Paignton Zoo » Paignton Zoo

29-02-2008

I like American Bison but you're right- they seen in few zoos now- not 'rare' enough...? With Paignton phasing out, I can only think of Cricket St Thomas, Whipsnade and maybe Flamingo Park that still have them in UK. Whipsnade got rid of theirs a few years back but after compaints, tellingly, not from zoo visitors but from local residents about loss of a local landmark on 'Bison Hill' the zoo reinstated them again after a 6 year gap.

29-02-2008

Port Lympne had or has them a few years ago

29-02-2008

Yes - I believe one or more of Summer's previous offspring went there.

29-02-2008

One of the problems is they are 'farmed for their meat' in quite a few countries and therefore have become less exotic as a sepecies.

01-03-2008

Aren't the bison at Whipsnade, European Bison?

01-03-2008

American Bison can also be seen at Knowsley

01-03-2008

Whipsnade have both... The ones on 'Bison Hill' - the open downland escarpment on the north edge of zoo's land- have always been American. They phased them out some years ago but then by popular request got another pair in which have multiplied to 3 or 4. The European Bison (about six) are near the Chimpanzees.

01-03-2008

American bison are also held at Blair Drummond

01-03-2008

.... also Woburn, but not Flamingoland. Port Lympne has a small group- about 7.

01-03-2008

To my mind phasing out the American bison will not be missed. I would rather have it that zoos in the boreal climes invest in establishing breeding groups of European bison. Compared to its American cousin the European species is far more endangered and certainly deserves more interest from zoos in the EAZA region (including the UK ... that is)!

Besides zoos in US and Canada should be the mainstay of captive American bison herds and form a safeguard population against extinction (and maintaining pure-bred steppe bison genes).

02-03-2008

There are two large Bison farms in the south west of England, both open to the public, overall there are probably more American bison on display in the UK now as at any point in the last couple of decades. Sure, Flamingoland got rid of a large herd, Chester and Marwell no longer have them, but they are still found at Blair Drummond, Knowsley, Woburn, Manor House, Noah's Ark zoo farm, Cricket St. Thomas, Bush Farm Bison Centre, Whipsnade, Paignton (for now), Port Lympne, Trotter's world, 'Cattle Country' adventure park, and several private working bison farms which already have over 100 animals. 'Cattle country' also claims to have a 50-strong herd.

Bison,elk & red deer at Bush Farm - Gallery and Centre
Bath - Animal Farms - Zoos - Cattle Country

On the other hand, there are so few European Bison in the UK in comparison, at the Highland Wildlife Park, Howletts, Port Lympne, and Whipsnade. Dartmoor and Norfolk Wildlife parks also used to keep this species until the 1990s.

So residents complained about the loss of the Bison from Whipsnade? Shame they didn't do that about the Musk oxen....

03-03-2008

I'm not sure Marwell have ever had American Bison? They certainly used to have Wisent though.

The residents around Whipsnade probably don't know much about what's inside the zoo- only the Bison could be seen prominently from the surrounding countryside..

03-03-2008

I should have made my sarcasm clearer with a ! I just meant what a shame the Musk Oxen weren't a view the residents had become accustomed to. They might have lodged an objection and forced whipsnade to bring them back!

Without having current access to an old guidebook, I am sure Marwell had American Bison until maybe 1983/1984, and European bison for longer.

03-03-2008

Yes, I realised what you meant about the Musk Oxen. The irony here is of course the local residents probably don't have a clue about much else that happens at Whipsnade....

Regarding Marwell and American Bison- I'm still not convinced they ever had them...(prove me wrong)

09-03-2008

I've looked in several 1980s guide books for Marwell and there is no mention of American Bison. However this does not prove that they never had any, but I agree with you Pertinax, I can't remember hearing of Marwell keeping them.