Original post 16 Nov 2010:

Jumbo ultrasound at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

With a tiny trunk already visible, this incredible image of an elephant in utero shows George, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s latest pachyderm arrival, 19 months before he was born.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/...zoo,765,NS.html


Whipsnade has 9 Asian elephants on 6 acres:-
6 females - Kaylee (28), Azizah (26), Karishma (12), Lucha (28), Mya (28) and Donna (1)
3 males - George (0.5), Euan (6) and Emmet (19).

Original post SL 11 Jan 2011:

Photo of Baby elephant George ...


http://www.bestweekever.tv/2011-01-11/baby...t-now-you-guys/

Original post 16 April 2011:

4 keepers, 4 bullhooks - this is the facility many zoo-fans hoped would be ex-circus elephant Anne's forever home.
Watch the video - no, it's not a Ringling elephant walk, it's Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, where a 2.5 mile walk around the Park is called "a massive bonus for the zoo’s elephants."


George makes his debut big walkabout

To mark his first birthday he will be joining the herd on their biggest daily adventure – a walk around the giant expanse of the zoo.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/...out,803,NS.html

Original post SL 16 April 2011:

All that beautiful countryside. If only they could be allowed to graze for a few hours but they can't keep the zoo-going public waiting now, can they :(

Original post S4E 16 April 2011:

And I have just noticed at the start of the video that the 5th elephant appears to be lagging behind, and having difficulty in bearing weight on her front left leg.

I have emailed Whipsnade and asked for clarification; I will keep the Commentators informed of any reply I receive.

Original post crm 16 April 2011:

My thoughts precisely. They have to walk from one point to the other without any wandering around, as eles are wont to do in the wild. Instead, they're just a circus walk away from Showtime! And if they should wander, they'll get the HOOK, no doubt. Ah, ignorance. If they're off in the woods or field somewhere, no one could see them and then it wouldn't be so interesting for the paying public.

Original post S4E 21 April 2011:

QUOTE - Space4Eles, April 16:

I have just received a response from Whipsnade SP press office:

In regard to this enquiry, the elephant to which you refer is Azizah, a 27-year-old female who does walk in a slightly “pigeon-toed” way. Whilst she walks a little oddly, and this was more exaggerated in her walk on the side of a hill in the video, her movement is not restricted. Like the other elephants in the Whipsnade herd, Azizah enjoys the regular daily walks around the zoo. Currently pregnant, Azizah is not receiving any treatment for any condition, but is regularly given health checks by both keepers and vets on her leg as well as periodic X-rays.


More information about Azizah, who pushed/knocked a keeper into a tree.
Article dated 8/13 January 2010.

Crushed elephant keeper's lucky escape

Ms Drabwell [zoo spokeswoman] added most zoo keepers will experience being nudged, or bumped, by elephants from time to time and that they are 'used to it'.

http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Home/Cr...ucky-escape.htm

Original post 7 May 2011:

Elephants at Whipsnade enjoy a spray of wedding “confetti”

Elephant keeper Matt O’Leary said: "The cherry trees were in full blossom in the avenue as we walked the elephants, just as the wind blew the petals onto them. They love all kinds of fruit trees, they will eat the blossom, the branches and the fruit if they can get at it!"

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/...tti,814,NS.html

Original post 3 Aug 2011:

Tundi aka Emmett:

Tundi and his 'twin': Can it really be 20 years?

Mike was born on the same day as Emmett, best known here as Tundi, who represented the first successful elephant birth at the Syracuse zoo ...

“He’s at the top, really,” said Lee Sambrook, an assistant curator at Whipsnade. Tundi has fathered seven calves, including the first successful elephant birth in the history of the Zoological Society of London, which has existed since the 1800s. Sambrook said Tundi is also father to Gabi, the first elephant in Isarel to be sired through artificial insemination.

http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/20...an_it_real.html


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Link here to Emmett/Tundi on the database. According to this, he has fathered 11 calves, of whom 4 are living, 3 were stillborn, and 4 died as young calves (Aneena, Leelee, Donaldson, Ganesh Vijay - all from EEHV).
http://www.elephant.se/dat​abase2.php?elephant_id=772

Jumbo Celebrations at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Elephant Appreciation Weekend: 24-25 September 2011

Elephant art, behind-the-scenes tours and up-close encounters – get ready for a mammoth weekend of fun at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s Elephant Appreciation Day.

Celebrating all things jumbo, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is hosting Elephant Appreciation Day to raise money for its worldwide elephant conservation projects, on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September.

For the first time ever, the keepers at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo will be proudly exhibiting paintings produced by a very talented artist; Karishma, the Asian elephant. The pachyderm-Picasso’s handiwork (or rather, trunk-work) will be on display for art-lovers to admire for the duration of the weekend only.

Exclusively available for Elephant Appreciation Day, visitors who make a donation to the elephant conservation work can enjoy a guided tour of the elephants’ barn or meet one of the Zoo’s friendly eles for a mega photo opportunity.

Elephant Appreciation Day visitors can also enjoy a special ‘Elephantastic’ demonstration, get their faces painted as elephants and join the Zoo’s herd of heavyweights on their daily stroll around the 600-acre site.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/...zoo,854,NS.html

More exploitation of captive elephants, allegedly for "worldwide elephant conservation projects

Close up photo of Karishma

http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/jum...e_zoo_1_3033045

What a trunk! Elephant paintings to go on display at Whipsnade Zoo

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo's resident artist has been busy putting the finishing touches to her latest masterpieces, which will go on display for Elephant Appreciation Day this weekend.

