Whipsnade Zoo, located in the United Kingdom, is home to a herd of seven Asian elephants. These magnificent creatures are part of a breeding program and are also contributing to conservation efforts. The zoo’s Centre for Elephant Care is a state-of-the-art facility that provides the elephants with plenty of space, enrichment opportunities, and top-notch care from expert keepers.

The Whipsnade Zoo Elephant Herd

The Asian elephants at Whipsnade Zoo are:

These elephants are helping to inform conservation efforts by providing insights into elephant behavior and calibrating the latest conservation technology. The knowledge gained from working with these elephants is shared with ZSL colleagues in Nepal to inform their research and education work with wild elephants.

The “Meet the Elephants” Experience

Visitors to the zoo can book a “Meet the Elephants” experience, which allows them to go behind the scenes and feed an elephant while learning about the herd from a knowledgeable keeper. This experience is suitable for all ages, with some restrictions for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those with certain medical conditions. The experience costs £99 per person and takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays, with additional availability during school holidays.

The Centre for Elephant Care

In addition to the “Meet the Elephants” experience, visitors to the Centre for Elephant Care can learn more about Asian elephants through interactive displays and exhibits. They can try their hand at giving an elephant pedicure, examine the results of an elephant skull x-ray and ultrasound, and watch the herd from a balconied viewing platform. An electronic board displays the live infrasonic vocalisations of the elephants, allowing visitors to see how the herd communicates with each other.

Conservation Efforts

Whipsnade Zoo is also actively involved in conservation efforts to protect Asian elephants in the wild. They are working in Thailand, Nepal, and China to reduce human-wildlife conflict and ensure the peaceful coexistence of elephants and humans. This includes using new technologies and training local communities to collect information to help understand and minimize conflict.

The knowledge gained from working with the Whipsnade Zoo elephants is shared with ZSL colleagues in Nepal to inform their research and education work with wild elephants. This collaboration helps to ensure that the insights and data collected at the zoo can be applied to real-world conservation efforts.

Conclusion

Whipsnade Zoo’s elephants are not only a popular attraction for visitors, but they are also contributing to important conservation efforts. The “Meet the Elephants” experience is a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent animals, while the Centre for Elephant Care provides a spacious and enriching environment for the herd. Whipsnade Zoo’s conservation work in Asia is helping to protect wild elephants and ensure their peaceful coexistence with humans.

References:
– Whipsnade Zoo – Meet the Elephants
– Whipsnade Zoo – Asian Elephants
– Whipsnade Zoo – Centre for Elephant Care