ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2021

[aquilla1]

If you search Westminster planning applications, put in London Zoo!!
Very impressive plans I must say!
The old reptile house must be in a terrible state, always my favourite place, although the collection is somewhat diminished these days, used to love that you could see green and black mambas along with the king cobra!!

 

[Daubentoniidae]

It seems pretty mad to try and create a new tortoise exhibit, out of all the species they could've picked for a renovated exhibit.

Also what will become of the current tortoise exhibit? Will it just be another part of the zoo which is empty for the foreseeable future or have they got something planned to go there like they did before with the Anoas?

I don't understand their reasoning for this renovation.

 

[oflory]

In the plan of the new reptile house, it lists the species to be displayed...

1. Dumeril's / Kaiser salamander
2. Sardinian brook salamander
3. Mallorcan midwife toads
4. Blue dart frogs
5. Lake Oku frogs
6. Giant salamander
7. Giant salamander
8. Titicaca frog
9. Aquatic caecilian
10. Bicoloured moss frog
11. Roti island turtle
12. Annam leaf turtle
13. Big-headed turtle
14. Crocodile lizard
15. Telfairs skink
16. Blue tree monitor
17. Philippine crocodile
18. Electric blue day gecko
19. TBD emerald tree boa
20. King cobra
21. TBD
22. Ethiopian mountain viper
23. TBD

Plus presumably the giant tortoises (and mountain chickens on the plan but not list of species) and a few mixed species bring us to 29?

 

[Daubentoniidae]

In the plan of the new reptile house, it lists the species to be displayed...

1. Dumeril's / Kaiser salamander
2. Sardinian brook salamander
3. Mallorcan midwife toads
4. Blue dart frogs
5. Lake Oku frogs
6. Giant salamander
7. Giant salamander
8. Titicaca frog
9. Aquatic caecilian
10. Bicoloured moss frog
11. Roti island turtle
12. Annam leaf turtle
13. Big-headed turtle
14. Crocodile lizard
15. Telfairs skink
16. Blue tree monitor
17. Philippine crocodile
18. Electric blue day gecko
19. TBD emerald tree boa
20. King cobra
21. TBD
22. Ethiopian mountain viper
23. TBD

Plus presumably the giant tortoises (and mountain chickens on the plan but not list of species) and a few mixed species bring us to 29?

Not a bad selection, at least their keeping some of the more interesting and endangered species including the Philippine Crocodiles but it's quite a lot fewer than what they've got at the moment.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

Design and Access Statement for the new Reptile House and Galapagos Tortoise House:
https://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/o...1_00421_FULL-RH_DESIGN_AND_ACCESS-6726363.pdf

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

London’s Reptile house is probably one of the best I’ve visited, with an exceptional list of species. I could spend a good few hours in there even on a sunny day. We can criticise London for many things, but it does (did?) do the small things very well!

If this news is true, then it’s gutting, and for me it’s another nail in the coffin for the Regents Park site. So are we to expect a new facility at Whipsnade and a significant downgrade in species held? Their new aquarium is pleasant enough but it pales in comparison to London’s.

It does do the small things well indeed but even with the difficulties of old heritage buildings etc that can't be pulled down and space better utilized I do think that it could do better overall in the presentation and direction of the zoo.

 

[aquilla1]

I suppose at least they’re planning a replacement before the old building has to close, unlike the aquarium!
Incidentally, have they bred Chinese Crocodile Lizards in the last year or 2? It’s just ZTL (unsure how accurate this is) shows them having a load more!

 

[pipaluk]

Surely the Casson would make a better museum/history exhibit than the Reptile House? At least it's practically empty inside and has ample space to display what they want.

That was what I was suggesting earlier, though I would far rather the Casson was used for animals really and money spent on animals for the foreseeable future. A museum is not really a priority at a time the zoo is in such a poor state.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

I was wondering if anyone knew if this depicted an elephant in a pre-Casson exhibit?

 

[Gavialis]

I can't say I'm surprised - the current Reptile House has been in decline for some time and there have been rumours of a replacement for several years. But I'm afraid I agree with @pipaluk - it's frankly appalling that millions have been wasted on vanity projects while many of the zoo's real gems have been left to rot. The neglect of a historic building, combined with a further reduction of the collection, means this all is just another very poor showing from ZSL!

That said, I'm glad the existing building is being retained - though not listed, it is both beautiful and iconic. London Zoo's animal collection is humdrum and uninspiring - its long and illustrious history is now one of its only claims to noteworthiness. Destroy this, and you'd end up with a zoo that's hardly worth visiting.

Regarding the giant tortoises, the planning documents stress the need to build an "an indoor climate controlled facility that allows better all year round husbandry of the animals which is something that the current current facility cannot provide." The new enclosure should also be five times larger than the present one.

I'm trying to work out whether the photo on this postcard depicts the pre-Casson elephant exhibit
AFRICAN ELEPHANT PUBLISHED BY ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON POSTCARD | eBay

I'm fairly sure it does - to the best of my knowledge, the Casson paddocks didn't have the rocky barrier shown in this postcard.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

Ok thanks.

 

[MikeG]

Incidentally, have they bred Chinese Crocodile Lizards in the last year or 2? It’s just ZTL (unsure how accurate this is) shows them having a load more!

Quite a few were bred in November 2019, some of which have now been sent to other zoos, including Newquay.

 

[pipaluk]

How old is the current giant tortoise house? Less than 20 years old?

 

[Daubentoniidae]

How old is the current giant tortoise house? Less than 20 years old?

It only became the tortoise house back in 2009.

 

[pipaluk]

It only became the tortoise house back in 2009.

Thanks for confirming, so less than 12 years or was it used for something else previously?

 

[Daubentoniidae]

Thanks for confirming, so less than 12 years or was it used for something else previously?

Before the tortoises were there they used to have Lowland Anoa at least in the outdoor paddock, I can't remember whether the building was included in the exhibit.

Lowland Anoa enclosure at London Zoo Jan 2009 - ZooChat

 

[Tim May]

I was wondering if anyone knew if this depicted an elephant in a pre-Casson exhibit?

Indeed this depicts the elephant exhibit before the Casson Elephant & Rhino Pavilion; this enclosure was roughly where the Clore Pavilion now is.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

Indeed this depicts the elephant exhibit before the Casson Elephant & Rhino Pavilion; this enclosure was roughly where the Clore Pavilion now is.

Cool, thanks for letting me know I thought it looked a bit odd to be the Casson.

 

[aquilla1]

Quite a few were bred in November 2019, some of which have now been sent to other zoos, including Newquay.

Oh cool, not sure I ever saw any publicity about it!!

 

[oflory]

I'm sure that the giant tortoise house was purpose built - I think the housing for the anoas was in the Stork and Ostrich house, wasn't it?