Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Surely individual displays can be climate controlled separately as required, at different parameters to other parts of the building - whether they contain reptiles or posters...?
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2021
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There's a bit of a running joke among museum collections managers and conservators, that museums aren't heated for the objects, they're heated for the people. Museum objects (be they paper archives, paintings, clothing, photography, taxidermy etc), don't require heating, if anything, too much heating is detrimental. The cooler an object can be stored at the better generally (some stores, especially archival stores, are kept at around 16C). The main thing that museum collections require is stable, preferably low, humidity; it's often large and rapid changes in relative humidity that cause damage. Think of Scott's huts in Antarctica, a very cold, stable low-humidity environment - they have been preserved perfectly for over a century!
I would hazard a guess that the existing animal-displays could be retrofitted with museum-grade display cases, which would likely have built-in climate control (nothing spectacular, silica-gel for humidity control, and sealed edges to keep out pests is ideal). The low lighting in the building is also ideal to lower the risk of light-induced fading.
Many thanks for the explanation Did think they heated the museums for the exhibits but I now understand the reasoning why London want to change the building again thanks you
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Absolutely - we use simple plug-in portable air-conditioners in sealed storage. These are permanently piped outside, so full waste-water containers are not an issue.
The economics could well be a motive as it will be massively cheaper to run a building as a museum rather than a reptile house; but I do agree with Pipaluk that there are lots of (often free entry) museums in London and people go to zoos to see live animals. However, non-living displays, be they animatronic dinosaurs, Lego animals or potentially (?) museum exhibits, do have the advantage of being instantly visible to every casual visitor who will dismiss an enclosure as 'empty' after five seconds if the inhabitant is not up-front as they walk past.
Aaarrggh! You just mentioned two of my pet aversions in zoos. Museums I like, but Lego in a zoo is just silly, and as for dinosaurs....
If your child wants to see some building bricks and holds onto your leg, go
My kids used to leave bits of Lego on the floor for me to tread on when I got out of bed. Now their kids do it to them. Circle of life
Did the bricks build up your feet?
Lion transfer postponed indefinitely due to current restrictions according to latest keeper update.
I never ever thought London zoo would sink as low as it has time for new managers and a new broom!
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
At least Lego is one constant over the generations, and in these uncertain times...My kids used to leave bits of Lego on the floor for me to tread on when I got out of bed. Now their kids do it to them. Circle of life
AND, they haven't dropped, split or changed the name in favour of something like the 'Danish Plastic Brick'...
Yeah, I can see why people don't like them in zoos, but at the end of the day both Lego and dinosaurs are cool and everyone knows it.
I don't have a particular problem with either as an addition, Lego is fun and the models are usually pretty impressive, and, properly done, dinosaurs can be used not only to educate on dinosaurs but also to talk about extinction. That said though, I agree it's a shame when they actually directly replace live animals.
As eventually watching exotic animals in wildlife documentaries filmed years ago will replace zoos with actual exotic live animals?
Hasn't London Zoo been at its lowest ebb and needed new management and a new broom for at least thirty years?
If this is in reply to me you've misunderstood me - I don't mean that I think they will replace live animals, or that anyone in the zoo is trying to do that. I just mean that it's a shame when a live animal enclosure is removed and models are installed as a direct replacement for that enclosure. Or, to stay on topic, when animals are removed and then a crazy golf course replaces them..!
Especially in a zoo with a small amount of usable space for a suitable animal exhibit.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Has everyone seen the 1997 (children's?) film 'Fierce Creatures'?
It is classed as comedy-farce but was a great favourite of my kids. Very silly throughout, but with with some famous faces, it gives a poignant prediction of the way (some) zoos are going or maybe have already gone...?
Get hold of a copy if you haven't seen it...!
Very fond of that film myself - I've made more than a few references to it (particularly the animatronic giant panda) on this forum over the years!
It also features a pretty merciless parody of Rupert Murdoch
Yes it's a pretty good film, filmed in Durrell Wildlife Park unless I'm mistaken.
I agree but it appears to be getting even worse!
