ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2025

[Lafone]

Should have added that Koko arrived from Dudley via London and there was a period when London exchanged and then exited chimps (with their remaining females ending up at Dudley) so Koko was at London with her mother again for a while before the move to Whipsnade, but @Tim May and @Pertinax have posted knowledgeably on that and might be able to add more.

 

[Panthera1981]

Bonnie (1986, Oscar and Daisy)

who leads the troop with younger son Elvis (she still carries him sometimes even though he's an adult) (2002, Bonnie and unknown)

and her other son Phil (on the left) (1996, Bonnie and Oscar)

Grant, her brother but born at the same time as Phil (1996, Emma and Oscar)

According to the 2014 studbook (assuming that is right) Bonnie, Grant and Phil were all sired by loan chimp Oscar from Twycross who died in 1999 (also fathering Niki / Nikki, 1984, who was the dominant male who died in 2023).

Then Koko, unrelated, one of the oldest Chimps in Europe (born 1973 Dudley to Cherry and Pepe, arrived Whipsnade 2006). Koko arrived with a chimp called Jonnie, they both escaped from the enclosure in 2007, she returned but he was shot.

I remember the infamous Johnnie well! He and Koko were last London Zoo chimps before they were phased out to make way for Gorilla Kingdom. Johnnie had a reputation as a troublemaker with numerous attempts to integrate himself and Koko into the main group failing because of his behaviour, particularly his ability to wind up Nikki!

 

[Lafone]

I remember the infamous Johnnie well! He and Koko were last London Zoo chimps before they were phased out to make way for Gorilla Kingdom. Johnnie had a reputation as a troublemaker with numerous attempts to integrate himself and Koko into the main group failing because of his behaviour, particularly his ability to wind up Nikki!

Yes I remember them when they arrived and he was such the opposite of Koko who always seems to have been (and remains) a milder mannered chimp. If Jonnie hadn't died I wonder if they would have been kept as two groups - not that anyone wanted what happened but it would have been interesting to see how it was managed longer term. I don't believe they were ever all one group before the escape (or if they were I didn't see that but I was only visiting in between being overseas at the time)?

 

[Pertinax]

Should have added that Koko arrived from Dudley via London and there was a period when London exchanged and then exited chimps (with their remaining females ending up at Dudley) so Koko was at London with her mother again for a while before the move to Whipsnade, but @Tim May and @Pertinax have posted knowledgeably on that and might be able to add more.

I happened to be in the zoo the day that females Cherry and Bella arrived from Dudley Zoo and watched them cautiously exploring their new (indoor) premises in the Sobell enclosures. Presumably Koko was already there but I can't remember. She is the only living descendent of the Dudley male Pepe (and I think Cherry too probably) but sadly hasn't bred herself.

I don't think it was ever revealed exactly how Jonny and Koko escaped at Whipsnade.

 

[Lafone]

Had a fun day in the mixed end of August weather at Whipsnade today, not too busy considering just before schools go back. Making the most of the 6pm closing as just one week left (finishes on 8th September) as we head into autumn, that extra hour always makes a difference!

Some of the viewing for the Aardvarks was fenced off, but only for a large bee hive in one of the trees



Was a windy day for the birds flying in the display and a few of the Macaws went off into a tree between the lunch time show and the one in the afternoon, but normal service resumed.

It was fun to see the Grey Parrot chicks highlighted here

17K views · 67 reactions | Whipsnade Zoo on Reels

and here

348 reactions · 11 shares | Do parrots make good pets? Our Zookeepers are currently hand-rearing two endangered African grey parrots, after their parents were unsuccessful in raising chicks themselves. Sadly African grey parrots are one of the world most world’s most illegally trafficked animals, but through ZSL we’re working in Cameroon to protect them from poaching. This pair will be joining the parrot flock in our Birds of the World demonstration later this year. | Whipsnade Zoo

who were hand raised by the keepers, joining the bird team in the arena (safe in a carrier), so they could get used to the sounds and noises of the show. The team talked about hand rearing the parrots and mentioned they are flying them in the aviary at the moment with a view to them joining the rest of the birds soon.

Good sightings of most of the animals all day, with at least three recent chicks for the Flamingos and four fawns for the Barinsingha who share with the Hog Deer (might be more).

 

[Pertinax]

Good sightings of most of the animals all day, with at least three recent chicks for the Flamingos and four fawns for the Barinsingha who share with the Hog Deer (might be more).

