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Completely off topic so I apologise (monkey valley does look awesome!), but I’ve been going through some old photographs and I found one of a group of collard peccaries in what is now hunting dogs but was Greater Kudu. Just was wondering if anyone could give me a rough year/time period? I have zero recollection of seeing them but apparently I did!
If my memory serves me right, I think a baby kudu was born 1972 (???)
 
Completely off topic so I apologise (monkey valley does look awesome!), but I’ve been going through some old photographs and I found one of a group of collard peccaries in what is now hunting dogs but was Greater Kudu. Just was wondering if anyone could give me a rough year/time period? I have zero recollection of seeing them but apparently I did!

If my memory serves me right, I think a baby kudu was born 1972 (???)

The Greater kudu herd you saw was founded in 1970 with three animals. The calf born 1972 was a male named Kars and was born 28/08/1972.

A journal article from 1993 mentioned eight had been bred at London Zoo between 1987 and 1992. BSE was diagnosed post mortem in several of these animals born during that time period - including many who displayed neurological impairment and one apparently healthy male who was euthanised for management reasons.

With Greater kudu identified as being highly susceptible to BSE, this would have been the reason for their phase out.
 
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Ah I’m sorry I’ve not made myself totally clear which is my fault! I meant the time frame for the peccaries? From my photo it looks like they were in the former kudu enclosure
 
Monkey Valley Video

London Zoo have uploaded a video of Monkey Valley for those who want to check it out. I have to say, I’m really impressed with what they’ve achieved. It will be great to see the troop expand over the years to come, which will make it an even more engaging experience.

ZSL - FIRST LOOK! Join us at London Zoo for the... | By ZSL | FIRST LOOK! Join us at London Zoo for the ultimate immersive family adventure this summer – our Monkey Valley colobus monkey walkthrough experience,...
It looks like visitors have direct contact on the walkway- its not covered from what I can see? All looks great but the trees will soon lose their leaves I'm sure.
 
Monkey Valley Video

London Zoo have uploaded a video of Monkey Valley for those who want to check it out. I have to say, I’m really impressed with what they’ve achieved. It will be great to see the troop expand over the years to come, which will make it an even more engaging experience.

ZSL - FIRST LOOK! Join us at London Zoo for the... | By ZSL | FIRST LOOK! Join us at London Zoo for the ultimate immersive family adventure this summer – our Monkey Valley colobus monkey walkthrough experience,...

It does look lovely - looking forward to visiting to see it. Don’t go to ZSL london that much as it’s always so rammed with tourists etc but always worth seeing a cool new thing (post the school holidays!).
 
It looks like visitors have direct contact on the walkway- its not covered from what I can see? All looks great but the trees will soon lose their leaves I'm sure.

The walkway isn’t covered, but from what I can see the poles and branches pass alongside and over the walkway from every direction, without being close enough for the colobus to disembark. This is probably wise to avoid people being bitten, feeding them or stuffing one in their backpack.
It does look lovely - looking forward to visiting to see it. Don’t go to ZSL london that much as it’s always so rammed with tourists etc but always worth seeing a cool new thing (post the school holidays!).

This is a brilliant example of how to repurpose a heritage listed exhibit. It’s tasteful, innovative and an asset to the zoo.
 
Visited yesterday and today and have a few things to report:

Bridge over to the Snowdon is open, with the colobus currently all in the right outdoor holding. The aviary itself remains empty for the time being. Had a look around the area - signage outstanding as one would expect, indoor holding split into three and pretty good but awful viewing due to reflections in the glass (at least while I was there) colobus seem to like it fine and we’re all outside but fairly inactive. The outdoor holdings are fine but nothing special.

Snowdon looks great, trees a bit on the small side but as someone mentioned I don’t think the monkeys can approach the walkway too easily, so hopefully no issues on that front - when I saw them in the Snowdon a week ago the young ones in particular were fairly exploratory - with any luck that will be the case when it opens.

Otherwise, new species in the shape of Spotted laughingthrushes in the Blackburn side aviary (one with the trogons etc.).

Will be posting pics of the Snowdon and surrounding buildings soon.
 
Visited yesterday and today and have a few things to report:

Bridge over to the Snowdon is open, with the colobus currently all in the right outdoor holding. The aviary itself remains empty for the time being. Had a look around the area - signage outstanding as one would expect, indoor holding split into three and pretty good but awful viewing due to reflections in the glass (at least while I was there) colobus seem to like it fine and we’re all outside but fairly inactive. The outdoor holdings are fine but nothing special.

