Join our zoo community

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade versus Woburn Safari Park.

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Pertinax, 21 Sep 2007.

  1. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Dec 2006
    Posts:
    20,707
    Location:
    england
    With only twelve miles distance between them, its interesting to note the similarities in these 'rival' attractions. Woburn Safari Park seems to have less animals than Whipsnade, though in fact both exhibit a remarkably similar collection of animals. Both have the following (in the case of different species, Whipsnade is listed first...)

    African Lion.
    Siberian Tiger.
    Bear(Brown/black)
    Wolf
    Asian Elephant.
    White Rhino
    Giraffe(Reticulated/Rothschilds)
    Prezwalski's Horse.
    Grevy Zebra
    Chapman Zebra(Whipsnade still has one old male)
    Wild Ass(Onager/Somali)
    Antelope(various/various)
    Bison/Buffalo(congo)
    Chimpanzee/monkeys
    B.f. Penguins.
    Californinan Sealions.
    Ruffed Lemurs
    Red River Hogs
    Squirrel Monkeys.
    Wallabies.
    Asian Deer(at Woburn in the main deer park)
    Bird and Sealion shows...

    So there is very little difference from the visitor's point of view really...
     
  2. Coquinguy

    Coquinguy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    30 Aug 2005
    Posts:
    1,757
    Location:
    australia
    i think whipsnade is much better from a tourists point of view. the animal collection is so much more comprehensive, it still has red pandas, marmosets, indian rhino, birds birds birds, the discovery centre, plus amazing views, and it doesnt have a tacky ark either
     
  3. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Dec 2006
    Posts:
    20,707
    Location:
    england
    I'd agree with the first point- in that it still seems to have many more animals than Woburn. Of course it has a bird garden, children's zoo etc and despite the reduction in recent years, a greater selection of ungulates than Woburn does. Also Woburn is a bit 'tacky' as its primarily a tourist venue.

    However, I wonder whether most visitors really notice these differences? The main thing I did notice at Woburn was the rather 'empty' feel' about it animalwise..
     
  4. ZooMania

    ZooMania Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    3 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    1,021
    Location:
    North Wales
    Accoding to the Top 30 UK Zoos thread here are the visitor numbers. Whipsnades seem to be falling.

    16. ZSL Whipsnade, 446,829 (2006) -11%
    17. Woburn Safari Park, 424,137 (2006) +6%
     
  5. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Dec 2006
    Posts:
    20,707
    Location:
    england
    That's very interesting indeed. The figures are comparable, but Whipsnade's are down while Woburn's are up.

    For the general visitor there is now remarkably little difference Species-wise(see above) in what they can see at each place. Woburn have(and still are) increased their range of species recently, and has the attraction of going 'in' the drive-thru reserves which kids probably enjoy more than the traditional zoopark experience.
     
  6. kiang

    kiang Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2007
    Posts:
    6,063
    Location:
    Argyllshire
    at whipsnade you are charged an extra £10.00 or so to bring your park in and to walk around the 500acre park is quite off putting where as at any safari park you pay for the car as well
     
  7. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Dec 2006
    Posts:
    20,707
    Location:
    england
    Yes, that's another point. For the average visitor, they can see everything at Woburn without leaving the car then go to the Leisure area for food and the other animal displays. At Whipsnade its a very long walk round if you don't take the car in (at that extra price) and much walking time is spent not actually looking at the animals..