ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade zoo 2016

That could well be "Dotty," who outlived her partner for some time.

A certain Mr May may be able to confirm this for me....

 

Was this the last lion in the old enclosure? Whipsnade went a few years without Lions I think until the current exhibit opened.

 

Dotty certainly outlived her partner, who I believe was also called "Spike!"

I seem to remember a period in the early Noughties where Whipsnade was asking for help from the public for funding for a new lion exhibit, tag line "Bring the Roar back to Whipsnade."

The cubs were born 2006, so the new exhibit is 2003/04?

 

She definately was, see Panthera's post above.

 

Something like that as I remember they had cubs quite soon after it opened.

 

Visited yesterday and noticed a sign stating that the former wolf enclosure will be home to African hunting dogs from Easter 2017. We didn't see any work actually being carried out but some ground leveling has been done.

New Hunting Dog Enclosure Sign - 09 Dec 2016 by thunder_monkey posted 10 Dec 2016 at 6:46 PM

Work on former wolf enclosure - 09 Dec 2016 by thunder_monkey posted 10 Dec 2016 at 6:44 PM

 

I assume that'll be the London pack moving over then?

 

Or maybe perhaps the male offspring from the last litter? Interesting to see what London would replace them with if it was the entire pack.

Looking at the photos, it looks like they've filled in the moat and completely flattened the old dens. I think it surprised the zoo just how much work needed to be done once the wolves vacated!

Whilst I welcome the introduction of African hunting dogs (after many years of rumour and hearsay) I'll certainly mourn the loss of wolf at Whipsnade-the two have always gone hand-in-hand. Can't think of many places in the UK that keep them in significant number!

And I still want to see ZSL get Dhole!

 

Well I was at Whipsnade today and I have seen what happened since I was last up there. I have seen the construction site on the African hunting dogs exhibit which will be open from Easter 2017 and I have seen some ground leveling has been done and. The New Elephant Barn Construction is coming along well indeed. While I was up there things in the Africa Section are still the same since after the sad loss of Spike the Male Lion 2 weeks ago now. Hope the new male lion will be joining Whipsnade's Pride very soon

 

I am Looking forward to seeing the African Hunting Dogs At Whipsnade, but I don't know how they will fit in the woodland/ Europe Section unless the African Section is Extended

Also I wonder what the Discovery Centre will be turned into when it closes this month.

 

Has it been said they will get another male? I can't see that happening while the castrated males remain, they are very territorial and regularly take it in turn to patrol the enclosure. I'm sure they wouldn't tolerate a new & probably smaller male, just because he had a mane.

 

They'll fit in perfectly fine with the giraffe and bongo next-door! I think the real anomaly will be when the chimps are eventually bred out, with rumoured replacements being gelada or orang.

The Discovery Centre will become storage/keeper quarters as its no longer fit for animal use.

 

I didn't know that was the plan for the Chimps- it will take many years to do that though unless the younger ones are redistributed elsewhere.

I think Orangs would be HIGHLY unsuitable both for Whipsnade and that enclosure. Geladas on the other hand would be fine- I know they were on an EEP new holder request list for them some years ago, perhaps they still are?

It will be interesting to see Hunting Dogs back at Whipsnade after an absence of several decades.

 

A fine example of British irony

 

Following the success of Zoorassic Park, tentative plans are underway to bring Bear Grylls Survival School to Whipsnade for 2017

 

A pair of Asian lions have arrived from Sakkarbaug Zoo, India and are currently in quarantine. Named Amal (m) and Toral (f) they will be transferred to London Zoo once their quarantine is over.

It is hoped the hunting dogs will arrive by early Spring.

 

Fantastic news re:Lions

 

Well, for London at least!

 

To be more precise:
Male Amal born 13/05/2010 Junagadh
Female Torul (!!!) born 10/02/2010 Junagadh
Do not worry …, 2 different sets of parents!

 

Now the million dollar question; will they be kept just as a pair or will one of the girls currently at the zoo be moved over to join them...?