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Elephants lead the way with Jumbo-sized trek
Friday 2 November 2007
With the season of Autumn in full swing, what better way to keep off the pounds than a bracing walk on the Chilterns, in the company of more than 200 rare and endangered animals.
© ZSL
Many visitors to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo are keen walkers themselves as well as animal-lovers and there are several “regulars” who come up two or three times a week to experience the breath-taking views over Aylesbury Vale and the atmosphere of the zoo, as they walk.
Autumn is a particularly beautiful time of year at Whipsnade, where visitors can take in the diverse natural scenery with acres of trees displaying magnificent red, orange and gold leaves.
A swift walk around the whole zoo, following the paths around the various enclosures, tots up to an impressive 2.5 miles – a good way to burn off any excess calories and keep fit for winter.
Some of our animals lead by example. The Asian elephants are walked every day – covering a staggering 3.5 miles – around the zoo and over the Downs. The experience is good for them both physically and mentally.
Elephant team leader Lee Sambrook explained: “It’s a combination of exercise and enrichment. It gives them a chance to go to a different area to graze and browse. They love the walks and it’s great that we have such a wide area to walk around. It’s also good for the public to see the elephants up close as they walk past and get an amazingly close encounter with them.”
Watch our video of the elephants on their walk.
