The zoo is currently suffering from a power issue, with some animals subsequently off-show
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter Rosie183
- Start date
Just announced
Goodluck Czar!
Czar will soon be moving to Leipzig Zoo as part of the conservation European breeding programme
With just around 500 Amur tigers remaining in the wild, Czar and his two brothers Makari and Dmitri who were born at the Zoo, will continue to play an important role in recovering their population.
Goodluck Czar!
Czar will soon be moving to Leipzig Zoo as part of the conservation European breeding programme
With just around 500 Amur tigers remaining in the wild, Czar and his two brothers Makari and Dmitri who were born at the Zoo, will continue to play an important role in recovering their population.
SSLees
Well-Known Member
Safe travels Czar, also where is Leipzig Zoo in Europe?
Leipzig is in Germany.
SSLees
Well-Known Member
Oh thanks! Another zoo I need to visit when I go abroad then ^^
They could do worse than getting Red from Longleat, a proper “big” specimen of an Amur tiger!
Until they get the off-show and holding area updated and improved, there’s little point in breeding. That part of the exhibit has barely changed since tigers were first housed there. And the amount of man-made paths created by visitors over the years doesn’t help either.
I remember once, many years ago, watching the keepers having to “count” the tigers back in so the outer paddock could be cleaned!
Until they get the off-show and holding area updated and improved, there’s little point in breeding. That part of the exhibit has barely changed since tigers were first housed there. And the amount of man-made paths created by visitors over the years doesn’t help either.
I remember once, many years ago, watching the keepers having to “count” the tigers back in so the outer paddock could be cleaned!
SSLees
Well-Known Member
I have to admit, Red is probably my fav Amur Tiger. As much as he's nightmare around cars, he just has that wild attitude and he helped make breeding at Longleat possible after decades.
But back to the main topic, when was the last time a tiger was born at whipsnade?
Just asking because normally if an animal is breeding, than that's a sign they're comfortable with their surroundings to do so.
Actually better question, when was the holding area built?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The three cubs Dmitri, Makari and Czar were born at Whipsnade in 2018 to Naya and Botzman.
They lived as a group of three males for a few years. Czar is the last to leave.
Given they were all male it wouldn’t have been possible for them to breed and it can’t really be used as an indication of welfare.
SSLees
Well-Known Member
Oh, fair enough. Thanks for answering through
Previous to Naya of Botzman of course you had siblings Mikhael and Anastasia (born in the mid-2000s?) who lived with parents Boris and Vanda.
If it’s a question of welfare, Vanda ended up killing Boris whilst, a few years later, Mikhael fatally wounded his mother!
Anastasia outlived her brother for a few years and did, belligerently, co-exist with Botzman for a short time. I think attempts were made to breed her, but she was too old by then plus her lineage wasn’t pure Amur.
If it’s a question of welfare, Vanda ended up killing Boris whilst, a few years later, Mikhael fatally wounded his mother!
Anastasia outlived her brother for a few years and did, belligerently, co-exist with Botzman for a short time. I think attempts were made to breed her, but she was too old by then plus her lineage wasn’t pure Amur.
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It would be brilliant if Miron was to move to Whipsnade from Knowsley. Miron is such a stunning tiger and it would allow Knowsley to pair Makari (born at Whipsnade in 2018) with a female. Miron was born at Moscow Zoo in 2014 to parents who were both born in the wild, which makes him very valuable from a genetic perspective. It is however well documented that attempts to breed Miron have not been successful, meaning that he will likely see out his days as a bachelor.
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SSLees
Well-Known Member
Sadly I think if they're still intent on breeding Miron, then doing it via artificial insemination would be the way to go.
Actually, has any tiger been born artificially? I know it's been done with elephants and rhinos.
But back to your point, I think if Whipsnade improves the backstage and holding area. Then moving Miron there would work.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
It doesn’t seem likely they will make changes to those areas to hold another single tiger. They just completed changes to the main outside area. They have stated they have no breeding plans. While these things can change of course they have repeated it a fair amount (visitors ask about it during tiger talks etc). So the question would be what would make Miron need the changes you suggest over the tigers who have lived there before?
SSLees
Well-Known Member
That is a fair, my bad.
Cotswoldgent
Well-Known Member
Following Kalaw’s fulsome description of his visit, we visited on Wednesday. Highlights were:
• Dinky lizards in the aquarium area - forget what these were called, but missed them on our visits earlier this year.
• European brown bears - better views on second visit of the day, when all four were active
• Francois Langur baby - we hadn’t visited for a couple of months, and so were captivated by the brief views we had, a couple of times inside, but mainly from the group sitting on the wall inside the cage
• Watching the pygmy hippo, with head covered in pondweed, walk along the outside path and through the tunnel to his paddock - wonderful playing pooh sticks with him going through the tunnel!
• We saw Macaws(?) flying for display, and will try to see the Birds of the World display on our next visit
• Meerkats appearing in the Porcupine house
Unfortunately we didn’t see the young red pandas, although could just see one panda high up in the large tree.
Were these the lizards you saw, Cotswoldgent? ZootierlisteHomepage
Cotswoldgent
Well-Known Member
Thanks . These look to be the lizards/gecko that we saw, although they were slightly more green of body, rather than blue, but 8cm sounds about the right size.
Sorry, it appears that I am too much of a “newbie” to post a photo yet for comparison.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Did you have any luck with the Chinese Crocodile Lizards (much larger lizards compared to the geckos, with two females being held in the first aquarium upon entering)? Forgot to mention this in my first post, but on my visit two keepers were standing outside that aquarium and seemed quite concerned, seeing as the species is usually quite visible, with each individual liking to keep to their favourite spots, and they both told every visitor that passed to let them know if they saw any. I doubt it means all that much, but I would be curious to know if you or any other member has seen them since my visit last weekend, so as to confirm that they are indeed still doing okay.
Cotswoldgent
Well-Known Member
Sorry, we didn’t see these lizards, although we did look. Hopefully no worries.
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Yes, these were the Electric Blue Day Gecko, here is a photo from my visit a couple of months ago:
