Longleat is bringing back hippos! New state-of-the-art housing approved and work begins next week for a breeding pair.
The council approved the park’s plan on Thursday. Longleat said hippos are coming back and they plan modern housing for them. Work should start next week. Hippos came to Longleat in 1967. They plan a breeding pair this summer.
Longleat wants to lead in hippo care and become a hippo center of excellence. They had hippos named Sonia and Spot, both of whom died around age 49.
Their old home is now outdated and will be torn down for the new house. Hippos were common when first brought there in 1976, and conservation was not a focus then.
Longleat wants to bring hippos back, aligning with animal welfare today. They will support hippo conservation, and the facility will have a classroom. It teaches modern hippo care methods.
Simon Askew spoke when plans were made, stating that hippos would get the largest UK habitat, with seven acres for grazing. Hippo care has improved a lot. Longleat wants to modernize their housing, raise awareness, and help hippos highlight conservation issues.