Karishma, a 13-year old female Asian elephant, has turned out to be quite the talented painter, and, when she isn't being mum to her 17-month-old baby George, loves to relax by putting paintbrush to paper.

http://travel.aol.co.uk/2011/09/20/what-a-...-whipsnade-zoo/

You can see the tip of the bullhook next to her right front leg :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/14993803

During the weekend visitors who make a donation will be given a guided tour of the elephant's enclosure and can have their photograph taken with one of the animals. There will also be demonstrations, face painting and other activities.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking...l#ixzz1YWPdbCFG

Video and report:

Baby elephant arrives after 700 day wait

Experienced mum Aziza gave birth to her third baby – a male- after going through the longest pregnancy ever experienced at the Zoo. The normal gestation period for an Asian elephant is 22 months but this new calf was sitting comfortably for approximately 700 days – nearly two years!

Despite this, the new calf (who has yet to be named) is also the smallest elephant ever born at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo weighing in at just 104kg, around 16 stone, at birth. At first keepers were not sure whether he would be able to reach his mother’s milk but he quickly learnt to get on his tip-toes and has had no problem feeding.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/...ait,878,NS.html

Video:

Jumbo Christmas for Elephants

Zookeepers gave the herd’s playful toddlers, Donna and George, giant gifts stuffed with hay and festive treats to help get them in the Christmas spirit.

Elephant keeper Lee Sambrook said: “Asian elephants are really inquisitive by nature, and these youngsters are no exception. We hid some of their favourite treats like peanuts and bananas in their jumbo presents.

Donna very patiently explored the boxes and dug through to find her favourite treats of banana, whilst George being a typical boy, loved playing with the empty cardboard box.”

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/...nts,895,NS.html

Photo of elephants at Whipsnade Zoo

A zookeeper counts the Asian Elephants during a media event for the annual stocktaking at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire yesterday.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/arti...38&parent_id=20

It’s time to say a big hello to Jumbo (junior)

THE youngest member of Whipsnade Zoo’s elephant put his best foot forward as he took part in his first official walkabout.


Pint sized pachyderm Scott joined in the daily adventure, which includes a 2.5 mile tramp walk around the zoo’s grounds.

The jumbo walkabout is a rite of passage for young elephants and saw four-month-old Scott follow in the footsteps of older siblings, George and Donna.


http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/local/it_...unior_1_3573820

Elephants have been spotted roaming the pastoral fields of eastern England. Released for a jaunt from the Zoological Society of London's Whipsnade Zoo, a herd of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), including a four-month-old calf named Scott, took in the scenic views of Aylesbury Vale from the Chiltern Hills.

Read more: http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0314-pod_ele...l#ixzz1p7ERVXxP

From Whipsnade´s website - 28 February 2012:

Elephant calf Scott joins jumbo walkabout

Assistant Curator of Elephants, Lee Sambrook, said: “Scott is doing really well, he’s very healthy. He follows his mum around on the walk and tries to run at bamboo and sticks he sees along the way. He’s quite a character.”

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/...out,920,NS.html

Gallery: Donna the elephant has a ball

Donna, a two-year-old elephant, plays a game of football with her keepers at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable, central England on May 28, 2012. The elephants were playing with the ball with their keepers as the zoo prepares to host a sporting extravaganza.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Galler...9541/story.html

Thanks for posting, SL.

Re: the 6 photos:
Somehow the word "playing" in the captions is at odds with the bullhook-wielding "keepers".

This is the "sporting extravaganza" referred to in the article:
On your marks, get set - go!
The Championsheeps Live event will transform the zoo into a baa-rilliant farmyard filled with sporting challenges for the whole family to enjoy.
http://www.luton-dunstable.co.uk/Whats-On/...go-25052012.htm

I saw that keeper's bullhook in the photo in my local newspaper "Photos of the Week"....How about being an elephant asked to play a game with the threat of a bullhook close at hand!!

Short publicity video, published by ZSL on 21 June 2012.

Bullhook again - the keeper uses it on the calf, 1:06 to 1:10.

Jumbo-sized fun time with our elephants!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x62CSopadY...=1&feature=plcp

Fluff video from the zoo:

GOAL! George the elephant amazes onlookers!

George the elephant likes to show off his football skills in front of a crowd. His backwards approach to the ball is particularly impressive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1_CAcLDlVM&feature=youtu.be

Whipsnade in circus mode.

Elephantasia

Guaranteed to be a fun-filled educational day, visitors can join ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s herd of Asian elephants on their daily stroll around the hilltop site, watch them take their daily bath or be astounded by a special version of the amazing Elephantastic demonstration.

Visitors who make a donation on the day to elephant conservation and research projects can also have the chance to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the elephant barn or meet one of the Zoo’s elephants and have their picture taken with them.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/whats...day,547,EV.html

Arty elephant Karishma paints for charity

Video ...


http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/225886/...her-own-artwork

Video
Elephant artist's abstract works to be auctioned

Karishma's style has been described as 'abstract', with dots and lines her signature motifs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19658109

Elephant art raising cause cash on eBay

Karishma, a 14-year-old asian elephant at Whipsnade, has proved to be a dab hand since first picking up a brush.

http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/local/ele...-ebay-1-4495465

I just watched the 2nd part of The Zoo, a 2010 documentary about the London Zoo and Whipsnade. Karishma was featured as she was prepared to give birth to George.

Here is a clip (2:13) from "The Zoo" ITV

http://youtu.be/rh7xNkkdxH0