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ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Whipsnade zoo 2017

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Max Blundell, 1 Jan 2017.

  1. gentle lemur

    gentle lemur Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I liked The Wire, but I don't care for the fantasy stuff (or Tolkien or Thomas the Tank Engine :().
     
  2. Panthera1981

    Panthera1981 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    A Yak has been born, a female.
     
  3. ro6ca66

    ro6ca66 Well-Known Member Premium Member 5+ year member

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    Sadly, one of the two brown bears has been euthanised recently.

    Notice on the enclosure reads:

    Visitor Information
    Brown Bears
    ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is sad to confirm that one of the elderly European brown bears had to be put to sleep in August 2017. Winslow, 24, had a number of age-related conditions, including arthritis, which could no longer be managed with veterinary treatment.
    Zookeepers will be keeping a close eye on our other brown bear, 24-year-old Wellington, and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is working with the co-ordinator of the European breeding programme to explore the possibility of finding her some company.
     
  4. Panthera1981

    Panthera1981 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Sad, however I "believe" the species does not have a long term future at Whipsnade.

    I'd be happy to be proven otherwise!
     
  5. ajmcwhipsnade

    ajmcwhipsnade Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    How sad :(

     
  6. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

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    That's a real shame :(
     
  7. pipaluk

    pipaluk Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I hope you are wrong! Hopefully the statement indicates they will be around for a while longer at least.
    It would be a terrible shame if they are not there for many years to come!
     
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  8. Panthera1981

    Panthera1981 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I think the phrase "exploring the possibility" within the ZSL statement is telling. It's non-commitall on retaining the species long term.

    ZSL have, for many years, sought to extensively renovate the bear enclosure but, for a variety of reasons, have been hampered in their efforts. Once the final bear dies, they'll have no obstacles remaining.

    As I said earlier, I'd like the species to remain, but am not optimistic.
     
  9. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

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    I think you are reading a lot into quite an innocuous statement.
     
  10. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

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    Visited yesterday - there is a crate in the red panda enclosure, Wellington seemed to be doing well and for the first time in forever we saw both of the wolverine!
     
  11. BongoHardwood

    BongoHardwood Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Unfortunately there is only the male wolverine remaining in there so you must've seen the same one twice!
     
  12. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

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    Now I thought that was the case initially but was convinced otherwise by my companion - I'll let him know I was right the first time! Thank you ;)
     
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  13. 14556

    14556 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    On the ZSL site:
    "The brown bear enclosure is a surviving feature from the earliest days of the Zoo, so it is definitely time for improvement! The new development is currently underway and will be able to accommodate four bears once completed. The area will have new dens that will have a deep litter bed allowing the bears to hibernate as well as providing easier veterinary access to the animals. The outdoor area will benefit from re-landscaping with rocks and plants. There will also be new visitor viewing areas where talks will be held to improve visitors' experience of the bears."

    https://www.zsl.org/support-us/leav...ll/maintaining-the-first-open-zoological-park

    Looks hopeful for bears at Whipsnade!
     
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  14. Brum

    Brum Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I wholeheartedly approve of this statement! I was getting worried that the bear enclosure was going to be flattened for something less interesting... Good on ZSL for proving me wrong. :D
     
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  15. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

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    Great news!!
     
  16. littleRedPanda

    littleRedPanda Well-Known Member

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    Wicksteed is not a zoo
    It will be nice to see some new faces at Whipsnade; good news indeed.
     
  17. FunkyGibbon

    FunkyGibbon Well-Known Member

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    Great news indeed, although I don't think the outdoors needs re-landscaping at all, it's already one of the prettiest in the UK.
    I wonder if the old fence will stay?
     
    Last edited: 15 Sep 2017
  18. Panthera1981

    Panthera1981 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    There's very little that could be done to the front of the enclosure as, I believe, Lady Yules Walk has some form of preservation order upon it. The same goes for some of the original railings (facing towards the penguins/Ouseley Pond).

    Ideas in the past have centred around removing the "Bear Pit" appearance along the front, so maybe raise the level up or expand the exhibit back. There has also been (brief) talk of a suggested mixed exhibit involving wolves!
     
  19. Crowthorne

    Crowthorne Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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  20. Panthera1981

    Panthera1981 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    A Grevys zebra has been born, though no word yet on gender.

    A female wolverine will shortly be arriving as a breeding partner for the resident male, Puff.

    The female moose will be leaving for Longleat. Whipsnade will no longer continue with this species.