I forgot to mention Cinnamon, wasn't it a 'she'? Anyway, it certainly gave the species more(?) high profile exposure for a while.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025
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I forgot to mention Cinnamon, wasn't it a 'she'? Anyway, it certainly gave the species more(?) high profile exposure for a while.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
She did indeed have a bit of an effect, from being startled by a mower to international coverage
How Cinnamon's great Shropshire escape led to capybara craze
That’s awesome, can’t wait to see them out
Went today for the last ever hippo experience(didnt do it myself) and it was confirmed capybara will go into the hippo enclosure and will be joined by Tapir(as some predicted)
The hippo are due to leave on the 26th I think they said with crate training next week,they also mentioned that one of the white rhino should be moving on soon as well.
Only other thing of note I have a feeling the male zebra near the bison has gone as enclosure was empty and signage taken down.
The hippo are due to leave on the 26th I think they said with crate training next week,they also mentioned that one of the white rhino should be moving on soon as well.
Only other thing of note I have a feeling the male zebra near the bison has gone as enclosure was empty and signage taken down.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Nice to get confirmation, I genuinely think it will make a better exhibit for that mix than hippos. Still sad to see them go but maybe everyone can put their pitchforks away now...or at least replace them with trowels. That section is going to be very much like Marwell in the late-2000s, what with the tapir, capybara, pygmy hippo, oryx and cheetah
I was wondering when they'd start moving the rhinos on. Obviously they have plenty of outdoor space in theory but given the breeding success and limited size of the house, it was inevitable. But it will be a shame if the male zebra has gone completely, hopefully just a move offshow temporarily because he's a lovely animal (that may be wishful thinking)
I wonder what with the improvements to the zebra area and house, if the male now has one of the new yards?
cerperal
Well-Known Member
No change at Bristol as of yet, I would be surprised if it doesn't happen over the next few months though
It’s been explained countless times on this thread why people are disappointed by this news.
I don't see a problem with people expressing their frustration. A species that was universally adored on this forum and is really hard to come by is gone. In its place is a species that most of us have seen too many times to count. It is, for most of us, a big downgrade. We are allowed to feel upset, and we are allowed to discuss with other people online why we feel upset.
In the past I have found myself infuriated at people's irrational (or so I deemed it) criticism of ZSL. But I don't think this is irrational. I'm sure ZSL have their reasons not to replace the old hippos with new ones, but they haven't told us this. Most of us were very disappointed to see the hippos had left - a species that is charismatic and crowd-pleasing, yet also extremely rare in captivity in this country. A joy for casual zoo-goers and enthusiasts alike, as well as a species that has played a huge role in the Society's long and fascinating history. It was sad that they are gone, but I think most of us, including me, took a similar approach of hoping that whatever replaced them was similarly amazing and gave us enough of a 'silver lining' to move on from the hippos. For most of us (and I am glad to hear that there are exceptions who love the species), capybara just don't cut it.
I adore ZSL, and I adore the very much upwards trajectory that the zoo is on at the moment. But that doesn't mean they aren't open to criticism. No-one is. My football club is currently in the best place it has ever been under the best manager that it has ever had, but if he makes a poor substitution that costs us the game, I will criticise him all the same. That analogy applies here, I think. With the rate at which new, interesting species are arriving and that new, high-quality exhibits are closing, ZSL is arguably at the best place it has been in years, and I love that. But I still criticise them where I deem it warranted.
Other people will be better-informed on this than myself, but I don't think people at ZSL (or any other zoo) in power to make decisions such as this typically read through these forums. And if they do so, then they can either conclude that us enthusiasts make up a small percentage of their visitor numbers and dismiss it, or interpret it as constructive criticism from people who are really passionate about it. I don't believe there is any damage done to the zoo or anyone else by being a bit critical, as long as it isn't excessive, unfair, or targetted at particular staff members. Therefore, I don't see a problem with people continuing to point out any disappointments with our beloved zoos, and I will continue to do so. So long as nobody is doing it 'for the sake of it,' irrationally or unfairly.
As a side-note, I am delighted to hear that the keepers at Whipsnade don't share our sadness and are looking forward to working with the species.
I completely agree.
I asked earlier in the thread when the last time ZSL replaced a charismatic species with something of a similar character. Nobody defending ZSL’s decision here was prepared to give an answer.
I don’t think most of the criticism of whipsnade or ZSL on here has been unfair at all. I’d be interested to see what criticism has been unfair, if you’d be so kind to point it out.