Snowdon looks great, trees a bit on the small side but as someone mentioned I don’t think the monkeys can approach the walkway too easily, so hopefully no issues on that front - when I saw them in the Snowdon a week ago the young ones in particular were fairly exploratory - with any luck that will be the case when it opens.

Otherwise, new species in the shape of Spotted laughingthrushes in the Blackburn side aviary (one with the trogons etc.).

Will be posting pics of the Snowdon and surrounding buildings soon.


Whoever is in charge of the bird collection is doing sterling work at the moment, a slow but steady acquisition of really interesting species.

Looking forward to pictures of the Snowdon, when I was at the zoo the weekend before last, the colobus were out in the main aviary exploring.
 
Whoever is in charge of the bird collection is doing sterling work at the moment, a slow but steady acquisition of really interesting species.

Looking forward to pictures of the Snowdon, when I was at the zoo the weekend before last, the colobus were out in the main aviary exploring.
I was wondering if they could introduce another 2 or 3 females to boost the overall numbers and provide for more breeding?
 
Ah I’m sorry I’ve not made myself totally clear which is my fault! I meant the time frame for the peccaries? From my photo it looks like they were in the former kudu enclosure
Those canal level paddocks were divided into several sections and the antelope stock in them rotated. I think peccaries were down there in the 1970s and 1980s, probably at the end next to the bridge which at the time had the zoo boundary running across it. warthogs are there now. I'll check for you when I get the chance.
 
Those canal level paddocks were divided into several sections and the antelope stock in them rotated. I think peccaries were down there in the 1970s and 1980s, probably at the end next to the bridge which at the time had the zoo boundary running across it. warthogs are there now. I'll check for you when I get the chance.

yeah I remember various antelope etc, I have a feeling my peccarie photo may be from 1999 roughly?
 
Whoever is in charge of the bird collection is doing sterling work at the moment, a slow but steady acquisition of really interesting species.

Looking forward to pictures of the Snowdon, when I was at the zoo the weekend before last, the colobus were out in the main aviary exploring.
ZSL Curator of Birds is Gary Ward, previously at Newquay Zoo, where he greatly improved the bird collection, and some wonderful species were bred. He’s achieving similar great things with ZSL
 
Possible Golden Lion Tamarin swap with Marwell?

Anyone familiar with the Tamarins at the two zoos. On my visits I missed them at both!

Log in or sign up to view - Marwell

Log in or sign up to view - London
I had a rare sighting of one of the Golden Tamarins last time I visited London Zoo, about 3 weeks ago. The one I saw was in the enclosure just before reaching the Meerkats looking from the outside (although i think the same area extends into the part visible from inside the Rainforest Kingdom). I had never seen them before even after many visits though, unlike the Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins which are usually around.
 
I had a rare sighting of one of the Golden Tamarins last time I visited London Zoo, about 3 weeks ago. The one I saw was in the enclosure just before reaching the Meerkats looking from the outside (although i think the same area extends into the part visible from inside the Rainforest Kingdom). I had never seen them before even after many visits though, unlike the Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins which are usually around.

Odd - I tend to see them quite frequently indoors, but I guess to an extent it's just luck of the draw and I suppose time of day is a factor.
 
Possible Golden Lion Tamarin swap with Marwell?

Anyone familiar with the Tamarins at the two zoos. On my visits I missed them at both!

Log in or sign up to view - Marwell

Log in or sign up to view - London
The two golden tamarins live in the Rain Forest exhibition, towards the back. They have recently been introduced to one another and appear to be getting along very well. Fabio is the male and Valentina is the female. She has slightly darker fur
 
Had a brief visit this afternoon.

I was slightly concerned to see that the colobus DO have access to the path in the Snowdon, leaping to and from the handrails to the trees and even straying onto the path itself. They've also already debarked one of the trees... Still, it looks very impressive and, according to a keeper, they have begun venturing onto the higher portion of the exhibit and performing some daring leaps.

Also to note is the arrival of emerald doves in the old African bird safari.
 
I was slightly concerned to see that the colobus DO have access to the path in the Snowdon, leaping to and from the handrails to the trees and even straying onto the path itself. They've also already debarked one of the trees... Still, it looks very impressive and, according to a keeper, they have begun venturing onto the higher portion of the exhibit and performing some daring leaps.
Perhaps they'll do as the lemur exhibit does at Whipsnade, and only allow people onto the walkway at certain times with a keeper present? Not surprising that an animal of their nature wouldn't be dissuaded by a few metre gap of a jump to the walkway.
 
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