ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2020

[Crowthorne]

Casson hasn't been open for at least a year. Can't remember when it was last open, have given up looking!

Have seen the gorillas outside more on my last few visits, but that might have been luck at being there at scatter fed time.

 

[Andrew Swales]

Pretty standard based on what other Zoos are also doing. The pre-booking is reasonable and the only way to manage numbers to prevent "at the gate" disappointment. Although visitor experience at London will be a bit limited once you close indoor houses and walkthroughs. Together with the continued "avoid public transport" message from TFL and lack of car parking spaces, ZSL really need to be focusing on and pushing Whipsnade at this time.

ALVA are pushing government to allow for outdoor ticketed attractions to be opened in phase 2 in June rather than phase 3 in July and ZSL are hoping that will be successful to allow a June rather than July opening.

What is ALVA...?

 

[LucasRyan]

Casson hasn't been open for at least a year. Can't remember when it was last open, have given up looking!

Have seen the gorillas outside more on my last few visits, but that might have been luck at being there at scatter fed time.

Well at least you have the Red River Hogs outside the Casson now, but the indoor is unlikely to ever be open to public again due to safety. They will want to avoid any set feeding times so they don't draw a crowd, but they may get away with keeping the indoor bit of gorillas open, it is basically a (wind) tunnel anyway with no doors in or out (if the path around the bird aviary is used on the way in)

 

[LucasRyan]

What is ALVA...?

Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, they are lobbying the government on the basis that garden centres are open, so a outdoor ticketed attraction which uses social distancing measures and controls numbers using tickets sold can as well.

 

[Andrew Swales]

Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, they are lobbying the government on the basis that garden centres are open, so a outdoor ticketed attraction which uses social distancing measures and controls numbers using tickets sold can as well.

Thank you very much for that LucasRyan, I have to admit that I'd never heard of this organisation. It may be the link between Whipsnade, London, Port Lympne and Wingham? - all of which seem to be talking about June in some form.
If BIAZA and BALPPA are lobbying too, we haven't heard anything.....

 

[Crowthorne]

Thank you very much for that LucasRyan, I have to admit that I'd never heard of this organisation. It may be the link between Whipsnade, London, Port Lympne and Wingham? - all of which seem to be talking about June in some form.
If BIAZA and BALPPA are lobbying too, we haven't heard anything.....

There's is a list of members on the ALVA website. Wingham are not members, but ZSL, Chester, RZSS and WWT are

ALVA | Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

 

[Andrew Swales]

There's is a list of members on the ALVA website. Wingham are not members, but ZSL, Chester, RZSS and WWT are

ALVA | Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

Thanks Crowthorne, yes I just Googled it. Their membership criteria only allows members with 1m visitors per annum - but this must be flexible as Bristol is a member ALVA | Association of Leading Visitor Attractions , and surely even adding in WildPlace they dont get enough to qualify...?
Either way, lets hope they have some clout.

 

[Paradoxurus]

BIAZA have been lobbying for the past fortnight to bring the opening of zoos forward to 1st June. Presumably Aspinall's, ZSL and WWP are getting prepared in the hope that they'll be successful.

 

[TNT]

Today I received a digital "voucher" from Sandwich Wildlife Park (Winghams sister site for anyone that's unaware) with an expiry date of November; this was a reimbursement for a private tour that was cancelled due to Covid-19. So as mentioned above, it looks as as though they are making moves to open and get back to "normal" asap.

 

[TNT]

but this must be flexible as Bristol is a member ALVA | Association of Leading Visitor Attractions , and surely even adding in WildPlace they dont get enough to qualify...?

After a quick google search, their visitor numbers from a couple years back totalled around 700,000... after the opening of the new Bear Wood, I'd imagine this would have risen a little; like you said, I doubt it would have reached the 1 million+ figure.

 

[Andrew Swales]

After a quick google search, their visitor numbers from a couple years back totalled around 700,000... after the opening of the new Bear Wood, I'd imagine this would have risen a little; like you said, I doubt it would have reached the 1 million+ figure.

The newest I could find was 480,000 for Bristol and 200,000 for WP, up from 120,000 after opening the bears so 700'ish combined?

 

[TNT]

The newest I could find was 480,000 for Bristol and 200,000 for WP, up from 120,000 after opening the bears so 700'ish combined?

Ah, I didn't realise the WP figures were "post bear wood".

 

[aquilla1]

Interesting article on ZSL website about their geriatric woolly-necked stork, one of the most interesting birds left. Didn't they have a chick a couple of years ago?

 

[Crowthorne]

ZSL have received £1.8 million in donations. It doesn't say how long it took to reach this amount, but the impression it's that this has been since the reopening campaign started in earnest the other week.

Security Check Required

 

[Crowthorne]

Just spotted this on the BBC. ZSL are spending £1 million a month during closure. They are still in the news, which can only be a positive thing, and the parliamentary debate is mentioned.

 

[Zoofan15]

Two Asian small-clawed otter pups were born in April:

Baby otters born in lockdown emerge into public view for first time

First-time parents Pip and Mathilda had two Asian short-clawed otter pups on April 15, while London Zoo was closed to the public during coronavirus lockdown.

Now, in the same week the zoo reopened its doors, the pair – given the nicknames Bubble and Squeak by keepers – have ventured out of their indoor holt for the first time.

Keepers will not discover the sex of the pair until they are given their first health check.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Just spotted this on the BBC. ZSL are spending £1 million a month during closure. They are still in the news, which can only be a positive thing, and the parliamentary debate is mentioned.

Is that their monthly spent on the zoo or on the ZSL general operations and science departmental work?

In recent years, it seems to me the zoo has been managed by ZSL almost as an after thought unfortunately and somewhat of a liability. Undeservedly so, in my humble opinion and I have also often wondered why investments on individual enclosures could not have been accomplished with less funding and better overall management of zoo expenses.

 

[LucasRyan]

Sir David Attenborough is the face for ZSL fund raising campaign, hoping to raise £12m of a £25m rescue package. ZSL have also been gifted the services of a UK creative agency which developed a fund raising campaign running in print and TV media, slots where donated free as well. The campaign is voiced by "celebrities and comedians" giving voices to animals (think Creature Comforts)

 

[Panthera1981]

Sir David Attenborough is the face for ZSL fund raising campaign, hoping to raise £12m of a £25m rescue package. ZSL have also been gifted the services of a UK creative agency which developed a fund raising campaign running in print and TV media, slots where donated free as well. The campaign is voiced by "celebrities and comedians" giving voices to animals (think Creature Comforts)

I’ve read the Sunday Times article and seen one of the print appeals-very matter of fact and doesn’t pull any punches. Also hints of a thinly veiled criticism towards Boris and co. from DA.

I remember the “If you want to know your aardvark from your emu...” Ardman campaign from the early 1990s. That was pretty successful so hopefully this new promo may draw some inspiration.

 

[Panthera1981]

Sir David Attenborough is the face for ZSL fund raising campaign, hoping to raise £12m of a £25m rescue package. ZSL have also been gifted the services of a UK creative agency which developed a fund raising campaign running in print and TV media, slots where donated free as well. The campaign is voiced by "celebrities and comedians" giving voices to animals (think Creature Comforts)

ZSL have now released their campaign video this morning fronted by David Attenborough. Well presented, to the point and hard-hitting imo.