I saw Indian rhino in that paddock in 1988 and what a nice close up view
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
One can not blame the public for complaining they pay their money while the zoo slowly deletes one species after another, Whipsnade use to have a wonderful collection of interesting herbivores now many are long gone, How bad does it have to be before many people just do not visit?
I did see it quite recently but the only occassion that I remember.
Grossly inbred, although Im sure the same could be applied towards the Fallow deer herd!
I’ve often thought the Nilgai would work nicely in the drive-thru.
I think all the deer herds are- Barasingha, Hog Deer, Manchurian(or is it Formosan?) Sika, Fallow- and of course the Pere David- though the latter isn't their fault!
From memory there used to be in the field nearest/opposite the Lake cafe/tigers area. They would work well in the drive-thru I'm sure but I guess that leaves another paddock empty again...the answer? get more stock!
Last edited:
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Given there are a good number of visitors, I personally wouldn't be rejoicing to see the number go down, though I do realise it would greatly please some people here. The additions being talked about under those circumstances were years ago.
It would be better for everyone for there to be lots of visitors and lots of new animals like the Anoa or Spotted Deer or Macaques or Tufted Deer and for all those to be successfully breeding, just in my view of course.
I have vague recollections of vultures being displayed in this area around the early 1990s (and by “displayed” I mean with their wings heavily clipped!)
It would be nice if vultures returned to Whipsnade, maybe Gyps perhaps. Vulture conservation isn’t nearly as shouted about enough as it should be. Perhaps a candidate for the soon to be vacated hippo area? Similar to Hamerton’s setup but much larger.
I’m sorry to have to message like this but people who apparently are rejoicing at some lower visitor numbers are just absolutely ridiculous, I’m sorry but come on. Two hippos are leaving and I know that’s a shame but so many new species have arrived over the past few years. I know I’m going to get loads of responses complaining about ZSL but in reality it’s just a lot of people on here who are only interested in ticking off animals. I’m sorry to get like this but the constant slagging off of both ZSL collections really becomes unbelievably unnecessary when there are so many positives to focus on.
I’ll probably turn off notifications, I need a break from all of this unnecessary negativity. This site at times…
I’ll probably turn off notifications, I need a break from all of this unnecessary negativity. This site at times…
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Vultures would be amazing! That image conjurs up such a lovely looking exhibit. I'd vote for that in a heartbeat. And imagine a Vulture walkthrough as some European zoos have. I'd have trouble not living in it myself in opening hours.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I lament the loss of the hippos as much as anyone, but Whipsnade is still very much a collection of interesting herbivores. Compare the collection of today to the collection of thirty or so years ago and of course it is far weakened, but s far in the 2020s decade both ZSL collections have been steadily on the rise and the ungulate collection at Whipsnade reflects that.
So far this decade Whipsnade has gained the following hoofstock taxa:
Visayan Warty Pig (2020)
Lowland Anoa (2022)
European Forest Reindeer (2023)
Sulawesi Babirusa (2023)
Defassa Waterbuck (2023)
Javan Banteng (2024)
Philippine Spotted Deer (2024)
Michie's Tufted Deer (2025)*
*assuming the ZTL update is accurate
Eight new species without a single major exhibit opening. And as far as I can tell they haven't lost a single hoofstock taxa in that time period, although of course that will change soon with the hippos. At the end of the 2010s it was looking bleak with a lot of unnecessary departures and failed attempts to establish populations, with rarities like Thomson's Gazelle and childhood favourites like Roan Antelope, kudu and especially the European Moose making for miserable departures. But that has all turned around now. I can say a similar thing about London - with the closure of the Aquarium rounding off a decade of steady decline for the zoo, I was convinced that the lockdown couldn't have come at a worse time and the zoo was about to collapse further. But somehow both ZSL zoos have came out of the pandemic looking stronger than ever, with new species in departments (ungulates at Whipsnade, birds at London) that were in desperate need of revitalisation and the opening of a major new exhibit of each with a series of smaller, equally lovely ones.
