Can you name the (aspinalls) individuals involved in his line?
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter Rosie183
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Can you name the (aspinalls) individuals involved in his line?
Hes a “grandson” of chalid at Heidelberg in Germany who was born to saffiya and Suliman at port lympne
Popped up whipsnade today and yet more baby news, the wild boar have had 5 piglets.
Saw 7 Wild Boar piglets on Monday, have they lost 2 since then?
Where are the boar at the moment? Sure I read someone said they're not in the usual spot between lynx and bears - am going for an Xmas Eve visit and they're one of my faves so don't want to miss them!
I think, if it’s the same as last year, they are in the yards at the Gaur house.
So the implication is they are 'North African'...but not exactly 'Barbary'. Is that correct?
Yes - the current taxonomy only recognises two subspecies of lion at all - P. l. leo in West and North Africa (and Asia!) and P. l. melanochaita in Eastern and Southern Africa. I have to say, my impression had been that only the very southernmost lions were in 'current' melanochaita (effectively the old melanochaita retained and everything else lumped) but it seems the current definition has the boundary at the Great Rift Valley - which to my mind makes it harder to claim Whipsnade's are definitively 'Northern'.
Actually, ZSL's definitely pure Northern Lions under this taxonomy are at Regent's Park, not that they'll be calling those by that name any time soon I'm sure..!
Albert Thomas Budd
Active Member
A very misty Christmas at Whipsnade, saw the new rhino calf, lemurs and spotted deer. Also, 4 new species are on ZTL, Chinchilla Giganta, Flemish Giant, Shetland Cattle and Victoria Crowned Pigeon, pleased with your help. I will post my findings on the media page.
A really love Christmas eve visit today, albeit quite misty up there!
Often elusive animals which were out and about and pretty active: wolverine, cheetah, aardvark, reindeer. Rhinos were very active, some play fighting and one of the babies playing chase.
The place was very quiet though, despite the Santa experience.
I think this will be a new Christmas Eve tradition for us though
Often elusive animals which were out and about and pretty active: wolverine, cheetah, aardvark, reindeer. Rhinos were very active, some play fighting and one of the babies playing chase.
The place was very quiet though, despite the Santa experience.
I think this will be a new Christmas Eve tradition for us though
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Was also up at Whipsnade today in the incredibly low cloud. While there might be gorillas in the mist elsewhere, there were rhinos in the mist here as mentioned (rather bad iphone pic but the atmosphere was worth capturing, this was opposite the viewpoint restaurant where there were no views today).
The rhinos were super active, with mud bathing all round and then a lot of playing about for the two youngsters who sparred with all the cows and the cows then charged at each other. Always fun to see and the new young rhino was running about all over the place.
The den windows on the hunting dog enclosure have been partly uncovered again, allowing views inside
Was nice to see the young Wild Boar piglets in their winter quarters and the new arrival for the Sulawesi macaques. The Macaque troop were outside (along with the Anoa) and the Macaques were disputing who would carry the baby. The dominant male intervened a few times to break up the chasing. It was good to see the group climbing the trees. The viewing windows next to the house were covered in condensation on the inside which was a shame as the troop sat right outside them for a while. Great to see them out despite the weather though.
The Spotted Deer has signage now and was out and about in the enclosure.
Nice views of a Green Woodpecker near the Gaur enclosure wildlife wise.
The rhinos were super active, with mud bathing all round and then a lot of playing about for the two youngsters who sparred with all the cows and the cows then charged at each other. Always fun to see and the new young rhino was running about all over the place.
The den windows on the hunting dog enclosure have been partly uncovered again, allowing views inside
Was nice to see the young Wild Boar piglets in their winter quarters and the new arrival for the Sulawesi macaques. The Macaque troop were outside (along with the Anoa) and the Macaques were disputing who would carry the baby. The dominant male intervened a few times to break up the chasing. It was good to see the group climbing the trees. The viewing windows next to the house were covered in condensation on the inside which was a shame as the troop sat right outside them for a while. Great to see them out despite the weather though.
The Spotted Deer has signage now and was out and about in the enclosure.
Nice views of a Green Woodpecker near the Gaur enclosure wildlife wise.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
When I saw them they were sleeping in a little heap on the right hand side of the divider. It was hard to see them at that angle through the window and if I hadn't seen one get up and move around I'd have missed them.
Think we're going again next week so will hope for a better sighting!
Two of those ‘species’ are domestic rabbit breeds, so arguably of minimal interest
They are very sweet though.
The Shetland cattle is a breed of domesticated cattle too - like a shrunk down Friesian, he is also very sweet - been there a while though.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Very envious of those who spent their Christmas Eve at Whipsnade, sounds like a wonderful day and that low mist looks stunning. It adds to the wilderness feel of Whipsnade, and reminds me of the torrential rainfall on my first ever visit to the place many years ago.
Quick question which I once knew the answer to but seem to have forgotten - why are the wild boar moved to the gaur house every winter?
Quick question which I once knew the answer to but seem to have forgotten - why are the wild boar moved to the gaur house every winter?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Definitely leant it an atmosphere!
Someone will correct me who knows better but I believe it is to let the enclosure have some recovery time and the house near the Gaur is warmer / more sheltered. It’s also less disturbing for the bears in their torpor as they are just along the row.
The boars used to go offsite for breeding quite a few years ago if I recall correctly (and it’s referenced in threads here too) so they were absent before vs moved.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your response, very interesting. Never knew they moved offsite, although I do recall them moving to another offshow wooded enclosure on the other side of the bears at some stage. Am I imagining this?