Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Yes, these are the 7 lion cubs. I saw 5 playing and sucking by Waka and dad Malikat at the end of the day (despite the majority of the cubs being Winta’s).
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
I remember those enclosures well the heavy barred fence was very high also as you say it did get a lot of breeze up where it was located, they were far to small with an all concrete floor!
Really sad news thoughts are with the keepers.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That’s sad news.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
I suspected this sadly, on Saturday there were two vehicles outside the Aardvark House (which was closed) and multiple vets/keepers. I asked a keeper I saw later in the day and they replied that it probably just a medical examination, and the house was closed as the animal awoke from anaesthetic. I do really feel for the keepers, who work so closely and tirelessly to these animals.
Make sense why we couldn’t find an aardvark today! we searched the entire enclosure as it was unusual not to find both sleeping! Same with the hunting dogs so I don’t know if they have moved London and are off show or what?
Only bit of news was Ming Jin the male elephant was with the female elephants without restrictions today so they maybe thinking Donna elephant to have another baby? As I doubt her mum can given it’s been 10yr since her last and Luca the other female is infertile I believe? And saw Beth and Krishma elephants create training for their move to Chester zoo.
Beside that saw 4 rockhopper penguin chicks sat under mum.. with dad standing guard next to mum.
sizzle the rhino flirting with the females trying to see who was in season..
both wolverines were highly active today..
saw 2 cheetah and was unsure if the swap had taken place with Bristol for new cheetah yet or not?
The new Nepal rhino was hiding and couldn’t get close as they had closed the walkway over the enclosure.
Similar with the female bongo we could see her but she was kept away with barriers saying she is still settling in.
Saw at least 5 lions cubs and both mums caring for each other cubs so cute and adorable !
Also saw 2 red pandas one looked smaller than the other so I wondered if it was the female and a mature cub? And the male wasn’t on show? We weren’t sure as we checked both enclosures and couldn’t find another red panda. Passage through Asia still closed.
Only bit of news was Ming Jin the male elephant was with the female elephants without restrictions today so they maybe thinking Donna elephant to have another baby? As I doubt her mum can given it’s been 10yr since her last and Luca the other female is infertile I believe? And saw Beth and Krishma elephants create training for their move to Chester zoo.
Beside that saw 4 rockhopper penguin chicks sat under mum.. with dad standing guard next to mum.
sizzle the rhino flirting with the females trying to see who was in season..
both wolverines were highly active today..
saw 2 cheetah and was unsure if the swap had taken place with Bristol for new cheetah yet or not?
The new Nepal rhino was hiding and couldn’t get close as they had closed the walkway over the enclosure.
Similar with the female bongo we could see her but she was kept away with barriers saying she is still settling in.
Saw at least 5 lions cubs and both mums caring for each other cubs so cute and adorable !
Also saw 2 red pandas one looked smaller than the other so I wondered if it was the female and a mature cub? And the male wasn’t on show? We weren’t sure as we checked both enclosures and couldn’t find another red panda. Passage through Asia still closed.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The last Red Panda cubs, Priya and Alex left Whipsnade in 2024 to Edinburgh and Manor House respectively. Priya retained her name and is living with Bruce, her Grandfather (father of Ruby). Alex is now known as Barney.
Ruby the female is smaller than Nilo and they've been back in the same enclosure for a while with the other enclosure empty. So unless one of them has left again and been swapped for another panda which is possible of course (Nilo left it seems temporarily for Bristol, then returned again), it seems they would likely be the pair still in residence as the website states
Red pandas | Whipsnade Zoo
Alex now Barney arriving Manor House in 2024
Manor Wildlife Park on Instagram: "Say hello to Barney, the new red panda on the block! This little guy might be younger than Betty, but he’s already made quite the impression. Since arriving last month, he’s been exploring every corner of his new home and charming the socks off everyone – Betty included! From shy newcomer to full-on adventurer, Barney is really coming out of his shell. Whether he’s trying (and sometimes failing) to master tree climbing or sneakily stealing snacks, he’s settling in like he was born here. Have you seen this cheeky little fluffball in action yet? @meglphotos & our keepers #manorwildlifepark #redpandanetwork #redpandas #redpanda #redpandasofinstagram #redpandalove #redpandalovers #redpandanation #redpandacub #redpandasforlife #redpandalife #wildlifephotos #tenby #tenbywales #visitwales #walesuk #visitpembrokeshire #wildlifeconservation #conservation #conservationeducation"
Priya arriving also 2024
Edinburgh Zoo welcomes new female red panda
and introduced to Bruce
Log in to Facebook
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
I think they have moved to London off show for retirement now?
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
They must be fairly old as the female of the pair is I believe from the same litter as the males that were put down due to age-related health issues back in September at London.
A litter of 14 were born at London in October 2015, of which 5 females moved to Whipsnade in March 2017. 2 remaining females were joined by 3 males born at WMSP two years ago, so this pair should be made up of one individual from each litter.
I wish they would say enclosure empty rather than searching for an animal that isn’t there!
Same with the cheetah they still have the sign for the 8 cheetah Whipsnade once had! no way now are they still there so they need to update that and remove it. As they had have done a good job with most signage in the zoo is clear and says who is who as we used it to distinguish the giraffe apart!
Ming Jin was with the herd last Thursday too, and being VERY forward with Donna (and almost crushing Nang Phaya in the process). According to an elephant talk the week before, he spends time with the females most mornings (although this was about 1pm).
I believe the cheetahs are still the same ones as before. Website still says so and pic my OH took a couple of weeks ago definitely showed Fred.
Female bongo (called Kora according to the website) seems to be slowly being given more and more space, as the bit of yard she had access to doubled in the space of a week. She seems quite chill, happily lying in the sunshine last week.
Red pandas - last week, a volunteer/staff member doing litter picking told a family there were 4 pandas in the enclosure?! If so, 2 keep a very low profile!
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
So to confirm, is Asian elephant bull Ming Jung in one of the grass paddocks with the main group of 4 females? Just checking because I am currently under the impression that in the past the bull at Whipsnade is normally separated from the cows in his sandy paddocks with metal bars unless one or two members of the herd are with him in the hope of a calf being conceived. This is opposed to Ming Jung being in the grass paddocks with the cows which I didn't think was something that happens often.
When I saw him last week, it was the outdoor viewing/sandy paddocks. I haven't seen him in the grass paddocks.
I also saw him in with the herd one day over the winter, again in the sandy paddock.
He's been in with the 3 females and 'baby' who are staying; the 2 heading to Chester have been in the separate sandy paddock or in the grass paddock.
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
Oh ok thank you I understand now. I assumed that because 4 of them were with him it would've been in a grass paddock (although I did think it would've been unusual). Particularly because the sandy paddocks are a fair bit smaller than the grass ones and I guessed the girls would be out in them full time by now.
They have been out on the grass paddocks but it had rained quite a lot last Weds evening/night, so assume they'd been brought in.
Or, they were being kept in to mix with the bull. As I say, the elephant talk the week before said they were spending time with him each morning at the moment.
Or, they were being kept in to mix with the bull. As I say, the elephant talk the week before said they were spending time with him each morning at the moment.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
The good news is ZSL are slowly replacing the signage, Whipsnade's has just taken significantly longer than expected and I would imagine they're waiting for confirmation on future inhabitants before they complete it anyway. There's been a similar problem with the hunting dogs at London that led to the signage just being removed at one point