ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024

Pertinax said:
Presumably that is why Beluki had much the more advanced tumours, given she stopped breeding a long time ago now.

I would think it would be easier to source a new young female from Europe, given there are many zoos breeding them nowadays. But importation may not be so easy given current restrictions and bureaucratic delays.
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I think it is much to early to speculate on what will happen next. While the outcome at Whipsnade is quite dramatic and impactful and emotional keeper staff ... for now it seems that we probably can not hope to see a rhino calf from the remaining F Behan at Whipsnade. Probably it is best to hold off for now on any further speculation on replacements....


BTW to put some perspective to the reproductive tract issues with both GOHR cows at Whipsnade: F Beluki had her last calf in 2010, whereas F Behan had her last in 2015. Perhaps the condition for which both rhinos had been treated lately may correspond to the around and about timings at which both cows started failing to breed (speculative though ... this may be, but perhaps the cysts and reproductive tract was affected after the last births .... for both cow rhinos).
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I for now it seems that we probably can not hope to see a rhino calf from the remaining F Behan at Whipsnade. Probably it is best to hold off for now on any further speculation on replacements....


whereas F Behan had her last in 2015.
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Behan is now too old to breed anymore I think. But her last calf (a female) was born as recently as 2020(?).

As to a replacement, they can take their time as they still have the two Asian rhinos on display with no very obvious empty paddock (though there will be one).
 
Pertinax said:
Behan is now too old to breed anymore I think. But her last calf (a female) was born as recently as 2020(?).

As to a replacement, they can take their time as they still have the two Asian rhinos on display with no very obvious empty paddock (though there will be one).
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@Pertinax, thanks for reminding us. Behan had her penultimate calf in Zhiwa (born 8/12/2019). Another calf from her is now (almost / probably) wishful thinking. Sexual maturity in cows is reached at around 4 years of age and the maximum reproductive life span is 35. BTW: Behan had her estimated birth year set at 1996 (same year as the recently diseased Beluki - R.I.P.).
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
@Pertinax, thanks for reminding us. Behan had her penultimate calf in Zhiwa (born 8/12/2019). Another calf from her is now (almost / probably) wishful thinking. Sexual maturity in cows is reached at around 4 years of age and the maximum reproductive life span is 35. BTW: Behan had her estimated birth year set at 1996 (same year as the recently diseased Beluki - R.I.P.).
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Yes I somehow doubt she will breed again but it is possible. I remember they were only half grown when they arrived at London.
 
Beautiful afternoon up at Whipsnade, love it at this time of year.

Saw the visiting White Rhino in one of the Indian Rhino paddocks, was werid seeing it there as the only animals I have ever seen in that paddock are the Indian Rhinos and orginally the Gaur. I believe Black Rhino used to be housed there if I am rememering one of the old guide books i own correctly.

The two young Blue Cranes have really grown from the last photos I saw of them, was lovely seeing a family group. Also saw the Porcupines awake which was fantatsic.

Work looks like it is nearly done on the Zebra/Waterbuck paddock. Similar to the new yards for Camels and Horses, they have created some seperate areas near the houses so managment should be easier. I assume this is to also give space for the Zebra stallion so he can be housed at the Zebra house.

Most exciting for me was seeing the Macaques right down by the viewing area and the Langurs outside for the first time. It really is a fantastic Langur enclosure, was a joy to see them running about and climbing.
 
I should have added a couple of photos I took of the work at the Zebra paddock.

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I actually think it looks smart without standing out too much. The first photo is to the right of the zebra house, right by the viewing area opposite the giraffes and the second photo goes right up to the edge by the flamingo enclosure. The work creates larger areas around the two houses without affecting the main paddock.
 

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Pertinax said:
Yes I somehow doubt she will breed again but it is possible. I remember they were only half grown when they arrived at London.
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There’s a chance, considering she could live well into her 30s much like her previous stablemate Roopa.

How old was Roopa when she produced her final calf?
 
ajmcwhipsnade said:
Saw the visiting White Rhino in one of the Indian Rhino paddocks, was werid seeing it there as the only animals I have ever seen in that paddock are the Indian Rhinos and orginally the Gaur. I believe Black Rhino used to be housed there if I am rememering one of the old guide books i own correctly.
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Indeed black rhinoceros used to be kept there. And, if you go back far enough, white rhinos did too.
 
Panthera1981 said:
How old was Roopa when she produced her final calf?
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Roopa was 22 years old when her final calf was born in 1993, which was actually one year younger than Behan when she had Zhiwa in 2019.
Tim May said:
And there are records of Indian rhinos living into their forties
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That is indeed true, there are several records of Indian Rhinos living 40+ years, the record is held by Randa at the Los Angeles Zoo, who lived to the age of 48 years.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Roopa was 22 years old when her final calf was born in 1993, which was actually one year younger than Behan when she had Zhiwa in 2019.
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Note according to the book The Rhinoceros in Captivity (Rookmaaker; 1998) the calf "Roopa" gave birth to in 1993 only lived for thirty-six hours.
 
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Tim May said:
Note according to the book The Rhinoceros in Captivity (Rookmaaker; 1998) the calf "Roopa" gave birth to in 1993 only lived for thirty-six hours.
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Roopa was born in 1971 and passed away in 2008. She had XXX calves (1981 F died at birth, 1983 M Bheema (Planckendael), 1986 M Yodha (Chester/Berlin Zoo), 1988 M Ropen (Dvur Kralove/Nuernberg), 1989 M Bardia (Whipsnade), 1991 M no name (Whipsnade - died next day), 1993 F no name (Whipsnade - died next day). Males Bheema, Yodha and Ropen all bred and have produced living offspring.
 
