The Scheinberg Relief Fund have announced they will match any donation made to ZSL between August and September.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2020
- Thread starter aquilla1
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I thought Zoochatters may be interested in this article: 'Ugliest pigs on earth' arrive at London Zoo
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Sorry if this is going off on a bit of a wild tangent but I am really curious about this.
Does anyone know what the story behind the potto's in the night life exhibit is ?
Where did they originally come from ?
Have they bred ?
What are their names ?
Does anyone know what the story behind the potto's in the night life exhibit is ?
Where did they originally come from ?
Have they bred ?
What are their names ?
The male Potto is called 'Biscotte'. He is thought to be wild-born, but came to London Zoo from Paris in 2009.
The female is apparently called 'Mrs.' (someone's imagination dried up), and she was born at London Zoo in 2007.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Thank you for this MikeG ! Very interesting!
So I assume that "Biscotte" potentially being a wild born animal was rescued from the pet trade prior to ending up at the Paris Zoo ?
Quite a shame that they have never bred. I assume ZSl are not going to be getting anymore once these two pass away.
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I don't know whether he was 'rescued' or donated to Paris Zoo, but he seems to have been in private hands. I don't have further details on his early life.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Interesting nevertheless and thank you for sharing this as it is brilliant to know a bit more about their past etc.
London Zoo is close to securing a £20m lifeline from one of Britain's biggest banks:
Coronavirus: Barclays roars to London Zoo's rescue with £20m loan
Coronavirus: Barclays roars to London Zoo's rescue with £20m loan
I must admit, I read it like that too!Nearly had a coronary, read that as "London Zoo is *to* close"
A loan on commercial terms is just that another debt in the making and one that can potentially lead to closure and sell off as the RP site is then collateral for the loan.
I am really unsure if one should be happy about this. It does show how unconcerned authorities, London Municipality and the like really are for their own natural and cultural heritage and the pressure and plight educational facilities with a large public visitor components are under.
But the Zoological Society of London doesn't own the Regent's Park site.
Tim's right. The zoo is rented from Regent's Park. It could have a 10 acre extension parallel to the Cassons and Animal Adventures. The zoo tried to extend the zoo, but there was a backlash from local residents who didn't want to pay to walk through that area of Regent's Park.
Thanks for explaining the judicial and ownership situation.
I still wonder what strings are attached to this BB loan for 20mio. A loan on commercial terms creates debt that needs to be repaid at some point and the loan agreement is conditional. I am as yet unsure what these conditions are and how this particular loan could ultimately benefit the zoo and science institution. Can someone explain?
Which is the reason why it has taken this long. ZSL first talked about the need for a loan and there discussions with banks back in May which where "complex negotiations with the bank" - ZSL ends years with little to no surplus (in fact £5m deficit in last financial year) so you have to make those repayments from somewhere. Any loan of this size is sadly going to be hanging around for a long time and a huge burden.
I do wonder if the news piece about the loan is partly a tactic of pushing the bank into loaning the cash, make the cause public again and they can't say no to saving ZSL or look like bad guys.
As an aside to this, there was a very interesting interview this afternoon on BBC Three Counties Radio with one of the top bods that operate Willows Farm essentially stating that it would take them 5 years at least to get back to pre-Covid operating levels.
What with talk of bank loans etc, it does make you wonder how long it would take an institution the size of ZSL to recover.
What with talk of bank loans etc, it does make you wonder how long it would take an institution the size of ZSL to recover.
A Linnaeus's two-toed sloth toe-toed sloth was born last month:
First pictures of adorable new baby animal born at London Zoo
This is the fifth offspring of Leander and Marilyn.
First pictures of adorable new baby animal born at London Zoo
This is the fifth offspring of Leander and Marilyn.
Oni the Okapi is due any day now:
Inside London Zoo as rare 'African Unicorn' prepares to give birth
Inside London Zoo as rare 'African Unicorn' prepares to give birth