Quite possibly.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2021
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Just looking at this scenario is intriguing. Bronx’s reptile house has been functioning as such since 1899. It was renovated twice, the last time in the late 60’s I believe and it is still functioning with a much broader collection than can be seen at London. Is this really just a result of deferred maintenance? Like when was the last time they renovated the building?
Yes, when the anoa were kept in what is now the giant tortoise enclosure, their indoor accommodation was in the Stork & Ostrich House.
Tim, is the elephant in the picture Dixie?
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
It was built in the mid 1920's but I'm not sure about it being renovated.
It is a listed heritage building so ZSL are constrained with what they can and can't do and are definitely not at liberty to just scrap buildings and rebuild.
The elephants around this time were "Dicksie" (African); "Toto" (African); "Rusty" (Asian) and "Lakshmi" (Asian).
I think the elephant in the picture is "Dicksie" (sometimes spelled "Dixie").
London Zoo's current Reptile House dates from 1927.
Actually it is not a listed building but it is a historically important one, so I am pleased it is not being demolished.
Yeah same here, I'm glad it will still be standing by the time I visit again and the new build is completed.
Thankyou Tim.
Ive never been able to find any substantial, decent photos of this exhibit, all I know is that the elephants were kept in an underground(?) stable.
For those of a certain age, was it any good, or was the Casson an improvement? Did it also house rhino?
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, me too, love the stone reptile sculptures on the exterior of the entrance.
If you dig deep enough into the internet, there are a few images of the building.
Here's some examples:
The old Elephant & Rhino House, built 1869, was demolished shortly before World War II. The war prevented a replacement being built so the elephants were housed in temporary underground stables which were not on view to the public. I am sure the Casson building was a vast improvement on the underground stables.
No, before the Casson building, the post war London Zoo rhinos were housed in either the old Antelope House (black rhino) or the old Deer & Cattle Sheds (black rhino and white rhino).
As Tim says, the Victorian Elephant House was demolished in 1939. A few years earlier, the ZSL Council had commissioned Berthold Lubetkin to design a replacement, with funding from (I believe) the Maharajah of Bhavnagar, who had promised to double his £5,000 contribution if ZSL named the building after the then newly-crowned Edward VIII (of course, no-one knew then that said king would abdicate within a year of his coronation!).
The building work would not start until shortly before the War, at which point it ground to a halt - hence the need for the underground 'dens'.
The building work would not start until shortly before the War, at which point it ground to a halt - hence the need for the underground 'dens'.
Thanks for posting these interesting old pictures.If you dig deep enough into the internet, there are a few images of the building.
Here's some examples:
I should point out that the first picture shows the Elephant & Rhino House of 1869 which was demolished before World War II so is not the structure "Panthera1981" was asking about.
It's an extremely interesting photograph, though, as it shows the famous elephant "Jumbo" and the crate in which he was sent to America.
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To revert to the Reptile House, whilst I am disappointed that yet again there will be a reduction in species, I do think it is high time that the zoo had a proper museum/gallery - the Society has a great collection of art etc and a fascinating story to tell.
Done properly, it could be just as interesting as a building displaying live animals (heretical thought though that may be, on this site...
)
Done properly, it could be just as interesting as a building displaying live animals (heretical thought though that may be, on this site...
)Is there a timeframe for this? I’m assuming the Komodo aren’t part of the plan and that the Snowden takes priority first?
I wonder whether the Society will deem it worthy of informing Members/ Fellows of this decision or revert back to the type of withering release they produced regarding the Aquarium closure.
I wonder whether the Society will deem it worthy of informing Members/ Fellows of this decision or revert back to the type of withering release they produced regarding the Aquarium closure.
I wonder once the tortoises have moved to the new enclosure if the pair of babirusa could move to their current enclosure instead of being at the Casson where a possibly slightly larger mammal species could be like a tapir or camel as before.
As it stands, this summer for the tortoises, next year for the reptile house. Plans where drawn after COVID but before the latest lockdown, so should be pretty set.
Sorry, I can't agree, London has dozens of museums, people go to the zoo to see live animals, I know this doesn't make me popular, 2 of my friends on this site clearly agree with you, but there is no money to be wasted on a museum, the living collection has to come first. The general public won't pay £35 to look at a zoo museum and a few animals (no elephants, bears, sealions etc). The 1870s lion House got destroyed I'm afraid the reptile house has to go the same way however nostalgic, there are several unusable listed buildings for a museum in 10 plus years time when ZSL have a few million to throw at it! Priorities please, much of the zoo(S) is (are) a shambles!To revert to the Reptile House, whilst I am disappointed that yet again there will be a reduction in species, I do think it is high time that the zoo had a proper museum/gallery - the Society has a great collection of art etc and a fascinating story to tell.
Done properly, it could be just as interesting as a building displaying live animals (heretical thought though that may be, on this site...