Starting 2018 on a bit of a downer: Reticulated giraffe Savannah has been euthanised due to age related health issues. She was the oldest resident giraffe, having been born at Whipsnade, and is survived by (to my knowledge) 4 offspring - Jamal, Mtoto, Willow and Nhuru. Willow and Nhuru are still resident at Whipsnade.
Shame. I can remember seeing her birth featured on a T.V. 'zoo' series. I think she was the first or only(?) female born in the original group of Reticulated giraffe and has been the principal breeding female to date.
I wonder exactly why they got rid of the Moose? It seems these are now getting moved around rather (also at Knowsley).
There was a male Sitatunga (I think!) in the moose enclosure today and Ostrich in the large paddock the other side of the house.
I remember moose at Whipsnade back in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s; I was very sorry when the last died in 1985. There was then a long wait of about a quarter-of-a-century before moose returned to Whipsnade but now, sadly, there are none there again. It is a shame as they seemed to fit well into the native European animal section.
I have no news on progress, but only species left are White-faced Saki, Mata Mata , Spiny Hill Turtle , Utila Iguana. I think that's it!
Whipsnade were due to get one of the young Males from the Scottish Deer Centre but they told SDC that the Elk was leaving the collection. Now one of the young males is going to Longleat and no destination on the other young male has been decided yet.
Came same time ago from Knuthenborg Safari in Daenemark. Link: Nyt næsehorn i Knuthenborg Safaripark: Kemi er afgørende for parring
A triple whammy of sad news to report I’m afraid: Southern White rhino Nowana has been euthanised due to age-related health issues. European brown bear Wellington has been euthanised due to age-related health issues, primarily arthritis. She was the last of the surviving “old group” of bears. Finally (and this should surprise no one who regularly visits Whipsnade) Asian elephant Azizah was euthanised earlier this week due to a rapid deterioration in her health and mobility.
What a terrible list! Just after the death of Savannah too! All will be missed, but I feel tribute should be paid to Wellington for hanging on long enough for her enclosure to be filled with more of her species , thus continuing the 80plus year history of her enclosure for bears as was intended! A year or so ago it was suggested the enclosure may be used for something else but Wellington ( & Winslow) thankfully lived long enough to prevent that happening!
How awful For those who weren’t aware, this leaves the zoo with 2.6 elephants (Emmett Sam, Mya Lucha Kaylee Karishma Donna Elizabeth), 0.3 brown bears (Snow-White Sleeping-Beauty Cinderella) and 1.4 white rhinos (Nsiswa, Clara Mikumi Bertha Tuli)
I believe this now leaves Mya as the sole remaining individual from the relocated London group, therefore the last ever London Zoo elephant!
Elephant Azizah was an important breeding female and has had 4 calves at least. Her latest, Sam, was born in 2014. Her matriline at Whipsnade is pretty much finished with her passing. Two others - Kaylee with daughter Donna (with Lucha playing auntie) and female Karishma and her calves are left. Curiously, non-breeding Mya is the herd's real matriarch. One issue in the herd is the high number of calves lost to EEHV.
Rhino cow Nowana was approaching the 40 mark, so a respectable age. In fairness cow Clara is not far behind (going on 36 this year) and both bull Nsiswa (29+) and Mikumi (27+) are not the youngest either. I really hope they introduce a new bull and another cow soon as I think Nsiswa is way past his prime. Does he still mate cows?
I believe there have been issues with the bull for some time. I also believe A.I. was being considered at one stage.
