ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024

Kalaw said:
I tend to do the same, only that I use the car for one or two repeat laps at the end, because it is all but impossible to see the entire zoo more than once without a car from experience.

I would also like to say that Passage through Asia is a lot better than the deer-centric species list will make it sound, as some of the deers are kept in enormous herds that can be quite magnificent on the lakes and rolling hills. The huge Pere David's stags are always the highlights and don't ever seem afraid to approach cars from experience. The Przewalski's Horse foals are also a real treat, which can be appreciated without a car but are better enjoyed with one.
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Seconded on Passage to Asia -- I was very much a 'deer are boring' kind of person until the last year or so before my trip, and I was still taken some by the majesty of seeing them in such large groups in such a beautiful landscape.
 
Good Morning everyone. As some of you might not know that I was supposed to be heading up to Whipsnade to deliver the new Scratching Pad for the elephants to enjoy today but unfortunately things have not gone quite to plan as this morning my mother was not well and will be there tomorrow on Friday 30th August to deliver it
 
JVM said:
Seconded on Passage to Asia -- I was very much a 'deer are boring' kind of person until the last year or so before my trip, and I was still taken some by the majesty of seeing them in such large groups in such a beautiful landscape.
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I'm the opposite as have always been something of a 'deer buff' particularly the Asian species. But for really 'enormous' herds you need to head just up the road to Woburn- they have around 450 Pere David compared to around 30 at Whipsnade! (Whipsnade's came from Woburn originally) But then Asian Plains is a tiny % of the size of Woburn deer park so can only support so many, and they do look good at Whipsnade too.
 
Jedd Cullinan said:
Good Morning everyone. As some of you might not know that I was supposed to be heading up to Whipsnade to deliver the new Scratching Pad for the elephants to enjoy today but unfortunately things have not gone quite to plan as this morning my mother was not well and will be there tomorrow on Friday 30th August to deliver it
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I was there today for the 1st time ever. Will put photos on the gallery later
 
Kalaw said:
The implementation of new viewing areas for Passage through Asia in Monkey Forest definitely argues against the very heavy (£30) fee to bring a car into the zoo.

That said, I would still recommend it as Whipsnade is huge and managing to return to areas multiple times in a day is all but impossible by foot, yet with a car, staying until late and performing one last 'lap' of the zoo, stopping for any animals you missed earlier in the day, can work great. This is particularly effective for the cheetahs, lions and aardvarks, which from experience tend to be more active later in the day. And the whole Africa zone is much nicer as the sun begins to set and crowds begin to calm down. It is also very useful to allow you to make shows on time (the bird show is a must-see) without having to plan your whole route around it.

It is worth knowing that the zoo's reindeer are not domestic, but wild of the European Forest species, which can only be found at one other UK zoo. One of the penguin enclosures features Northern Rockhoppers kept at just five other European zoos. Another exhibit that is easily missed (it indeed took me many visits to discover it) is 'Owl Wood,' which is in a woodland between the entrance and the Butterfly House. No rare species or notable exhibitry, but necessary for completeness and a lovely setting for some aviaries. And of course, don't miss the gaur.
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Not sure if you've been in owl wood recently, but they've got Vietnam pheasants and red billed blue magpies which make a lovely addition
 
Pteropus alecto said:
Not sure if you've been in owl wood recently, but they've got Vietnam pheasants and red billed blue magpies which make a lovely addition
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The pheasants have been there for a while and are indeed lovely (at least for two years). Magpies are a more recent addition (around June to July last year, I believe) which I haven't seen in the aviary yet as I skipped Owl Wood on both visits since their arrival.

I have always found it disappointing that most of Whipsnade's bird collection, including the biggest rarities such as Javan Green Magpies and until recently Sulawesi Hornbills, are kept offshow. In his book about his time working at Whipsnade, Gerald Durrell reflects on the grandeur of its pheasant collection, but now there is just one onshow species and only two more offshow. Because of its excellent setting, and because I believe that the offshow collection is kept mainly in the same portion of woodland, I have always wanted Owl Wood to be a bit more ambitious and representative of Whipsnade's bird-rich history, but at the moment it just isn't. I hope that ZSL has plans for this area.
 
Kalaw said:
The pheasants have been there for a while and are indeed lovely (at least for two years). Magpies are a more recent addition (around June to July last year, I believe) which I haven't seen in the aviary yet as I skipped Owl Wood on both visits since their arrival.

I have always found it disappointing that most of Whipsnade's bird collection, including the biggest rarities such as Javan Green Magpies and until recently Sulawesi Hornbills, are kept offshow. In his book about his time working at Whipsnade, Gerald Durrell reflects on the grandeur of its pheasant collection, but now there is just one onshow species and only two more offshow. Because of its excellent setting, and because I believe that the offshow collection is kept mainly in the same portion of woodland, I have always wanted Owl Wood to be a bit more ambitious and representative of Whipsnade's bird-rich history, but at the moment it just isn't. I hope that ZSL has plans for this area.
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At a recent birds of the world show I attended they said the plan is to have all the birds on show, now not sure if they meant new aviaries or re opening the bird area behind the farm. Not sure I can see either happening but at least it's in there thoughts.
 
The plan for new aviaries across the zoo has been rumoured ever since the Bird Garden closed to the public 10+ years ago. Personally, I can’t see the Bird Garden (ex Children’s Zoo) ever reopening as its primary reason for closure was because of the behaviour of visitors towards the birds inducing stress, ultimately leading to numerous breeding failures.
 
There are currently bookable tours of the bird garden running on Tuesday afternoons.

Having more of the species they have on display would be lovely.
 
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Yesterday has gone really well as the Scratching Pad for the elephants to enjoy has arrived safe and sound and I'm really happy of knowing it's there as it was the first animal enrichment I have ever bought from Amazon online. I even had to say goodbye to it aswell but knowing the elephants will have fun with it
 
Was at whipsnade today: not much to report , only one thing is they have a white rhino in with the black rhino area.. this is because the animal has come from abroad I think the volunteer said .. and Colchester aren’t yet ready to accept him. So whipsnade said they could temporarily house him till Colchester was ready! And he is in with the black rhino so not to upset the dynamics of the white rhino as he isn’t staying permanently! Also could visible see them trying to allow Donna and Beth elephant to mate with Ming Gin male elephant as most of the day they were in his compound with other elephant Kaylee and Luca and I think it was Karishma and Nang Phay who were in the main outdoor paddock and especially nang phay she was utterly confused to be apart from mum and grandma! saw both hunting dogs so can’t have been pups like I was hoping a few weeks ago. Giraffe I spoke to the keeper and he said Khari giraffe will have to move on but awaiting stud books along with one or both of the calfs once older .. so it’s just a waiting game. But they can’t allow anymore breeding till someone leaves!
Lions were not going to be seen at the window despite going back numerous times but could just about be seen walking around by the ostrich paddock as was enjoying the sunshine over the hill away from the window! Saw all the porcupines too Ofcourse asleep but nice to see the little ones and the older adults !
 
There is significant work happening at the zebra/waterbuck paddock, with the entire area partitioned into 4 areas (that I could note) with both permanent and temporary fencing and groundwork
 
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