Big zoo, big conservation!

When you have a big day out at Whipsnade Zoo, you’re helping animals around the world – in a big way! We are more than a zoo, we are part of ZSL (Zoological Society of London) a global conservation charity. We have teams of scientists, conservationists,rangers and community workers around the world helping to protect species and restore their habitats with vital wildlife conservation work.  

Whipsnade Zoo is a hub of conservation activity, from our crucial breeding programmes for endangered wildlife like the scimitar-horned oryx to native species conservation on our 600-acre site.  

Zoo conservation success stories

Explore our important conservation work at the Zoo and how you can support us.

    La Palma pupfish in an aquarium at Whipsnade Zoo
    Breeding some of the rarest fish on earth

    Freshwater fish conservation

    Our aquarium is a hub for global conservation, as we recover some of the most endangered fish species in the world.

    View of Chiltern Downs from Whipsnade Zoo
    Native wildlife at the Zoo

    Native wildlife conservation

    Our White Lion chalk grassland at the Zoo is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSi), being an example of a rare and important habitat in Britain.

    Scmitar-horned Oryx introductions in Chad
    Ground-breaking reintroduction

    Scimitar-horned Oryx introductions

    Restoring the scimitar-horned to its historical range in the 78,000km² Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in central Chad.

    Southern white rhino calf, Nandi, out in the paddock with mum Tuli
    Recovering wildlife

    Whipsnade Zoo conservation breeding

    Our breeding programme provides an important resource to ZSL’s conservation work through the management of populations of threatened species in our zoos and, where appropriate, to use some of these to re-establish populations in the wild.

Whipsnade Zoo’s role in global conservation

Be sure to visit our elephants – if they’re not outside enjoying their 30 acre outdoor habitat, you’ll find them in the centre for elephant care. Our elephant herd has been contributing to a cutting-edge conservation initiative, giving researchers the chance to understand and capture elephant heat-signatures. These unique signatures can help automatic detection systems in the wild ‘see’ elephants quickly and accurately. A timely warning to nearby villages that elephants are headed their way reduces the risk of elephants and people coming into conflict, protecting both people and wildlife. This is just one of the ways that Whipsnade Zoo plays a role in protecting species and supporting those living with wildlife. 

Big news for little snails

Conservation zoos have the power to reverse biodiversity loss. In April 2023, we were part of the largest wild release of Extinct-in-the-Wild Partula snails in history! Thousands of snails reared at zoos, including London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo, were returned to the islands of Moorea and Tahiti - almost 30 years after they were wiped out by a human-introduced invasive species. 

Protecting elephants in the wild

Collection of heat sensing elephant images from Whipsnade Zoo which are used for elephant conservation
Our elephant herds crucial role in conservation

Elephant conservation at Whipsnade Zoo

Over a two year period we took more than 30,000 thermal images of the elephants at Whipsnade Zoo for this ground-breaking conservation initiative to help people live alongside elephants.

Is Whipsnade Zoo a good zoo? 

Whipsnade Zoo is the ‘big sister’ of London Zoo, which was founded in 1828 to advance understanding of the natural world – London was the world’s first scientific zoo. Just over 100 years later, in 1931, Whipsnade Zoo – the first ‘open zoo’ in Europe, welcomed its first visitors. Built on the same premise as London – that understanding and appreciating the natural world is crucial – Whipsnade gave visitors the chance to see large, majestic animals in vast habitats –  just as our visitors still enjoy today.  

Within 30 years of Whipsnade opening, the scale of global wildlife decline was becoming apparent and ZSL’s focus shifted to conservation. Combining our scientific origins with conservation gave us a powerful approach to protecting wildlife and habitats. Whipsnade is a leading conservation zoo that offers visitors an adventurous brush with nature, inspiring a lifelong love of animals and – we hope – the conservationists of tomorrow. 

Zoo Conservation – how do zoo animals help conservation? 

Whipsnade Zoo gives people the chance to see amazing animals in amazing spaces, and to learn about their lives here and in the wild. 

Many of the animals cared for at Whipsnade Zoo – and at London Zoo – are crucial to the future of their species. We lead international breeding programmes which help protect the genetic health and diversity of species through an ongoing collaboration with leading zoos across Europe.  

Many of the species at the zoo are critically endangered or extinct in the wild, so breeding is important to their future survival. Where possible we also work to release animals back into the wild. Some of our release successes include corncrakes and scimitar horned oryx. 

In our freshwater aquarium you are surrounded by conservation in action – it’s the world’s only freshwater conservation aquarium. Freshwater makes up just 1 per cent of the planet, but sustains 10 per cent of the world’s biodiversity.  

Elephant zookeepers at Whipsnade Zoo in front of elephant herd
Three Asian elephants in their outdoor paddock at Whipsnade Zoo

A ZSL Conservation Zoo 

Here are just a few of the many examples of how our zoo experts, our scientists and our conservationists work together to find solutions to protect critically endangered species, restore habitats and help wildlife thrive.  

How can I support ZSL? 

Sam the elephant at Whipsnade Zoo
Restoring wildlife

Support Us

There are lots of ways to help protect wildlife and restore the diversity of life. Just a little bit of support can make real change for the world. Find out how you can support our work. 

Protecting key species

  • Przewalski's horse walking through field with woodland backfrop at Whipsnade Zoo
    Equus ferus

    Przewalski's horse

    The Przewalski's horse is the world's only truly wild horse. Once extinct in the wild, together with our partners we helped restore Przewalski’s horses back to the wild in Mongolia. 

  • African dwarf crocodile at Whipsnade Zoo
    Osteolaemus tetraspis

    African dwarf crocodile

    The world's smallest crocodile, they guard their young after they've hatched to protect them from predators.

  • Pere David’s deer adult and fawn at Whipsnade Zoo
    Elaphurus davidianus

    Père David's deer

    Extinct in the wild, our Père David deer are a part of breeding programme which is working towards restoring their wild population.

  • Greater one-horned rhino Hugo at Whipsnade Zoo
    Rhinoceros unicornis

    Greater one-horned rhino

    The are the second largest species of rhino, and our work at the Zoo is informing ZSL led recovery of their species in Nepal.

  • Ruby the red panda in a tree at Whipsnade Zoo
    Ailurus fulgens

    Red panda

    There are just 10,000 red pandas left in the wild, under threat from habitat loss, habitat degradation and even poaching.