’t envy anyone trying to get into a Whipsnade toilet this weekend! By the tone of this email it’s been a trying day all round.


“We have reduced the number of tickets sold for Whipsnade tomorrow to make more car parking available for members, and we hope that will alleviate the congestion we saw today. But please do check before you travel.



There is also a new Zoo bus operating from Luton vis Dunstable straight to Whipsnade – check the timetable here.



Or you can always make the most of the clocks changing tonight (30 March) by arriving after 2pm when the zoo is quieter - this still gives you the whole afternoon to explore until 6pm!



Our staff did their best to help as many people as possible today, and the kindness and understanding shown by most of our members was gratefully appreciated.



If you arrive at Whipsnade Zoo by car to find you can’t enter, please don’t park in the neighbouring villages – this can cause hazards for other traffic and local residents. Thank you for your help with this.”

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

I can’t think Whipsnade would bring in a small primate given the exit from others. Unless they are off show but doesn’t make much sense.

On another note members email about the huge visitor numbers at London and Whipsnade this weekend (always the same) means Whipsnade tickets are limited tomorrow. Overcrowding on bank holidays isn’t a novelty but I don’t envy anyone trying to get into a Whipsnade toilet this weekend! By the tone of this email it’s been a trying day all round.


“We have reduced the number of tickets sold for Whipsnade tomorrow to make more car parking available for members, and we hope that will alleviate the congestion we saw today. But please do check before you travel.



There is also a new Zoo bus operating from Luton vis Dunstable straight to Whipsnade – check the timetable here.



Or you can always make the most of the clocks changing tonight (30 March) by arriving after 2pm when the zoo is quieter - this still gives you the whole afternoon to explore until 6pm!



Our staff did their best to help as many people as possible today, and the kindness and understanding shown by most of our members was gratefully appreciated.



If you arrive at Whipsnade Zoo by car to find you can’t enter, please don’t park in the neighbouring villages – this can cause hazards for other traffic and local residents. Thank you for your help with this.”

Yeah it’s probably an error on the site

 

[Panthera1981]

A ZSL-led Red List assessment has found that the population of north-eastern African cheetah (of which Whipsnade has 3 males) is now at high risk of extinction, with just 600 known mature individuals.

 

[Max Blundell]

I am currently at Whipsnade Zoo and I was just wondering if the zoo still holds their 2 Female Blackbuck? As they are not signposted anywhere in the zoo and I even went on the express but could not spot them

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

I am currently at Whipsnade Zoo and I was just wondering if the zoo still holds their 2 Female Blackbuck? As they are not signposted anywhere in the zoo and I even went on the express but could not spot them

I hadn’t seen them for years until I spotted them last autumn. As far as i know they are still in the passage thru Asia but they are very hard to spot.

 

[Pertinax]

I am currently at Whipsnade Zoo and I was just wondering if the zoo still holds their 2 Female Blackbuck? As they are not signposted anywhere in the zoo and I even went on the express but could not spot them

They are still listed on the most recent inventory. Last time I saw them they were in the small paddock section on the right of the entrance to AP, its connected to the main drivethrough. Look around the shelter maybe, more likely around there than out in the open, particularly if poor weather. If Signage gone,it may or may not mean they aren't still there.

 

[pipaluk]

I am currently at Whipsnade Zoo and I was just wondering if the zoo still holds their 2 Female Blackbuck? As they are not signposted anywhere in the zoo and I even went on the express but could not spot them

I saw them last month, they weren't signed then either. They are always together and often hanging around close to the fallow deer herd

 

[Max Blundell]

Had a fantastic day at Whipsnade today.

The Monkey Valley (IMO) is great, I could not believe how large the exhibits were until I got to the Lowland Anoa exhibit. It was nice to finally be about to see the male Anoa out and about for the first time. He is so photogenic. I love the new Anoa house, the signage highlighting the size difference between Anoa and Gaur is one of my favourite signs at the zoo. I also got some good photos of the new female in the Bongo house.

The Babirusas and Langurs coexist happily in their large paddock and a highlight was seeing one of the male Babirusa using the pool.

Saw the baby Southern White Rhino with mum and as soon as they came to the fence line the whole zoo turned up to view them.
Seeing the 4th Gemsbok was amazing as well and it gives me hope for this species at Whipsnade in the future.

