ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade zoo 2017

Bus services to the zoo have changed again

Upcoming Service Changes

 

Just a few notes from my visit over the weekend.

Work on the Sea lion theatre is going well with some new rockwork going up. (i'll try and get photos next week).

The new lookout over the White Rhino enclosure is open now.

Also I noticed a transport cage in with the red panda's. Do we know if they are relocating one of them?

 

Visited yesterday and was impressed with the work done so far at the Sea Lions. One side of the arena is being turned into a rocky beach with viewing windows and a taller barrier around the pool meaning they should have access outside all the time.

It's nothing major but really liked the rhino lookout and new path, made the area look a bit smarter

 

Oscar has moved to Scotland with two females as part of the European breeding program, not sure where in Scotland though.

 

A Californian Sea Lion

 

He'll have gone to Blair Drummond (nowhere else in Scotland keeps them)

 

A deplorable example of mammalocentric thinking: the Oscar is Astronotus ocellatus!
Fortunately there are several photos in our Gallery of this splendid cichlid. The most recent was posted by vogelcommando last month: it's quite a nice tank-bred specimen, but not as beautiful as a wild caught one.

Oscar by vogelcommando posted 24 May 2017 at 10:49 PM

 

Does this mean the actual swimming area being made larger, or stay the same?

 

From what I could tell the swimming area would be the same, but I would assume they would have still access to the indoor pool (possibly pools) as well.

 

The whole sea lion house has received a new coat of tan paint to replace the white and the seating area has also been painted, it all looks very smart. Photos in the gallery.

 

Kojo, the male African dwarf crocodile has passed away after a short illness. Approximate age was 40 years.

Axis deer are leaving the collection. The long-term plan is to introduce a number of new species into Passage thru Asia.

Asian elephant Donna is pregnant.

 

Out of interest any idea what new species? No problem if not!

 

I hoping for some interesting and inspiring additions.

 

Exciting to hear Donna is pregnant ! Must have been through A.I though, wonder what else is planned as she and karishma are likely the only breeding females in the heard?!

 

Visited this afternoon and was concerned to note that all signs for Common Hippo female have been removed. Hoover's sign remained on the upper paddock, but he was inside with just his sign there.

She could of course just be temporarily offshow due to illness or expecting ( or recently had) another calf. I hope it isn't the only other obvious reason!

The emu which have been semi offshow behind the Kudu for several years are now in the Hog deer paddock near the main Cafe.

Gemsbok & Ostrich have swapped paddocks for some reason & didn't see the Vicuna.

 

A Common hippo birth is imminent, odd though that they'd remove all the signage!

 

Great news! It was the signage that had bothered me more than the fact I hadn't seen the 2 hippos together.