Bontebok London Zoo 28 September 1985

A pair of Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) in the canal side paddocks at London Zoo.

Wow do they still have this species

No, London phased out the majority of its hoofstock collection or sent them to Whipsnade. This area now contains either red river hogs, warthogs or hunting dogs...

Whipsnade may still keep them, I'm not sure though

I don't think anyone in the UK has Bontebok. They were moved from London to Whipsnade but I don't know what happened to them. Suffolk Wildlife Park (now called Africa Alive!) has Blesbok.

Belfast has blesbok too now, one of the bontebok which came from Rotterdam died in a fire in the Africa house at Whipsnade along with Grevy's zebra and Congo buffalo that also died in that fire.

I'd forgotten about that fire.

Blackpool also have Blesbok. According to Zootierliste, the only collection in Europe with Bontebok is in Tabernas, Spain.

Elsewhere on here, people have confirmed that one of the Bontebok ended up at Kessingland in the early days of Africa Alive.

Slight pedant moment - Kessingland had two Bontebok when I first visited and it was before the name-change, when it was still called Suffolk Wildlife Park.

Was a good day - my first Bontebok and my first Dingo.



I remember that thread well - I'd seen the Bontebok at Kessingland but had no idea of the ZSL drama that had preceded their arrival there.

It had to have been owned by the Goymour group at that point though, I can't imagine anyone sending antelope to the previous owners, although they did have onager, zebra, and a camel before the park was sold.