ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Lafone
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Yes all mixing together , albeit from a distance to each other but all had access to both fields.
Heard the news about Lola and Hodor the Common Hippos are leaving in the summer for Longleat to live in a brand new hippo complex and those 2 will be joined by other hippos and no doubt the keepers at Whipsnade will be sad to see them go although it's nice for them to be part of the European Breeding programme for hippos
Saw three of the warty pigs in the outside area with the spotted deer today. The mum and warty piglets were shut in the yard. It seems like the spotted deer are in charge with the male deer chasing off the warty pigs if they got too close.
Also saw two, maybe three, Vietnam pheasant chicks in Owl Wood.
Also saw two, maybe three, Vietnam pheasant chicks in Owl Wood.
Tenuous Whipsnade news but GOH rhino Rap, who was Beluki’s first born calf and subsequently transferred to West Mids Safari Park, has now become a father for the second time. The birth, whilst successful, was not without its complications.
I've just noticed that Michie's Tufted Deer have been added to Whipsnade's listing on ZTL, It says 2 females have arrived from Twycross, does anyone know where they will be housed?
That’s an exciting species to add to Whipsnade!
My initial thoughts are surely not the Hippo enclosure as too far from Asian section and the deep pond could be dangerous?
But then again looking at the map they could make it seem like they are connected with the Asian sector as the enclosure sort of backs onto PTA, and the Chimpanzees and Lemurs don’t exactly feel like part of the African section on foot but are displayed like that through the colour scheme on the map.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
It's not just you, but I have seen quite a few posts talking about how ZSL's recent record with refilling vacant enclosures means it's bound to be something underwhelming, as though London didn't become one of just two global holders of Small Indian Mongoose to fill in an empty Dwarf Mongoose enclosure. Obviously buffalos would likely be higher maintenance than the mongoose, and it could indeed be a disappointment, but I am maintaining some degree of optimism that it will be at least somewhat interesting. There have of course been failures in this record (anteaters and vicunas at London), but for the most part I feel as though ZSL has managed to acquire some really interesting species lately, and I maintain faith that this would be another such example. Cape Buffalo would be a personal preference.
Speaking of interesting species, this is truly excellent news if true. Not quite hippo-level in terms of awe, but a major rartiy in Europe outside of Germany, and very fitting for Whipsnade, being a bizarre and unusual hoofed taxa. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them at Magdeburg and Dresden, and it would be an honour to see them at a more local collection.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I agree, if this is factual and not someone messing about it’s exciting and I’d so look forward to seeing them at Whipsnade - they make a Twycross visit for me when I’ve seen them there.
Considering they’re roughly the size of a muntjac, they’d get lost in PTA or the hippo paddock! The emu paddock would make more sense, unless there’s another species they’re going to be mixed with of course.
Well I was talking specifically about Whipsnade rather than London when I said that (Small Indian Mongoose was a very welcome surprise though!).
But thinking it over I do agree with your point about recent additions and refills. Lowland Anoa, Sulawesi Crested Macaque, Francois Langur, Babirusa and Banteng are all a break from the mould compared to the years gone by before them.
To me (as an enthusiast rather than target demographic) I don’t find those species particularly “ambitious” as they are either London duplicates, not that difficult to see elsewhere or were already held but just off-show. But I probably shouldn’t hold that against ZSL really.
I just feel like the last time Whipsnade did something I felt was ambitious was Wild Wild Whipsnade when they added Lynx, Wolverine, Wild Boar and Moose. Sloth Bears were my favourite addition in that time period but again a practical transfer rather than “ambition”.
It really comes down to what we consider underwhelming/unambitious which will always be subjective.
A very exciting species that I'd love to see be more prevalent in the UK overall.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Well that's equally exciting and unexpected! Hopefully a male will follow once they're settled. As mentioned upthread they're very common especially in Germany, and make a nice break from the more standard and vaguely similar looking musk deer. The old emu enclosure would probably require some work if I'm remembering correctly in order to suit them? But it would be a nice spot for them certainly
I do agree, but I think ZSL have done very well with the species Whipsnade has acquired in being ambitious in how they're displayed. Both new monkey exhibits are fantastic and banteng are a perfect addition to PTA. I think there's a slight disservice to be done here for Whipsnade though, as they already hold rarities like gaur (admittedly perhaps not for much longer) and have a vast hoofstock collection even now with new arrivals every few weeks such as the female bongo. Personally I would love to see the sloth bears return, even if they won't be Sri Lankan, and I don't think it's too out of the question. But one thing I hope we can all agree on for Whipsnade is that, regardless of what arrives (and I don't subscribe to the doom-and-gloom of a lot of people about what replaces the hippos, perhaps a bit too optimistically!) they will be exhibited to a superb standard. And I think that should count for something!
That we can agree on, especially in terms of spaciousness.
Also agree on the point about the Gaur; Whipsnade is my home zoo and for a long time before I knew better I under appreciated how rare they are in zoos.
Incidentally it’s that high standard for spacious exhibits that makes me more doubtful now after more thought that the Hippo replacement species will be a large mammal. Even if they extended it’d be small compared to their average paddock enclosure (though a decent size in many other UK zoos!).
Sort of like how the Gaur were always kept in what is now the Warty Pig/ Deer enclosure, couldn’t imagine them being back in there since their new home, though think they only held 1 or 2 at a time in those days.
I would also add to this (post WWW) the acquisition of blesbok, impala, Thomsons gazelle, nilgai and blackbuck. The gazelle and blackbuck never got going for various reasons, and I greatly miss the impala who were in residence all too briefly opposite the hippos.
I think we can all agree that Whipsnade does appear to becoming much more laser-focused on Asian acquisitions. Good news for the Gaur perhaps? What about acquiring water buffalo? The hippo replacement, however, certainly remains the current elephant in the room.
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I would say the old emu enclosure would be the obvious choice, they have put some netting up around the house area which gave the the indication it would be a small animal going in there.