Young barasingha (A29); Whipsnade; 16th July 2011

Young barasingha (A29); Whipsnade; 16th July 2011
17-07-2011

17-07-2011

I often wonder if this herd(or the Axis, Sika, Nilgai, Blackbuck etc in the Asian Plains) have ever had any fresh blood introduced to them since they arrived at Whipsnade. The Barasingha do show signs of inbreeding, the antlers of the stags are rather degenerate and some have wall eyes too.

I suspect Whipsnade's initial Barasingha stock came from Woburn-though I do not know that for sure. Whereas the Port Lympne/West Midland stock are not from this source as I think PL's founder stock came from East Berlin. But I don't know of any instances where the two lines have been crossed over, either deliberately or by chance acquisition.

17-07-2011

I don't think that there is any doubt that the original Whipsnade barasingha stock came from Woburn; I don't know if any new blood has been subsequently introduced.

17-07-2011

I think Woburn's are a 'closed' herd too. The stags there also have much smaller antlers than wild Barasingha.