The problem at London was with evening events aimed specifi ally at adults and marketed as party type functions. I attended one so I can say they were indeed very much focussed on alcohol and having a good time no matter the cost.Not my scene. And living in central London or not, the background noises which the animals get used to over time ate vety different to loud music, screaming crowds and at different time of day when they would normally be undisturbed.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2019
- Thread starter Crowthorne
- Start date
I've attended Zoo Nights every year from 2016 and will be going again this year. The music is not loud and is confined to the lawn area, not sure I've ever heard screaming crowds and as you will be aware not all the animal areas are open, for instance Gorilla Kingdom is closed for the event.
I visited the zoo this Friday, no alcohol on sale but visitors were still banging on the glass in the reptile house trying to get snakes to move. Since you mention background noises, perhaps we should stop all the helicopters flying overhead, especially as from next Monday when the President of the USA is probably visiting the residence of the American ambassador whose house adjoins London Zoo
if you even bother to read the article you will see that the issues were 2015 and before so what has your visit in 2016 got to do with anything? and how is your comment about helicopters at all televant as that is something which zoo authorities cannot influence...
strange.
strange.
The US Ambassador's residence is on the edge of Regent's Park and is often where the President stays on visits to the UK. They've started putting up the security fencing ready for Trump's visit next week
I'm well aware that the "incident' was in 2015. However, ever since since 2016, I've attended the event and never seen behaviour that could cause upset. The American Ambassador residence adjoins the zoo and there is a heavy security presence with helicopters flying overhead causing possible distress to the animals at the zoo. Some people behaved badly at the zoo without being under the influence of alcohol, perhaps you should attend a Zoo Night and see for yourself that the occasion is enjoyment
i have endured a zoo night and it was attended by a drinken rabble. perhaps you should speak to some keepers and see how they feel about it. i think they probably have the best idea.
Apologies I thought people were referring to the embassy not the ambassadors residence
Apologies I thought people were referring to the embassy not the ambassadors residence
You must have been very unlucky, I've never experienced a drunken rabble at Zoo Nights. I know a lot of keepers at London Zoo and like anything some are OK with the event whilst others aren't. The keepers will also tell you about visitors trying to feed the mangabeys popcorn or throwing food into the dwarf mongoose enclosure during a normal day visit . I accept that you are not keen on Zoo Nights but loads of people do enjoy the night.
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
The issue of the “Zoo Nights” is an interesting one.
I can think of few nicer ways to spend an evening than in a zoo, having a potter about, maybe something to eat and a drink or two, enjoying the summer night. Doing this at San Diego a couple of years ago was one of my favourite zoo experiences.
However, there’s no way I’d attend such an event at Regent’s Park. The whole marketing of these evenings is reminiscent of that for Club 18-30 holidays (Club 18-30 - Wikipedia), and thus, despite the suggestion that things are more civilised than the hype might indicate (the comments above, from @Regent) it just feels wrong.
I can think of few nicer ways to spend an evening than in a zoo, having a potter about, maybe something to eat and a drink or two, enjoying the summer night. Doing this at San Diego a couple of years ago was one of my favourite zoo experiences.
However, there’s no way I’d attend such an event at Regent’s Park. The whole marketing of these evenings is reminiscent of that for Club 18-30 holidays (Club 18-30 - Wikipedia), and thus, despite the suggestion that things are more civilised than the hype might indicate (the comments above, from @Regent) it just feels wrong.
Having live IN a zoo for more then 2 years, I've a lot of experience with "Zoo nights" 
! The difference being I could spend these night alone or with my wife or with my wife and childeren - and sometimes friends and / or relatives and I must say, these were the best zoo-"visits" I have ever had.
Also at Walsrode one keeper had at the end of the day gentely thows the visitors out of the Park and doing a last control through the park, lock the buildings and provide food to some animals which needed special attention ( hand-raised birds, birds with chicks and birds like hummingbirds which needed a second ( or third ) feeding. Althrough most keepers hated this job - being late at home - I loved it. Walking all alone through the Tropical House completely alone and seeing the birds behaving much more relaxed was alway a real enjoyment !
Now back to the real subject ( Zoo Nights ) ; In earlier days ( say the 1960s and 1970s ) it was quite common for surtain zoos to have all kinds of events in the evening-hours - festivals, exhibitions ( bird-shows for example, and even fashion-shows were held at the zoo ( I can remember Rotterdam Zoo was good at it ).
Now-a-days Light-festivals are - at least at several European zoos - regulary organized ( Antwerp, Beekse Bergen ) and as long as the visitors behave normal and only part of the zoo can be visited I'm Oke with it.