Pertinax said:
Whether Behan breeds again or not ( I think maybe rather unlikely?) I can foresee her becoming a 'pensioner' and breeding handed over to another female in the future.
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I hope she stays around at Whipsnade for a long time either way.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Roopa was born in 1971 and passed away in 2008. She had XXX calves (1981 F died at birth, 1983 M Bheema (Planckendael), 1986 M Yodha (Chester/Berlin Zoo), 1988 M Ropen (Dvur Kralove/Nuernberg), 1989 M Bardia (Whipsnade), 1991 M no name (Whipsnade - died next day), 1993 F no name (Whipsnade - died next day). Males Bheema, Yodha and Ropen all bred and have produced living offspring.
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That’s an awfully quick turnaround between calves!
 
Panthera1981 said:
That’s an awfully quick turnaround between calves!
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I don't have all the events around Roopa's calves in order. Just remember some of her calves never made it beyond being a juvenile (M Bardia) and some even died shortly after birth (the 1981, 1991 and 1993 calves).

How - then - housing, husbandry or management may have been at play is unknown (and here no validity even wildly speculating over).
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I don't have all the events around Roopa's calves in order. Just remember some of her calves never made it beyond being a juvenile (M Bardia) and some even died shortly after birth (the 1981, 1991 and 1993 calves).

How - then - housing, husbandry or management may have been at play is unknown (and here no validity even wildly speculating over).
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I seem to remember Kumar and Roopa were housed in the enclosure on the left hand side (later used by the Gaur and now occupied by Warty Pigs. The sheds are very small for a huge animal like Indian rhino. But worth noting that despite the 'new' Rhinos of Nepal' building, the more recent calves (Behan and Beluki's) have all(?) still been born in the older similar accomodation that formerly housed the Black rhinos. Roopa had a total of seven calves but it seems only four survived.

I also noticed 'Quetta' in Basel produced her fifth calf at age 28, which is roughly the same age Behan is now.

Looking to the future I also found a few young females in European zoos that will need rehoming in the coming months/years as (mostly) still living at zoo where born. They are;

Anjali. born 2019. at Beauval.
No name(?) born 2021 at Lisieux.
Karuna born 2017. at Rotterdam.
Kiran born 2021 at Wrocklaw.
Duna born 2019 at Benidorm.

I don't know if any of these are related to Whipsnade's bull 'Hugo'. But Vaiana born 2020 at Plackendael is his granddaughter so wouldn't be considered.
 
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Pertinax said:
I seem to remember Kumar and Roopa were housed in the enclosure on the left hand side (later used by the Gaur and now occupied by Warty Pigs. The sheds are very small for a huge animal like Indian rhino. But worth noting that despite the 'new' Rhinos of Nepal' building, the more recent calves (Behan and Beluki's) have all(?) still been born in the older similar accomodation that formerly housed the Black rhinos. Roopa had a total of seven calves but it seems only four survived.

I also noticed 'Quetta' in Basel produced her fifth calf at age 28, which is roughly the same age Behan is now.

Looking to the future I also found a few young females in European zoos that will need rehoming in the coming months/years as (mostly) still living at zoo where born. They are;

Anjali. born 2019. at Beauval.
No name(?) born 2021 at Lisieux.
Karuna born 2017. at Rotterdam.
Kiran born 2021 at Wrocklaw.
Duna born 2019 at Benidorm.

I don't know if any of these are related to Whipsnade's bull 'Hugo'. But Vaiana born 2020 at Plackendael is his granddaughter so wouldn't be considered.
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Blijdorp cow Karuna was once destined for Las Leyendas park in Lima, Peru. However, that deal fell through when the costings for the new elephant exhibit in Rotterdam came to pass. It seems for now the rhino habitat may stay ....!

Cow Vaiana (renamen Valentina) in Planckendael was sent to Las Leyendas park in February 2024 ... as far as I know.
LINK: https://www.gob.pe/institucion/leye...egrante-del-parque-de-las-leyendas-san-miguel

Cow Anjali (Beauval) was sent with M Bali (born in Whipsnade in 2015) to Zoo de Guadalajara in Mexico!
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Blijdorp cow Karuna was once destined for Las Leyendas park in Lima, Peru. However, that deal fell through when the costings for the new elephant exhibit in Rotterdam came to pass. It seems for now the rhino habitat may stay ....!

Cow Vaiana (renamen Valentina) in Planckendael was sent to Las Leyendas park in February 2024 ... as far as I know.
LINK: https://www.gob.pe/institucion/leye...egrante-del-parque-de-las-leyendas-san-miguel

Cow Anjali (Beauval) was sent with M Bali (born in Whipsnade in 2015) to Zoo de Guadalajara in Mexico!
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Furthermore, Kiran moved to La Flèche to breed with Bys, so the only real options are possibly Duna at Benidorm, the unnamed female at Lisieux, and if the plan for Karuna have fallen through that would leave her an option too.
 
Don’t think this has been posted yet - Whipsnade is now listed on ZTL as having Orinoco matamata, which would make them one of a small handful of collections worldwide with the species. Any idea if these are on show, or whether they will go on show?

As an aside Hazel dormouse is also listed, but I assume this is more of a rescue and rehab situation than anything else…
 
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