Marwell Wildlife List of animal names at Marwell past and present

Hi,

I am in the process of researching the names and details of some of the more popular animals both past and present at Marwell.

I am starting with the giraffes.

The list still has many blanks so if you have any more information on any of the giraffes mentioned please feel free to add this information to this zoo chat post.

Much of the information has been obtained on the internet so it has the potential to be incorrect.

If you are aware of any errors please feel free to let me know so I can update the list.

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Victor
Date of Birth 1962 approximately
Born / arrived from ?
Gender Male
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Died at Marwell after he tore a muscle in leg and collapsed on his stomach
Date died 1977

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Arabesque
Date of Birth ?
Born / arrived from Caught in the wild
Gender Female
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Eric
Date of Birth ?
Born / arrived from ?
Gender Male
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Dribbles
Date of Birth Born approximately 1964/1965
Born / arrived from Caught in the wild in Uganda in 1966 and came to Marwell in 1965
Gender Female
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Died at Marwell
Date died 13 April 1999
Notes Dribbles was estimated to be 33 when she died. This made her the oldest giraffe in the world.

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Victoria
Date of Birth 24 June 1978
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Female
Father Victor
Mother Dribbles
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Zara
Date of Birth 19 June 2003
Born / arrived from Born Marwell
Gender Female
Father Chris
Mother Matilda
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Jonathan
Date of Birth 13 July 2003
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Chris
Mother Mary
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Annabella
Date of Birth 5 December 2003
Born / arrived from Born Marwell
Gender Female
Father ?
Mother Grace
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Harry
Date of Birth ?
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Eric
Mother Arabesque
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Bruce
Date of Birth 1994 approximately
Born / arrived from ?
Gender Male
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Biffa
Date of Birth 1986 approximately
Born / arrived from Born Marwell
Gender Female
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Died
Date died Died don’t know date

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Chris
Date of Birth 1991 approximately
Location it was born Arrived from West Midlands Safari Park in 2003
Gender Male
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Died
Date died Died don’t know date

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Mary
Date of Birth 1993
Born / arrived from
Gender Female
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Died at Marwell
Date died May 2009

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Grace
Date of Birth ?
Born / arrived from ?
Gender Female
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Died
Date died Died don’t know date

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Leo
Date of Birth 15 July 2003
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Chris
Mother Biffa
Left Marwell / died Died
Date died 2003 approximately. He was a rare twin born with Charlotte. did not survive long.

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Charlotte
Date of Birth 15 July 2003
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Female
Father Chris
Mother Biffa
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?
Notes She was a rare twin born with Leo.

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Rafiki
Date of Birth 2001 approximately
Born / arrived from Born Marwell
Gender Male
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Went to Flamingoland then to Folly Farm in Wales.
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Taharqa
Date of Birth October 2006
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Chris
Mother Matilda
Left Marwell / died March 2009 went to Folly Farm Wales
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe JaJa
Date of Birth 2005 approximately
Born / arrived from Born Marwell
Gender Male
Father Chris
Mother Mary
Left Marwell / died Went to Folly Farm in March 2009.
Date died September 2009. He died at Folly Farm of natural causes.

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Kharma
Date of Birth 22 February 2007
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Chris
Mother Grace
Left Marwell / died Went to Folly Farm in March 2009.
Date died He died at Folly Farm of natural causes two weeks after JaJa’s death

Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Philip
Date of Birth 1 August 2000
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Bruce
Mother Biffa
Left Marwell / died Died at Marwell
Date died September 28 2000. Put to sleep due to septic arthritis in left shoulder.


Currently at Marwell No
Name of giraffe Mutota
Date of Birth 8 March 2007
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Chris
Mother Biffa
Left Marwell / died ?
Date died ?

