It appears from later comments that you may have been right, but I don't see why moving a 4 year old male rhino would necessarily mean one of the cows was pregnant. Younger calves have been moved to other zoos previously, so Ajang was probably due to move anyway. In fact it was suggested on here a year ago he may go to Flamingoland!
1) Space constraints (necessitating a move) normally are indicative of a move for a mega vertebrate. 2) The Flamingoland deal fell through and hence destination in limbo. All that is why it has taken much longer than usual. Now, it is time-out.
Do you know what the health issues are? Normally that would be seen as bad news but both females have successfully raised several calves each and with the situation of EEP looking for new holders its probably not necessary for her to breed again anyway. I hope she has a long and contented retirement in that case.
There are simply too many cars in the park now, far more than when I began visiting Whipsnade as an independent adult in the early 1980s. To accommodate them, potential or actual exhibit space has been sacrificed (adjoining the elephant arena and in Bluebell Wood). Duke's Avenue in particular can be a minefield to cross with a small child or an elderly individual. I think it has got to the point where only cars with small children (ie under 5), or genuine blue badge holders (ie physically impaired, either through age or disability) should be allowed into the park in high season. Increase the number of buses; children of all ages love using double-deckers!
Small tumours lining her uterus I believe-not life threatening but would be a significant hinderance to her reproducing. I think there's still a chance of one more calf from her. Ian-the chances of increased double deckers are slim. Overuse (and their weight) has significantly degraded the road system, so the best scenario would be to invest in single deckers....or a monorail! Personally I'd ban the cars but seeing as most people are allergic to exercise nowadays, they're here to stay no matter how high the entrance fee. IMO there's nothing better than a leisurely walk around the place-it's a park zoo after all.
This is one of the common reasons for reproductive failure in Rhinos, but its more usually associated with females that have not had a pregnancy for a long time. Interesting to hear of it in a reproducing female also. I suppose both these females must be advancing in age somewhat- how long have they been at Whipsnade now?
The two female Indian rhinos both arrived at Whipsnade in 1998. (To be more precise, after checking the studbook, I can confirm that "Beluki" arrived on 22nd September 1998 and "Behan" a few weeks later on 3rd November 1998.) They're certainly not old for Indian rhinos.
Perhaps a restriction during peak season would not be a bad idea, however I feel that just restricting kids under 5 or genuine blue badge holders would be unfair. Take for example my Dad, he finds it very hard to walk distances without severe pain due to problems with his legs. This is not something that physical impairs him or is a disability but without the Car he would not be able to enjoy the full site or even visit the Zoo.
No, I would class them as early 'middle age' perhaps. They were both late first-time breeders, not starting until they were well over ten, as no bull was available, but have rather made up for lost time since, with regular breeding. In fact I think the births may have been spaced more closely than in the wild, as the calves all seem to have been separated/ moved on at quite an early age.
The two Nepali Indian GOHR cows both have a revised estimated birth date in 1996. Hence, one would have to say both are now estimated over 18 ..! I would advise in the case of Beluki to have her looked at by IZW scientists and have the cysts removed. In this way she could have years still to reproduce successfully.
What I was suggesting is that if new holders are being sought because there is so much successful breeding going on, isn't that a sign that breeding needs to be restricted now perhaps?
Who do you consider to be the non-genuine blue badge holders? If someone has been medically assessed and awarded a blue badge they must need it, or are you talking about people who fraudulently use blue badges?
Anybody who has real physical problems, which of course happen to some earlier than others, or has small children (ie under 5) has my sympathy. I have taken my Mum, who was crippled with arthritis, to Whipsnade on her 85th birthday, and my stepdaughter when she was two. So I do know what the issues are. But let's not get bogged down in semantics here. A way of encouraging more people who can walk into Whipsnade easily to do so, and to have good available shared transport when they want to take a rest, would be in the Park's long-term best interests.
I agree that less car users would be a positive thing. I, perhaps unfairly, thought you were suggesting some people were undeserving. I've never taken a car in purely because of cost but this does mean I miss out on the opportunity to spend time in the Asia drive through.
The Asia drive-through is the big barrier to removing car access - the non-car viewing, even from the train, is very limited. But it's one of the best drive-through exhibits in the country (from an aesthetic point of view, only Highland's main reserve can beat it), so if they were to alter it I'd like to see something that kept the feel - maybe a Highland-Kiang-style Big Giant Walkway might be a reasonable fix.
Which just so happens to be one of the tentative proposals from management once the Cloisters project is complete!
