The Whipsnade Zoo Elephant House, located in Whipsnade, England, is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the care and conservation of Asian elephants. The Centre for Elephant Care, which was opened in 2017, is a £2m facility that provides a spacious and comfortable environment for the elephants, with more than 700m² of additional indoor space and a one-metre deep soft sand floor for maximum comfort.
The Centre for Elephant Care: A Cutting-Edge Facility
The Centre for Elephant Care is a cutting-edge facility that offers a range of features designed to provide the best possible care for the elephants. Some of the key features of the Centre include:
- Spacious Indoor Space: The Centre boasts more than 700m² of additional indoor space, providing the elephants with ample room to move and explore.
- Soft Sand Floor: The Centre features a one-metre deep soft sand floor, which provides a comfortable and natural environment for the elephants to walk and rest on.
- Dimming Lights: The Centre’s lighting system can be dimmed, allowing the elephants to experience natural light cycles and promoting their overall well-being.
- Timed Feeding Pods: The Centre is equipped with timed feeding pods that dispense food at regular intervals, ensuring that the elephants have access to a consistent and balanced diet.
- Reclaimed Oak Trees: The Centre features large reclaimed oak trees that serve as scratching posts for the elephants, allowing them to engage in natural behaviors.
The “Meet the Elephants” Experience
The Centre for Elephant Care offers a unique opportunity for visitors to get up close and personal with the elephants through the “Meet the Elephants” experience. This 20-minute VIP experience allows visitors to feed an elephant and learn about the herd from an expert keeper. The experience is available for visitors aged 8 and above, with a maximum of six people per session. The cost of the experience is £99 per person, with a 10% discount for ZSL Gold Members, Patrons and Fellows.
Conservation Efforts at the Whipsnade Zoo Elephant House
The Centre for Elephant Care is home to a herd of Asian elephants, which are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ZSL, the parent organization of Whipsnade Zoo, is actively involved in conservation efforts to protect the species in the wild. The Centre for Elephant Care highlights ZSL’s commitment to providing the best home for the elephants and showcasing the organization’s conservation efforts.
Interactive Exhibits and Learning Opportunities
Visitors to the Centre for Elephant Care can also learn about the elephants’ physiology and behavior through interactive exhibits. These exhibits include:
- Replica Elephant Foot: A replica elephant foot that allows visitors to learn about the elephants’ pedicures and foot care.
- Electronic Board: An electronic board that displays live infrasonic vocalizations of the elephants, allowing visitors to learn about their communication methods.
Visiting the Whipsnade Zoo Elephant House
The Centre for Elephant Care is open to visitors on Mondays and Tuesdays, with the exception of school holidays when it is open Monday to Friday. Admission to the zoo is not included in the “Meet the Elephants” experience and must be purchased separately.
In conclusion, the Whipsnade Zoo Elephant House is a world-class facility that provides a safe and comfortable home for a herd of endangered Asian elephants. The Centre for Elephant Care offers a range of features and experiences that allow visitors to learn about and connect with these magnificent creatures, while also highlighting ZSL’s commitment to conservation efforts.
References:
– Zoological Society of London – The ZSL Archive, Elephant House, ARC/7, 1937-1971, https://zsl-archive.maxarchiveservices.co.uk/index.php/london-zoo-elephant-house
– Historic England, Elephant House, Whipsnade, List Entry 1235411, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1235411
– Whipsnade Zoo, Meet the Elephants, https://www.whipsnadezoo.org/plan-your-visit/zoo-experiences/meet-elephants
– Whipsnade Zoo, Centre for Elephant Care, https://www.whipsnadezoo.org/whats-here/habitats/centre-elephant-care
– ZooChat, Old elephant house, https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/old-elephant-house.41957/.