Get closer to nature
Meet our animals. From a herd of Asian elephants to vast different species of butterflies and invertebrates, we have over 11,000 animals at Whipsnade Zoo.
Discover incredible facts about your favourite species - from their favourite snacks to the threats they face in the wild. And find out how we're using our expertise to protect them with cutting-edge wildlife conservation. You can also download our full species register document.
- Birds
- Spheniscus demersus
African penguin
These penguins are from warm climates, coming from the beaches of South Africa and Namibia.
- Athene cunicularia
Burrowing owl
The only owl species in the world to live underground, our burrowing owls show off their unique behaviours at Birds of the World.
- Strix nebulosa
Great grey owl
Great grey owls can accurately locate by ear its rodent prey under snow and have been reported to break through snow crust thick enough to support the weight of an 80 kg man.
- Leptoptilos crumenifer
Marabou stork
Known as the 'undertaker bird', these storks gained their unfortunate nickname because of their huge, dark, cloak-like wingspan and diet of rotten carcasses.
- Eudyptes moseleyi
Rockhopper penguin
These small penguins pack in a big personality, and Ricky the rockhopper penguin is one of our most famous animals.
- Strix uralensis
Ural owl
Ural owls defend their nests from people in the wild, swooping in with the equivalent force of a 72 kg mass falling from a height of 1 m.