All that you’re mentioned here is true, but that doesn’t put ZSL beyond criticism, for example in their decision to spend money on renovating the sealion enclosure, just to demolish it less than a decade later.
Whether you like it or not, whenever news related to this moves comes up, it’s going to spark a renewed discussion about the decision to go out of common hippo.
I can only speak definitively for myself, but I don’t think that’s relevant to the majority of criticism of this decision at all. The number of capybara there really do not interest me, it doesn’t make a difference if it’s 1 or 10.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Good to see the rhinos moving on to hopefully new groups and breeding opportunities, making space for the herd to continue to grow.
The male zebra has moved out of that enclosure in the past at this time of year, so I'd see what happens on that front.
Wonder if we will get Malayan Tapir, it would be nice to have the more unusual ones.
Would love a Malayan tapir. I'm absolutely fine with tapir and capybara. I was struck last weekend when I was by the hippo - literally we were the only 2 people down by the end paddock where the hippo actually were. Everybody else just hanging round the house where the views were terrible - very odd.
Male zebra probably impregnating that poor mare again
Male zebra probably impregnating that poor mare again
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Would love a Malayan tapir. I'm absolutely fine with tapir and capybara. I was struck last weekend when I was by the hippo - literally we were the only 2 people down by the end paddock where the hippo actually were. Everybody else just hanging round the house where the views were terrible - very odd.
Male zebra probably impregnating that poor mare again
I find people often don't go to where other views might be (the lions are really best viewed from the opposite end to the glass house if they are out and about, the cheetahs from the side of the paddock on the way to the Hog Deer if they are that side not from the shelter) I guess people are on a pattern of where they go. Maybe it's a perception about fence viewing or the idea of being near glass or in a house meaning you get nearer even if you don't. Someone should research it!
I find the lion enclosure not great from a viewing perspective generally. They have to be in very specific spots.
The hippo thing is fairly consistent though - always just huddled by the yard and rarely anyone down on the benches at the bottom (which is a nice spot to sit). It just makes me wonder if the average zoo-goer will even massively notice the hippos have gone given they mainly just see them from a rubbish viewpoint anyway.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That is a lovely spot! Can't count the amount of time I've sat thinking about the world and watching out for hippos down there in the peace and quiet. Good times.
At the risk of starting it all off again I am assuming hippo enclosure wise they will have to do a few things to the water area, it is super deep. Do Capy's and Tapirs like deep swimming pools? I can't recall seeing them in them, though that's probably about where they build them vs not liking it. I wonder if we will see the more unusual behaviours of diving etc if they have a pool that deep, or will some of it be fenced off or changed?
The fact is I don’t understand the criticism of this particular thing and that is my prerogative just as much as it is for people to not like it. But nothing is going to change the fact the decision has been made. There is definitely a sense of if you aren’t onboard with the criticism then you are part of the problem. That’s just not fair on my part.
Maybe my username is unhelpful on this forum, I literally picked the name of my favourite zoo all those years ago that I joined. Whipsnade isn’t perfect, neither is London or Chester or whoever. That’s fact and I’ve never claimed otherwise
Maybe my username is unhelpful on this forum, I literally picked the name of my favourite zoo all those years ago that I joined. Whipsnade isn’t perfect, neither is London or Chester or whoever. That’s fact and I’ve never claimed otherwise
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cerperal
Well-Known Member
I think you've hit the nail on the head on the whole do they like them vs are they built thing. Obviously both are strong swimmers, but the new-world tapirs especially love deep water. There's some great videos on youtube of zoos that offer underwater viewing for them as if they can dive, they will. They are far less sedentary in the water than hippos, certainly, while spending a comparable amount of time in it.
It's part of the reason I think that the hippo paddock is better suited for that mix - I genuinely think the viewing is pretty crap from the visitor perspective a lot of the time, especially as Hodor has a particular love of laying on concrete. I'm hopeful that with both species being unthreatening and capable of being contained by something other than steel, they can extend viewing down the side of the pygmy hippo paddock and where the current hippo pool is.
What's to say they acquire giant anteaters for that area as well eventually? Given Whipsnade lacks a South American area, and there's lots of space up that section of the zoo, maybe that's a possible route they take.
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Anteaters would also be cool.
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I am sorry if this seems to be the case and if any of my posts have come across this way, but this is a public forum and disagreement is to be expected. For what it's worth, I find your optimism regarding this move refreshing, even if I don't agree with it.
Giant Anteaters would be a nice addition to Whipsnade.
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