Good to hear there are Barasingha fawns. When I went last year there were still several Barasingha(about half a dozen) in the Asia Plains area, seemed to be both males and females. Not clear why.

 

[Lafone]

Good to hear there are Barasingha fawns. When I went last year there were still several Barasingha(about half a dozen) in the Asia Plains area, seemed to be both males and females. Not clear why.

Perhaps they were split for the rutting period so the dominant male and does chosen for breeding could be in the main paddock. I've seen them split up before some into the far area.

 

[Pertinax]

Perhaps they were split for the rutting period so the dominant male and does chosen for breeding could be in the main paddock. I've seen them split up before some into the far area.

It could be. But it was in June though they might be split like that all the time, I don't know. Perhaps they finally added some unrelated blood to what is/was an extremely inbred herd. I would like to know more but very hard to find out really.

 

[Lafone]

It could be. But it was in June though they might be split like that all the time, I don't know. Perhaps they have finally added unrelated blood to what is/was an extremely inbred herd. I would like to know more but very hard to find out really.

Bit early as you say for breeding then. I've seen them split and all together too, out and about in Passage and back in the paddock, so guess it's part of some strategy but they don't say much about it.

 

[Pertinax]

That's interesting. So you've seen them altogether or split on different occassions? They used to always be in the main PTA area and were about 30 in number for many years. Recent stocklists show about half that number nowadays. Rutting season is mainly October as for the UK deer species.

 

[Lafone]

That's interesting. So you've seen them altogether or split on different occassions? They used to always be in the main PTA area and were about 30 in number for many years. Recent stocklists show about half that number nowadays. Rutting season is mainly October as for the UK deer species.

Yes though they all seem to be in the paddock at the moment (last weekend), I think they rut a little earlier in the wild (September time) but here it would have been nearer the end of last year for fawns appearing now.

 

[Monkeyboy]

Oh hi everyone. I go to whipsnade all the time and I just ask the keepers when I have these sort of questions. Why don't you just ask them too? There are some really good keepers there the deer people are very knowledgable about there animals and I'm sure they would answer these questions for you. I will ask them when I go again.

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

I’m always loathed to stop a keeper, I always think they have a million more important things to do then answer my silly questions!

Maybe I need to be braver!

 

[Pertinax]

Oh hi everyone. I go to whipsnade all the time and I just ask the keepers when I have these sort of questions. Why don't you just ask them too? There are some really good keepers there the deer people are very knowledgable about there animals and I'm sure they would answer these questions for you. I will ask them when I go again.

I always ask if the opportunity arises and I see someone who looks like they might be connected to the relevant section, but quite frequently while they are helpful it turns out they aren't with that section at all. Plus driving through the Asian Plains you rarely see any staff, also I'm only able to visit very occassionally these days. Much easier to get this sort of information if you visit regularly I'm sure.

 

[JoB198]

I’m always loathed to stop a keeper, I always think they have a million more important things to do then answer my silly questions!

Maybe I need to be braver!

I think this. Also, I don't see keepers very often! They're usually working when I'm about. When they have Q+A sessions attached to talks, they're often very forthcoming though, and will talk about more than that animal - learned a lot about the gemsboks and blesboks at the end of a bongo talk once!

 

[Lafone]

I do ask but I think if asking individually you may want to point out you are going to share things on social media (vs hearing them in a public talk or just a group thing) vs asking as a purely personal thing, if you are going to share them here. That's just my view of it of course but not everyone is seeking to act as a spokesperson.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

In my experience (both in in asking questions and answering questions)if a keeper can answer a question ,they usually enjoy doing so. It can be problematic when you have to try and respond to numerous questions.

 

[evilmonkey239]

If it was the small shed near to the old elephant arena then, yes, this was briefly home to a free-ranging group of Silvery marmosets. However, the group’s boldness was ultimately their undoing when one ventured too far and became enrichment for the chimps and another a snack for the Red panda! The group also had a habit of raiding waste bins. Unsurprisingly, the free-ranging idea was soon curtailed.

A red panda ate a marmoset? Is there any kind of proof in the form of a press release/photo evidence? I’m not doubting you, but if I can get a firsthand source that would be really incredible.

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

A red panda cub has been born, fantastic news!

Red panda cub born at Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo

 

[Lafone]

A red panda cub has been born, fantastic news!

Red panda cub born at Whipsnade Zoo | Whipsnade Zoo

Excellent news! Great to see another cub for Ruby and Nilo and to hear about Ruby constructing her own nest rather than remaining in the nest box too.