And it isn't just a big hoofstock collection, but a really good one. The new Tufted Deer and forest reindeer only have one other UK holder, while the waterbuck and babirusa only have two others; that makes them rarities by my count and all four of them are new this decade. Do those not qualify as 'interesting' to you? And the zoo still has the nation's only gaur and gemsbok, the latter breeding, as well as plenty of large crowd-pleasers such as elephants and two species of rhino that are wonderful as ever and growingly hard to come by these days. Big herds of deer and banteng, with a breeding herd of Przewalski's Horses, in Passage through Asia as well.
For the record, I don't take back a word of my hippo rant earlier and still firmly believe that Whipsnade is wrong not to further pursue this species. But to suggest that it is no longer a 'collection of interesting herbivores,' and that people should stop visiting as a result of this, is in my mind grossly unfair and provably incorrect.
Whilst I must to an extent applaud Whipsnade for acquiring those 8 new species , I think it needs pointing out that this has only reversed the decline of the 5 years prior to 2020 when the following were lost 2016-2019
Axis Deer
Impala
European Moose
Greater Kudu
Nile Lechwe
Red River Hog
Roan
Thomsons Gazelle
Onager
So a net loss of one ungulate species, followed by the Reeves muntjac and now the worst loss of all, the irreplaceable Common Hippos!
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I mentioned it in my previous post, when referring to how miserable things were at the end of the 2010s for ZSL, and as such how inevitable it seemed that the lockdown would only worsen things, in my opinion making it all the more impressive that the situation has in fact gotten better. Yes, so far it has only reversed the damage already done, but if we continue at the rate we are going, which I believe we will (we do know that there is a species lined up to replace the hippos, although of course this could be the Tufted Deer if Whipsnade is less intent on maintaining the geographical element these days), then it will be a marked improvement. As a side-note, I forgot that the Reeve's Muntjac left so recently (assumed it was much longer ago) so apologies for not mentioning their departure in my previous post.
As with any such attempt of calculating net change it obviously depends on where your start point is. If we compare the current state to Whipsnade's 'prime' then needless to say we are worse off now. If we compare it to ten years ago or so, then things seem to be relatively stagnant, because as you say the net difference is negligible. But if we look strictly at 'current form' and compare things to where we were five years ago then the improvement is inarguable. And not to state the obvious, but in terms of predicting where we will go in the near future it is surely a far better metric to look at what has happened most recently.
I don't want to come across as a delusional optimist because the decision not to replace the outgoing hippos is an absolute tragedy that I struggle to justify, but overall I think that the past five years have been overwhelmingly positive for both ZSL collections, and I can only hope that this continues!
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
A small piece of positive news, the bird department have successfully hand reared a Rockhopper chick which they have named ...noisy,
The return and success of the Rockhoppers is definitely something the zoo deserves credit for!
I follow this thread for news reasons since my visit, but it's been fascinating to hear about so many former species at Whipsnade the last few pages. Learning so much about the facility's rich history.
I talk a lot about my beloved Brookfield's decline in the US forum so I know how it can be painful to watch a great collection shrink, but Whipsnade is still a world-class zoo with an incredible collection, and many of the losses sound potentially reversible should winds change... both ZSL facilities suffer for negative comparison to their former selves but are, in fact, still excellent.
I talk a lot about my beloved Brookfield's decline in the US forum so I know how it can be painful to watch a great collection shrink, but Whipsnade is still a world-class zoo with an incredible collection, and many of the losses sound potentially reversible should winds change... both ZSL facilities suffer for negative comparison to their former selves but are, in fact, still excellent.
A rich history it certainly has. I've been visiting for circa seventy years but health reasons dictate my visit last year may well have been my last. I only wish that Whipsnade prospers. Some recent developments have been very positive but they seem to be tempered by losses and reductions at the same time.
