The Whipsnade white lion has stood proudly on the Dunstable Downs for almost 100 years.
What is the Whipsnade white lion?
The Whipsnade white lion is a chalk figure that was carved out of the hillside between 1931 to 1933. The chalk carving is an iconic local landmark, and an important part of Whipsnade Zoo's history, which can be seen for miles.
How big is the Whipsnade chalk lion?
The white lion covers an area of around 6,500 square metres. It’s nearly 150 metres long - the tail alone is 4 metres wide! In fact, it's so big it was covered during World War II as it would have been a very useful navigation aid to enemy planes.
200 years of wildlife
At ZSL, the conservation charity which runs Whipsnade Zoo, we're celebrating our 200th anniversary in 2026.
To mark our bicentenary, we’re planning an exciting series of events and activities, to connect people to ZSL and reflect on our ground-breaking milestones.
How is the Whipsnade white lion being maintained?
In the 1980s, Natural England determined that the area surrounding the Whipsnade chalk lion should be made a SSSI – a Site of Special Scientific Interest. As a result, we're unable to use pesticides or machinery to keep on top of the weeds due to the rare, native flora and fauna.
Coupled with this, the lion sits on an extremely steep piece of the hillside, so is very challenging to maintain.
Support from volunteers
In 2023 we launched a plea for local people to come and help and take on the momentous task of rescuing our famous Whipsnade white lion. In just one weekend we received over 700 expressions of interest from the recruitment campaign!
In October 2023 we ran the first volunteering session, and we now have a team of dedicated volunteers working tirelessly to maintain the local landmark, weeding it by hand, come rain or shine. The volunteers come from all walks of life, from artists and accountants, to doctors and driving instructors, and we're so grateful for their hard work and commitment.
A dedicated team of volunteers work tirelessly to maintain the lion
The Whipsnade white lion is an incredibly important landmark to the local area and we are all proud of him. We all joined the project as individuals but have jelled so well as friends, and our shared goal means we all come back week after week. There’s also something magical about the location and the view, and it generates such an amazing feeling of wellbeing.
Re-chalking the white lion
By the summer of 2025, we'll be well on our way to restoring the white lion with a fresh layer of chalk, and the famous landmark will shine brightly for ZSL's 200th anniversary in 2026.
How can I volunteer at Whipsnade Zoo?
We're not currently recruiting for any additional white lion volunteers - our team have got it covered! But we have a number of other volunteering opportunities throughout the year at both Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo. And there are also so many other ways to support us and join our fight to save the natural world.
We're more than a Zoo
Where it all began
Our first year
It’s 1931 and Whipsnade Park, ZSL’s second zoo, has been open for three weeks. A pair of pygmy hippos who arrive on 28 and 31 July are a favourite of visitors from the start, according to accounts.
Selected Thursdays at 10.30am
Walk of the Week
Join us on a relaxing guided walk around the Zoo.
23 May 2025
Plans to re-chalk our iconic white lion revealed on our 94th birthday
Revealing our plans to re-chalk our white lion on our 94th birthday
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