Penguins » Whipsnade Zoo

Penguins
30-07-2008

When i went to Whipsnade (2006) The sing out side the penguin enclosure claimed that They Had Little, Rockhopper, Humbolt, Macaroni, King and Empror Penguins, Did they ever keep all theise spieces, and if so were did they Go to?

30-07-2008

I'm sure the sign you read referred to the various species of Penguins per se, not the ones specifically kept at Whipsnade.

31-07-2008

No i also asek the Keeper, he said that they were all of the spieces kept their

31-07-2008

Whipsnade currently keep Humboldt's, Rockhopper & Gentoo Penguins.

In the past they have also kept King + maybe also Black-footed (Jackass) & Macaroni.

Don't think there has ever been any Fairy penguins at Whipsnade and there has certainly never any Emperors.

31-07-2008

Correct on both points.

31-07-2008

Don't they now have rockhopper, gentoo and humboldt's?

31-07-2008

Thanks, what happend to the Kings, the pool could not have been deep enough for them?

31-07-2008

The Kings lived in that enclosure for quite a few years despite lack of pool depth. There were quite a few (and they bred I think) but then numbers dwindled to around 3 or 4 and no new animals were brought in. In the around 2001/02 (?) the remaining birds were transferred to Rotterdam (I think).

ZSL made some statement regarding Whipsnade being 'too warm' for King penguins and they were better kept in a more northerly European Zoo.

31-07-2008

I'm still mystified by the sign you saw or anyone telling you Whipsnade had kept Little or Emperor penguins. I am sure it must have related, at least partly, to 'Penguin Biology'. The keeper gave you bad information if you were told such a notice referred only to their own penguins.

01-08-2008

Where Did they come from and knowing ZSL Zoos, they would have realised, but why would they keep them in such unsutible conditions?

01-08-2008

In a book I have about London and Whipsnade zoos ( Life in the zoo) 1976, it shows a picture taken at Whipsnade of a keeper feeding two King Penguins with two Jackass Penguins standing next to them, In another photo it shows a group of Kings with a chick