European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 5, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                ?. Diets can be controlled better without contributions from the Public. Flamingos Are led chemicals to keep their plumage Bright. # ton serious zoos. Whipsnade Park zoo 30 Miles North of London helped Blaze the Trail for Breeding zoos and continues to help propagate species that Are extinct in the wild or close to extinction. For its size probably no country is Richer in zoos of Quality than England and Whipsnade is one of its gems. The zoo near Dunstable opened in 1931 on 500 acres of what was once rolling Farmland. It along with London zoo is part of a Complex managed by the zoological society of London. What makes the Park remarkable is the combination of the restful Rural vistas of Bedfordshire with one of the world s most sophisticated collections of wild animals. It backs up the London zoo with a remarkably Fertile Breeding program while at the same time relieving it of excess Herd animals. Whipsnade was one of the world s first open zoos conservation centers where the creatures Are displayed in spacious paddocks and enclosures rather than confined behind bars in cramped quarters. Many of the residents of Whipsnade wallabies 900 of them at last coun Deer and various fowl roam Loose and the creatures that Are penned up can hardly be thought As being penned up when they ramble around paddocks that Are bigger than some entire metropolitan zoos. The zoo s Herd of 16 White african rhinos alone have a paddock that encompasses 30 acres. Whipsnade has supplied zoos around the world with Many of their specimens and has had spectacular Success in Breeding cheetahs. Until 1956, when they were first bred at Whipsnade cheetahs were not bred in Captivity at All because zoo people were still unaware of the inhibitions produced in that species of loners by any mingling of the sexes except specifically for sex. Since then Whipsnade has bred three generations of the Graceful cats a total of 110 animals. Whipsnade has had Many other Breeding successes Over the years such As the White rhinos chilean flamingos manchurian cranes Musk oxen and penguins whose end result on display there Are a Joy to see. We have probably More penguins than any zoo in Britain said Mick Ricketts Whipsnade s press officer we do so Well with them that we Are exporting them. One of the penguins we have is Humbolt i Penguin. It is on the endangered species list. Last year we bred 24 of them and we Are crawling with them the  one of the zoo s most remarkable achievements concerns or Lewalski s wild horse. Once there were Only 20 Prcz Walski s wild horses left in the world All in zoos. Today there Are about 600. The largest group in the world is that jointly managed by Whipsnade London zoo and Marwell zoo in Hampshire England. Ricketts said the zoo plans to Send a Herd Back to its native Mongolia within the next six years. Another extremely rare species Pere David s Deer have done so Well at Whipsnade that a Small Herd will be reintroduced to its native China some time this year. The 700 has also bred and reintroduced the rare Addax a Large Antelope with Long twisting horns to saudi Arabia and soon will Send some to  make Good eating and should be Good. The country s ecology said Ricketts. Some 94 percent of the 2,500 animals representing 169 species living at Whipsnade were born in the zoo. Thirty six of the species arc endangered including some that now Are extinct in the wild and another dozen considered vulnerable in the wild. Whipsnade has 12 of the 14 existing species of Crane but their Home at Whipsnade is a special Breeding area that is closed to the Public. They need dead quiet to Breed said Ricketts. Although Whipsnade like nearly All zoos is chronically Short of funds it can t sell its endangered species to other oos because of International agreements Banning the Trade of such creatures but instead must give them away. It s a vicious Circle said Ricketts. One of the zoo s most fascinating exhibits is its Canadian Timber wolves enclosure holding 16 adults and eight extremely Young cubs. Surprisingly the wolves live underground in Burrows. The zoo has free Dolphin shows plus a compact children s petting zoo featuring a Herd of White Windsor Goa that will nibble on anything that Geis within Range. Visitors May either drive through the zoo or Lake a ride through the grounds on a steam train but it s Best to walk to truly appreciate the wonders of Whipsnade. The zoo is open every Day of the year except Christmas Day from 10 . Until 6 . Or Sunset whichever is earlier. Admission is 2.85 pounds about $4 for adults and 1.40 pounds about $1.95 for kids. To get there by train from London s St. Pancras station to Luton and then via the number 43 bus from Luton or Dunstable. By car from the South take the my northbound at turn off at Junction 9 a5 to Harpenden and Whipsnade. By car from the North take the m1 southbound leaving it at Junction 11 a505 to Dunstable Lulon.  through Dunstable to Whipsnade. September 5,193s stripes Magazine 11