It does seem like ZSL and whipsnade in particular gets a "bashing" from a few on here, I don't understand it myself.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Undeniably, certainly it's been the case for as long as I can remember including before I was a member and just lurked reading the forums. But I do think it's done for the most part out of love of the collections, undeniably over the past few decades London and Whipsnade have had a pronounced slump in the species held and have felt like they've gone backwards. Dwindling numbers of certain species and others leaving such as the hippos, wolves and elk.
But I do think it is exaggerated at the smallest change, not even necessarily a loss, by certain members not liking the fact that the modern (especially British zoo) is very different to one 30 or 40 years ago. And it often seems awfully personal as if ZSL is its own living entity. Personally I think both collections are getting better year on year at the moment and the negativity is unnecessary and tiring to read, but I'm sure those of a more negative disposition feel the same about the positivity.
Luckily ZSL doesn't really care
Criticism of ZSL on this site can definitely be unfair, particularly after a period which has seen a small-scale revival of both collections. Ranking zoos is an impossible task, but I'd argue that only the Cotswold Wildlife Park rivals Whipsnade for the crown of Britain's 'second-best' zoo and I'm optimistic for its future.
However, I think it's reasonable to say that questionable decisions have sometimes been made. I'm as disappointed as anyone by the upcoming departure of the common hippos - they're an iconic species in ZSL's history and Whipsnade will be much poorer without them. To me, black rhino - or maybe Cape/Congo buffalo - are the only (African) replacements that could make up for their loss. Equally, ZSL has wasted millions in the past (e.g. Land of the Lions) that could instead have gone towards maintaining/expanding the animal collections.
Those who criticise ZSL don't do so with any pleasure but rather in recognition that both zoos could rank amongst the best in Europe - which neither currently does. I'm pretty sure that, given ZSL's resources, the director of (say) Hamerton would create a much more exciting collection than its current management (whatever their strengths) has.
Finally, I would gently disagree with @cerperal's quote:
Any zoo should 'care' about criticism, especially when it comes from longstanding supporters who have a deep knowledge of its history and interest in its future. ZSL's management does not have a monopoly on wisdom - it has made mistakes in the past and will doubtless make more in the future. The new species at London and Whipsnade are exciting and bode well for the future but I'd hope that the society is always aware of constructive criticism and receptive to new ideas.
However, I think it's reasonable to say that questionable decisions have sometimes been made. I'm as disappointed as anyone by the upcoming departure of the common hippos - they're an iconic species in ZSL's history and Whipsnade will be much poorer without them. To me, black rhino - or maybe Cape/Congo buffalo - are the only (African) replacements that could make up for their loss. Equally, ZSL has wasted millions in the past (e.g. Land of the Lions) that could instead have gone towards maintaining/expanding the animal collections.
Those who criticise ZSL don't do so with any pleasure but rather in recognition that both zoos could rank amongst the best in Europe - which neither currently does. I'm pretty sure that, given ZSL's resources, the director of (say) Hamerton would create a much more exciting collection than its current management (whatever their strengths) has.
Finally, I would gently disagree with @cerperal's quote:
Any zoo should 'care' about criticism, especially when it comes from longstanding supporters who have a deep knowledge of its history and interest in its future. ZSL's management does not have a monopoly on wisdom - it has made mistakes in the past and will doubtless make more in the future. The new species at London and Whipsnade are exciting and bode well for the future but I'd hope that the society is always aware of constructive criticism and receptive to new ideas.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I'd agree and just add there is an obvious difference between constructive criticism and bashing the collections for the sake of it. Statements like nothing is interesting or been added of interest in 10 years or hoping visit numbers tank (and therefore the collections go bust and shut down) don't seem to have much evidence or fairness behind them.
Clearly the decision on the hippos is disppointing and I have to say actually astonishing in terms of removing a large landmark species from a zoo which has always focused on housing large landmark species in the best ways. But the zoos shouldn't shut down if they go, in my opinion anyway.
As far as I can see everyone is entitled to their (reasonable and constructive) opinion without being abused for it and there will always be corrections when things are wrong for the sake of it, either way.
ZSL is far from perfect but I agree there is still much to enjoy in what it is doing and we are, in general terms across both zoos, more on the upward than downward trend.