! The difference being I could spend these night alone or with my wife or with my wife and childeren - and sometimes friends and / or relatives and I must say, these were the best zoo-"visits" I have ever had.Also at Walsrode one keeper had at the end of the day gentely thows the visitors out of the Park and doing a last control through the park, lock the buildings and provide food to some animals which needed special attention ( hand-raised birds, birds with chicks and birds like hummingbirds which needed a second ( or third ) feeding. Althrough most keepers hated this job - being late at home - I loved it. Walking all alone through the Tropical House completely alone and seeing the birds behaving much more relaxed was alway a real enjoyment !
Now back to the real subject ( Zoo Nights ) ; In earlier days ( say the 1960s and 1970s ) it was quite common for surtain zoos to have all kinds of events in the evening-hours - festivals, exhibitions ( bird-shows for example, and even fashion-shows were held at the zoo ( I can remember Rotterdam Zoo was good at it ).
Now-a-days Light-festivals are - at least at several European zoos - regulary organized ( Antwerp, Beekse Bergen ) and as long as the visitors behave normal and only part of the zoo can be visited I'm Oke with it.
robert everett
Well-Known Member
I went to zoo nights last year and it was a really nice environment to see the zoo there was no drunk or rowdy people plus there was no loud music outside of the main lawns. Gorilla kingdom is always closed to give them time to be alone and there are security and zoo staff around every corner
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
I’m genuinely delighted to hear this. However, it’s not so much the event itself - as I mentioned above, evening openings are a wonderful thing, in my eyes - as the way in which it has been marketed. This has been dialled down a little this year - previously, there was a hideous appeal to the “party” seeker - but the damage has been done, the ‘brand’ has been damaged. The decision to make this an adults-only event strikes me as a very strange one (much as I loathe children, of course....).
London Live did a piece on the upcoming events which can be viewed at
ZSL London Zoo opens it's doors after hours
(not sure if there are any geo restrictions on the video)
ZSL London Zoo opens it's doors after hours
(not sure if there are any geo restrictions on the video)
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
Good grief!
I go back on anything I said about the marketing being less in-your-face this year. This interview is deeply depressing.
For any who don’t want to watch Simon Maples, the zoo’s commercial director...
Interviewer: “There’s a few really adult themed things (giggles)....”
Mr Maples: “Yes, the birds and bees are what we all know go on, and we’ve got a fantastic tour so our visitors can find out more in a lighthearted way.... there’s a range of activities for adults...... crazy golf will add a whole new dimension....”
I was wondering why we have these same conversations every year when London do night time openings?
i rest my case
The new Animal Adventure re-opens on the 31st July
The two remaining Anteaters are off separately by mid July, one to a zoo in Singapore and the other a zoo in the UK. There will then be no Anteaters at London Zoo, which have been offshow for a couple of years now.
Crazy golf will be available throughout summer, at a paid for extra. This has been installed, on the considerable space in fact, opposite BUGS on the way up to the monkey walkthrough, which used to have the Anteaters and vicuna prior to dinosaurs.
The two remaining Anteaters are off separately by mid July, one to a zoo in Singapore and the other a zoo in the UK. There will then be no Anteaters at London Zoo, which have been offshow for a couple of years now.
Crazy golf will be available throughout summer, at a paid for extra. This has been installed, on the considerable space in fact, opposite BUGS on the way up to the monkey walkthrough, which used to have the Anteaters and vicuna prior to dinosaurs.
Oh, so that enclosure is now Crazy Golf?! What?!
I am so disappointed. Not just in the loss of the anteaters, but that their old enclosure is now just fluff. I give ZSL a big bit of benefit of the doubt, because I have such affection for the place, but this is just sinking to a new low. It's a small site, they can't afford to give animal space over to non-animal attractions. Already I hear other visitors complaining at the apparent lack of animals.
Hopefully it will just a be a summer thing, and the revenue will go towards redevelopment for future animals. But still, it hurts to see London going down this route.
Times like this I wish I didn't have so much affection for London, sometimes it just hurts too much
I am so disappointed. Not just in the loss of the anteaters, but that their old enclosure is now just fluff. I give ZSL a big bit of benefit of the doubt, because I have such affection for the place, but this is just sinking to a new low. It's a small site, they can't afford to give animal space over to non-animal attractions. Already I hear other visitors complaining at the apparent lack of animals.
Hopefully it will just a be a summer thing, and the revenue will go towards redevelopment for future animals. But still, it hurts to see London going down this route.
Times like this I wish I didn't have so much affection for London, sometimes it just hurts too much
OK, so I might go to the zoo to see anteaters. I certainly don't go to the zoo to play crazy golf!
I've criticised ZSL too many times, but this post just about sums of my views perfectly. For once I don't need to comment further!