Currently at Marwell Yes
Name of giraffe Kizmet
Date of Birth 2008 approximately
Born / arrived from Flamingoland
Gender Male
Father ?
Mother ?
Left Marwell / died Still at Marwell
Date died Still at Marwell
Notes Pure Rothschild

Currently at Marwell Yes
Name of giraffe Matilda
Date of Birth 1997
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Female
Father Harry
Mother Dribbles
Left Marwell / died Still at Marwell
Date died Still at Marwell
Notes Pure Rothschild

Currently at Marwell Yes
Name of giraffe Isabella
Date of Birth 2002
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Female
Father Bruce
Mother Biffa
Left Marwell / died Still at Marwell
Date died Still at Marwell

Currently at Marwell Yes
Name of giraffe Makeda
Date of Birth 2005
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Female
Father Chris
Mother Biffa
Left Marwell / died Still at Marwell
Date died Still at Marwell

Currently at Marwell Yes
Name of giraffe Christa
Date of Birth 14 May 2008
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Female
Father Chris
Mother Matilda
Left Marwell / died Still at Marwell
Date died Still at Marwell

Currently at Marwell Yes
Name of giraffe Tiye
Date of Birth 6 June 2008
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Female
Father Chris
Mother Mary
Left Marwell / died Still at Marwell
Date died Still at Marwell

Currently at Marwell Yes
Name of giraffe Kwame
Date of Birth 6 June 2009
Born / arrived from Born at Marwell
Gender Male
Father Kizmet
Mother Isabella
Left Marwell / died Still at Marwell
Date died Still at Marwell

Anyone who is able to update, correct or add to this list is welcome to post here please.

I will add other animals at Marwell to list in the near future.

 

Hi,

Great list you've got there, shows you've put some good effort into that. I can tell you that Victor was born at Whipsnade Zoo, Dribbles would've arrived in 1975, Zara and Charlotte went to Flamingo Land in late 2007, Christopher died on the 18th April 2007, Biffa died on the 4th December 2007 and Grace died on the 31st January 2008.

I've also compiled a list of Marwell's on-show stock in 2009, which I'll update in 2010 here.

 

Thanks Zambar for your help.
I will update my list shortly.

Your list is very helpful. I look forward to seeing your update in 2010.

 

Well spotted Zambar,

I should have put 1975 not 1965 for the arrival of Dribbles.

Thanks

 

Kwame - I hope the following taken from early editions of the Marwell Zoo's paper helps , unfortunately names are not given in most cases. A group of 1.5 wild-caught Rothschild's giraffe arrived at Marwell on 12th October 1971 after quarantine , I believe at Manchester . Two of the females died in the first winter leaving 1.3 . The first calf - a male - was born on 5the May 1974 but died 364 days later . By this time the original male was also dead - I cannot see mention of when this happened . A new male was obtained from Bristol zoo , arriving late 1975 but died soon after on 20th December 1975 .

The famous Victor arrived from Whipsnade in April 1977 and died with much publicity in September 1977 . The smallest of the original 3 females also died soon after . Victor's replacement was Pedro who arrived soon after the demise . It seems that Dribbles daughter Victoria was the first successful birth in the herd .

 

yes, the original group were quarantined at/near Belle Vue, Manchester.

Victor was named after Victor Manton, the (then) curator/director of Whipsnade.

I believe there was another Giraffe death the day after Victor's although it was kept very much under wraps to avoid any adverse publicity.

I believe one of their later males was born at Suffolk Wildlife Park. It may have been 'Bruce'.

 

Hi Bele and Pertinax,

Thanks to you both for your information.

 

Additional giraffes at Marwell

Hi,

Can anyone help please

I have found four more giraffes that used to be at Marwell.

Does anyone have any information on the following giraffes please:

Jane

Richard

Stephen

Glenda

If anyone knows of the names of any other giraffes that I have missed please let me know.

Also can anyone confirm when giraffes were first kept at Marwell was it when the zoo opened. Also does anyone know the names of the first group of giraffes.

PS I will update the current giraffe list shortly once I have managed to obtain some more information.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all from Kwame.

 

Some more information on Marwell Giraffes covering mainly the period 1978 to 1993 . The original giraffes that arrived in 1971 included Arabesque and Dribbles , I do not know the names of the other 3 females who did not breed or the original male .

The herd at the start of 1978 comprised 1.2 - Pedro , Arabesque and Dribbles .