The 3 Indian Gaur were out enjoying the sun so it was amazing to see them up near the fence.

Only 2 European Bison were out in their paddock, I did spot a 3rd in the house though. I wonder if I just missed the 4th.

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

Had a fantastic day at Whipsnade today.

The Monkey Valley (IMO) is great, I could not believe how large the exhibits were until I got to the Lowland Anoa exhibit. It was nice to finally be about to see the male Anoa out and about for the first time. He is so photogenic. I love the new Anoa house, the signage highlighting the size difference between Anoa and Gaur is one of my favourite signs at the zoo. I also got some good photos of the new female in the Bongo house.

The Babirusas and Langurs coexist happily in their large paddock and a highlight was seeing one of the male Babirusa using the pool.

Saw the baby Southern White Rhino with mum and as soon as they came to the fence line the whole zoo turned up to view them.
Seeing the 4th Gemsbok was amazing as well and it gives me hope for this species at Whipsnade in the future.

The 3 Indian Gaur were out enjoying the sun so it was amazing to see them up near the fence.

Only 2 European Bison were out in their paddock, I did spot a 3rd in the house though. I wonder if I just missed the 4th.

Oh that’s cool the babirusa have a pond, don’t think I knew that!

 

[HelloCrossy67]

Also visited Whipsnade today, for the first time! It was an amazing experience, compared to my local range (Marwell, Cotswolds) it was a huge and amazing place. Loved the new monkey forest, and got a great view of the new infant langur. I saw everything today, par the Wolverine, Nilgai, Otter & Cheetah.

My only question when it came to the Zoo, was the wallabies and peafowls on the map. The maras were dotted around the zoo, the wallabies were seemingly confined to an area near the otters, and peafowl I did not spot at all, are they currently held?

Also, can confirm all 4 bison, was lucky enough to see them twice on my distorted route, but one was hanging around the housing!

 

[Lafone]

Also visited Whipsnade today, for the first time! It was an amazing experience, compared to my local range (Marwell, Cotswolds) it was a huge and amazing place. Loved the new monkey forest, and got a great view of the new infant langur. I saw everything today, par the Wolverine, Nilgai, Otter & Cheetah.

My only question when it came to the Zoo, was the wallabies and peafowls on the map. The maras were dotted around the zoo, the wallabies were seemingly confined to an area near the otters, and peafowl I did not spot at all, are they currently held?

Also, can confirm all 4 bison, was lucky enough to see them twice on my distorted route, but one was hanging around the housing!

Sounds like a great day out! The wallabies go wherever they want to so can be seen in a few places - in the round old enclosure near the otters as you mention and around the trees there and the small event space but also around the penguins, up the top opposite the rhinos and on the whipsnade mound are a few favourite spots. Oh and in the summer they enjoy the shady trees near the elephants.

Essentially anywhere in the zoo is a wallaby space! There were 110 in the 2023 inventory and there are already a good number of joeys this year so you’re rarely seeing them all even if there is a bit of a group.

The peafowl aren’t free roaming at the moment they might reappear at some point.

 

[HelloCrossy67]

That makes sense, I saw them early on and did not see them again, so presumed they weren't wild. Thanks for the quick response

 

[Lafone]

That makes sense, I saw them early on and did not see them again, so presumed they weren't wild. Thanks for the quick response

It can be fun and quite challenging to get near enough for good pics of them. They often emerge as the zoo gets quiet so if you’re up the far end of the zoo near the rhinos not long before closing it’s a wallaby fest - whereas in the day you’ve seen just a few! Great time to see them en masse is on the late closing days in July when the zoo opens until 9pm.

 

[dillotest0]

It can be fun and quite challenging to get near enough for good pics of them. They often emerge as the zoo gets quiet so if you’re up the far end of the zoo near the rhinos not long before closing it’s a wallaby fest - whereas in the day you’ve seen just a few! Great time to see them en masse is on the late closing days in July when the zoo opens until 9pm.

On my most recent visit to Whipsnade in 2023 I had little problem finding some wallabies in an area close to the penguins. I don't think they were particularly bothered by my presence - but then there's the question of plants if you want a full shot.

And one of my shots of the reindeer seems to have a wallaby's silhouette as well. And another some kind of sheep or woolly thing? Do they have grazing on the hill behind the reindeer? Can one walk there? This is about as far as I got before I decided this was about as far down as I would sensibly go