Hippopotamus family at West Midland Safari Park

Wow, you can rarely see so many hippos out of the water at the same time!

That is only part of the herd, it would have to be the best in Europe

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is the best herd in Europe but they have such a basic enclosure...

I think they're missing a dominant male at the minute though...

Oh and if anyone is interested, this herd numbers 1.8

The male is a sub-adult and I don't think he is ready for breeding. It's been a while since I last visited, so the situation may have changed...

That "male" was born at the park, and turned out to be not quite male and not quite female... so it can't breed.

when i went a few weeks ago the keeper said that they were all females and they had no room for a male (i counted 9)

I also counted nine hippo when i visited not long ago.

How aggressive are hippos towards each other? If they have too many, couldn't a few be shipped out to, say, Longleat? I'm sure the lake there could hold more than two hippo, it's just a matter of whether they get on (that's if Whipsnade ever wanted to resume breeding common hippo).

hippos are very aggresive towards each other. many fights lead to the death. i dont think tht spot and sonia would get along with more hippos as they areold and have had only each others company for at least 15yrs

and i dnt think tht wmsp would with stand the permanount outside conditions through winter