Dribbles calves included -
male calf born 1974 , died 1975 ( father wild-caught male )
Victoria ( father Victor ) born June 1978 , died 1986
William ( Pedro )born January 1981 , died 1983
Charles ( Pedro) born July 1982 , died 1983
Diana ( Eric ) born Feb. 1984 , died 11 weeks later
male ( Eric) born 1985 , died aged 10 days
Anne ( Eric) born Dec. 1986 , died 1987
Grace ( Harry) born Jan. 1983

Arabesque ( died 1987 ) had the following calves , all were hand-reared -
Elizabeth ( Pedro) born Sept. 1980 , died 1987 , she was stunted
George (Pedro) born 1980 , went to Twycross aged 8 weeks old
Glendower/Glenda (Pedro) born Sept. 1973
Harry (Eric) born 1985
Biffa (Eric) born June 1986

Males -
Pedro (the replacement for Victor) died July 1982
Eric , born Windsor S.P. arrived October 1982 , aged 3 , died Feb. 1986
Jeremy , born Regent's Park , arrived 1988 , aged 1 , to Whipsnade 1989

Females -
Helen , arrived from Whipsnade 1989 , aged 13 ,
Cloudy , arrived Whipsnade 1989 , aged 11 , died 19992 after a still-birth

Other births -
Still-born calf to Helen 1990 ( Harry)
Ben born 1993 to Helen (Harry) , hand-reared
Still-born calf to Biffa 1992 (Harry)
Unity born 1993 to Glendower (Harry) , hand-reared

At the end of 1993 there were 2.6 in the herd - Harry , Dribbles , Helen , Biffa , Glendower , Ben , Grace and Unity .

In the early years there were a lot of losses , particularly herd bulls .

 

Thanks Bele

Hi Bele,

Thanks very much for your information.

I will update my list and re-post it here so anyone interested can read it.

 

How have you got a birth date of 2008 for Kizmet,because this animal came from Flamingoland and before that he was at Heythrop,he arrived at Flamingoland in about 2005/6.Personnally I would guess he`s at least 9 or 10 years old.

 

Thanks Zoogiraffe

Hi,

Sorry I put the date in the wrong column.

This date is the approximate date Kismet came to Marwell. If anyone knows the exact date please feel free to let me know.

I don’t have an exact birth date for Kismet.

Glad that you confirmed that Kismet came from Flamingoland as I found one article on the web saying he arrived from Germany.

Thanks

 

Not a problem I do know he arrived at Heythrop from Germany so that could be where you got that from.Just been checking my notes Kismet was at Flamingoland in 2005 and I`m pretty certain he was at Heythrop in 2003.

 

The original 1.5 did not have any names. Arabesque & Dribbles would have acquired their names sometime later- the others of the original group may never have been given names.

 

More records - up to 1999 . The giraffe named as Unity , born to Glendower , seems to be referred to as Mary in all later reports .

Dribbles who died 13.4.99 had another two calves -
male born 1994( father Harry) , died after 2 days
Matilda born 5.1.97 (Harry)

Glendower's calves -
James born 1984 (Harry) ,hand-reared , sent to Spain with Ben 1995
Joseph born 24.12.95 (Harry) , hand-reared , to Beauval France in 1999
Stephanie born 11.4.97 (Harry) , mother reared
Sophie born 1999 ( ? Bruce) , mother reared

Quite a few calves were still-born or died soon after birth during this period - Biffa and Alice had females.

Helen died in 1995 .

Harry was sent to Suffolk Wildlife Pary in 1998 in exchange for 4 year old Bruce .

At the end of 1999 the herd of 1.7 was - Bruce , Glendower , Biffa , Mary , Grace , Matilda , Stephanie and Sophie .

 

Who was Alice

Hi Bele,

Thanks for all the threads you have added.

In your last post you said

"Quite a few calves were still-born or died soon after birth during this period - Biffa and Alice had females."

Do you have any more information on this giraffe please.

 

Eric

Eric came from Windsor Safari Park, in the early 80,s after thr death of Pedro.

 

Re Alice - Sorry Kwame , got my giraffes twisted . Should have said Biffa and Mary had several calves . Alice was a calf born to Mary in 1999 that did not survive very long .

I have more giraffe info. on the period 2000 to 2005 , will post when I get time .

 

Thanks

Hi hantslad and Bele,

Thanks to you both for your info

 

imformation

May i suggest you contact Bill Hall at Marwell who was my head keeper in the 80,s and 90,s and has been there since the early 70,s whose section included the Giraffe.