ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025

[Tim May]

How are the gaur doing? I noticed on ZTL they’re down to two females. What happened the last male?

Regarding the gaur, when did the bull pass?

According to the Whipsnade Stocklist, as at 1st January 2021, there were one male and three female gaur at Whipsnade.

One year later, as at 1st January 2022, there were three female gaur but no male gaur.

The last male must, therefore, have gone sometime during 2021.

 

[rjh]

From our visit today.

The younger four lion cubs were out with both mums and the older three lion cubs for the first time today. All cubs were very active until they had exhausted themselves. Malik was keeping out of the way staying indoors.

It was confirmed that twin porcupettes were born last Tuesday so now a family of seven.

While walking round the Monkey Forest we saw what looked like four Banteng in the Passage through Asia.

 

[tennisfan]

 

[JoB198]

How exciting re: female bongo!

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

How exciting re: female bongo!

It is a start. Hope they get 1 or 2 more females. Brings back memories of old at Regent's Park when bongo where much more abundant at the Zoo.

 

[rhinofan12]

A female Bongo is fantastic news and something I've personally looked forward to for ages.

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

A female bongo is fantastic news, really made my day! Perhaps I should get out more…

 

[Pertinax]

It is a start. Hope they get 1 or 2 more females. Brings back memories of old at Regent's Park when bongo where much more abundant at the Zoo.

I counted around nine at Whipsnade some years ago. I don't quite understand how they became reduced to a single male but assume mortalities must be the reason.

 

[JoB198]

New Forest Wildlife Park have just announced they've got their first resident for their new wolverine enclosure, a male called Bodie.

Who I assume may have made his way from Whipsnade?

 

[NMM]

Yes, the New Forest Wildlife Park's website says he came from Whipsnade.

 

[JoB198]

Only saw their FB post which just gave him a name. Pleased he's found a proper home.

 

[rhinofan12]

Popped up whipsnade for a couple of hours hoping to see the new female Bongo, sadly she was indoors although the male seemed to be taking a great interest sending outside.

However not seeing her was more then made up for by being there for the arrival of a new female Indian rhino, made my day seeing her take her first few steps into her new home, I'm not sure of the name but she came from Chester zoo so shouldn't be hard to work out.

In other good news the signs are back up for the spotted dear, there has been some work done on the separation of enclosures between the deer and visayan warty pigs so guessing it was moved out while this was completed, although I didn't actually see the deer but the works looked like they had just been finished today.

And then to top it off saw all 7 lion cubs out and about together

 

[Rajang-GOAT]

Popped up whipsnade for a couple of hours hoping to see the new female Bongo, sadly she was indoors although the male seemed to be taking a great interest sending outside.

However not seeing her was more then made up for by being there for the arrival of a new female Indian rhino, made my day seeing her take her first few steps into her new home, I'm not sure of the name but she came from Chester zoo so shouldn't be hard to work out.

In other good news the signs are back up for the spotted dear, there has been some work done on the separation of enclosures between the deer and visayan warty pigs so guessing it was moved out while this was completed, although I didn't actually see the deer but the works looked like they had just been finished today.

And then to top it off saw all 7 lion cubs out and about together

The new Greater one-horned rhino from Chester is Jiya I think, born on the 14th October 2022 (Beni x Asha). Funnily enough she is the granddaughter of Behan through Asha, which is quite nice and fitting in a way, now the era of Beluki and Behan has unfortunately come to an end.

 

[Pertinax]

The new Greater one-horned rhino from Chester is Jiya I think, born on the 14th October 2022 (Beni x Asha). Funnily enough she is the granddaughter of Behan through Asha, which is quite nice and fitting in a way, now the era of Beluki and Behan has unfortunately come to an end.

That was a pretty fast replacement but Chester's calf was evidently available. She is only two and a half though so it will be some years until tshe is mature. But good news Whipsnade have a female again and one related to Behan too.

 

[Lafone]

Popped up whipsnade for a couple of hours hoping to see the new female Bongo, sadly she was indoors although the male seemed to be taking a great interest sending outside.

However not seeing her was more then made up for by being there for the arrival of a new female Indian rhino, made my day seeing her take her first few steps into her new home, I'm not sure of the name but she came from Chester zoo so shouldn't be hard to work out.

In other good news the signs are back up for the spotted dear, there has been some work done on the separation of enclosures between the deer and visayan warty pigs so guessing it was moved out while this was completed, although I didn't actually see the deer but the works looked like they had just been finished today.

And then to top it off saw all 7 lion cubs out and about together

Great news about a new rhino arriving! Have seen her at Chester a couple of times, what a good move and gets a new dynasty started again I hope. Sad to see the older ones dying but good to see the house getting good use with a new female.

And good to see the deer making a reappearance too, fine looking little thing and will be nice to see him again.

7 lion cubs, seems quite a luxury!

 

[tennisfan]

I actually saw two deer in the enclosure next to the Warty pigs on Wednesday , didn ‘t see any signage though.

 

[Zorro]

Sorry, I can't help on their exact ages - but I think I'm right in saying they're not elderly by any means?

The phaseout is a weird one because EAZA have never been consistent on their decision - I think it was 2019 they decided to make them a phaseout species to focus on banteng, but in the same year gave them a new-style EEP and didn't make the phaseout actually official outside of the website and magazine releases. Last year Berlin gained a new breeding bull and I was told that they, logically, intended to breed (the keepers weren't aware of a phaseout at all, in fact). And that coincided with EAZA releasing new information on several cattle including gaur that had all mention of phaseout removed. Also worth mentioning that it had been a fairly pointless endeavour anyway - only Whipsnade actually stopped breeding them, and I believe it was Zlin that actually imported new stock from Asia. Given how prevalent banteng are and how easily they breed, it does seem logical to allow collections capable of holding gaur to breed them.

@Kifaru Bwana Can you shed any light on the Gaur situation in Europe?

 

[Panthera1981]

Great news about a new rhino arriving! Have seen her at Chester a couple of times, what a good move and gets a new dynasty started again I hope.

Surely you mean continuing, what with her grandmother being Behan. Anyway, it’s good news and nice to see ZSL didn’t hang about! Personally, it would be nice if the zoo publicly acknowledges the family connections.

Out of interest, does anyone know of the GOH rhino bull Hugo’s age?

 

[Lafone]

Surely you mean continuing, what with her grandmother being Behan. Anyway, it’s good news and nice to see ZSL didn’t hang about! Personally, it would be nice if the zoo publicly acknowledges the family connections.

Out of interest, does anyone know of the GOH rhino bull Hugo’s age?

22 now and 23 in December I believe.

 

[HoneyDontBadger]

Have Behan and Beluki both died? I knew one had, a year or so ago.
Great news getting potential new family