Nilgai

28th June 2010.

Are these common in Europe????

I dont think we have them in one zoo her in Australia

There not uncommon here at all - kept in 69 European collections according to zootierliste.de - including 5 UK collections.

I think they're great - I always wish certain zoos (i.e. Chester) hadn't gone out of them.

I think they've declined in the UK in recent years though. Places like Edinburgh and Marwell used to have them but not for a very long time now. I think they could die out at Whipsnade soon and even Howletts don't have very many. West Midlands seems to have a viable group though.

Sadly, I think that they have already died out at Whipsnade; it is sometime since I have seen any there.

Only three females were listed in the ZSL animal inventory for 2007; none were listed in the ZSL animal inventory for either 2008 or 2009.

I thought I still saw a few either in 2008 or 2009 but I noticed it was only females. Maybe it was an earlier visit though.

From ISIS; Knowsley 26, West Midlands 16, Port Lympne 1. Whipsnade & Howletts/Bekesbourne aren't mentioned, so I think Whipsnade no longer have them, but evidently Howletts still do.