Thanks. How are the trees holding up at this point?
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter Red Footed Tortoise
- Start date
You will not be surprised to learn that the colobus have had a great time with the various trees. One or two of the trees have, shall we say, seen better days.
That's what I thought would happen, perhaps planting more might be the way to spread the load from them.
I went to ZSL London zoo on Friday (2nd September). Construction on the new reptile house named 'the secret life of reptiles and amphibians' is progressing fast. I went to London zoo in April 2022 and construction had not gone vertical but in only a few months the buildings are built and the canopies have been installed. Leading on from this in the reptile house had at least a third of tanks empty either saying under refurbishment or telling guests that the species have left for the new reptile house. Despite this my favorite species in the reptile house were out on display and not hiding such as roti island snake necked turtle, Chinese giant salamander and Philippine crocodile. Monkey valley had a queue stretching over regents canal towards into Africa. I decided to wait until later to go into monkey valley but it was closed when i returned at around 4:30 / 4:40 even though the park did not close until 6:00. The reason given was they needed rest. There was no signs saying it would close at 4:30. So if you go make sure you do it in the morning if it is a priority to do. Tiger cubs did not show but both the parents were out in their respective enclosures. But the highlight for me was the nightlife exhibit. Malagasy jumping rats were incredibly active in all of their enclosures. Potto, bush baby, grey slender loris and naked mole rat all made numerous appearances. Whilst not animal related the London zoo gift shop was rather impressive as they had a substantial amount of every product even of rare animals which often lack merchandise.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I am glad to know that I am not the only one who found this problem. In fairness to London Zoo, they *did* mention the early closure on their website, but I entirely agree that a sign outside of the enclosure would be nice.
Your comments on the Malagasy Giant Jumping Rats are interesting. I very often see the females who share the second enclosure with Potto and Moholi Galago, but the first enclosure (where the zoo's male shares with Grey Slender Loris) has been empty on all of my visits. Might I ask what time of day you visited the enclosure, as I believe that might affect their activity?
I visited nightlife at about 3:30 - 4:00.
I can concur with @joe regarding the progress of "The Secret Life..." and depopulation of tanks in the original Reptile House. I visited on Saturday morning (from 10am) and made straight for the latter as I suspected it might be closing soon, but saw the majority of the inhabitants in all tanks. Since I can't remember which ones were definitely gone, I can confirm those that are still there:
Regarding Monkey Valley. I rocked up at round 11am after checking on Tiger Territory (no tigers seen in any enclosure, probably bad timing on my part). Very small queue at that time; however, by the time it was my turn to enter, the staff member let us know the colobus had all gone for a nap outside of the Snowdon part, the section they access over the pathway, so didn't bother going inside. I asked whether it would be quiet later in the day, but they said that, to be honest, this is the best (quietest) time. I'll try again first thing on my next visit. I've applied for Fellowship, so should be able to visit far more often than my previous once-in-a-blue-moonly/once yearly that I used to.
Other highlights from my brief visit (began to feel unwell at only 12:30 so headed home):
- King cobra
- Philippine water monitor
- Tree boa (in three separate tanks, all signed, seen well in two)
- Dumeril's boa
- Reticulated python
- Gidgee skinks (two tanks, one with multiple young)
- Spur-thighed tortoise
- Annam pond turtle
- Big-headed turtle
- Fiji banded iguana
- Corn snakes (one recently shed)
- "Siamese crocodile" handbag
- Chinese crocodile lizard
- Blue-spotted monitor
- Round Island skinks (tank was being sprayed at the time so skinks were extra active)
- Caiman lizard
- Philippine crocodile
- Roti snake-necked turtle
- Chinese giant salamander (not really visible, as usual)
- Patzcuaro salamander
- Kaiser's newt
- White's tree frogs
- African bullfrog
- Lake Oku clawed frogs
- Sardinian brook newts
- Midwife toad tadpoles (three species were signed together)
- Central American bushmasters (in two tanks, neither seen)
Regarding Monkey Valley. I rocked up at round 11am after checking on Tiger Territory (no tigers seen in any enclosure, probably bad timing on my part). Very small queue at that time; however, by the time it was my turn to enter, the staff member let us know the colobus had all gone for a nap outside of the Snowdon part, the section they access over the pathway, so didn't bother going inside. I asked whether it would be quiet later in the day, but they said that, to be honest, this is the best (quietest) time. I'll try again first thing on my next visit. I've applied for Fellowship, so should be able to visit far more often than my previous once-in-a-blue-moonly/once yearly that I used to.
Other highlights from my brief visit (began to feel unwell at only 12:30 so headed home):
- Pygmy hippos both out enjoying the warm weather: male (I think) wallowing in the moat for at least 10 minutes, female out grazing and showing well.
- Saw the red forest duiker for the first time ever.
- Saw the Lac Alaotra lemur for the first time in a long while, was going room to room until it sat in the hanging basket feeding for a while until I left it.
- No sign of aye-ayes.
- In Night Life, did see Malagasy jumping rats (just the one I think, in the very first exhibit), two bushbabies in their first holding, and two of the slender lorises. Potto and pygmy loris were no-shows.
- In the rainforest walkthrough, a sloth and a tamandua were resting directly above the pathway immediately after the entrance, the sloth eating a piece of fruit before it slept. Watched three spider monkeys all feeding from Kong ball enrichment.
For the bushmasters, they virtually never move - the one in the tank just opposite the crocs is always under the smaller hollowed out log shelter to the left while the bushmaster in the exhibit opposite the exit is always under a similar, larger shelter on top of the rockwork. Just for future visits in case you'd never seen them before
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I suppose it depends if they contest the tamanduas at the House of commonsThis is a highlight? What do you have against aye-ayes?
The aye-ayes to the right; the nose to the left
This is a highlight? What do you have against aye-ayes?
Haha, nooo of course not. Highlights and lowlights then
equidae
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know what the plan is with what was previously the reindeer enclosure?
The blue poison dart frogs are still there as well.
ZSL has appointed Matthew Gould, the former Ambassador to Israel, as its new Director General.
More details can be found here: New ZSL Director General appointed
More details can be found here: New ZSL Director General appointed
That’s only fitting as both a mark of respect to England’s longest reigning monarch and a tribute to her lifelong association with the zoo.
London Zoo celebrates 70 years of Queen's patronage with 'Zoobilee'
Ever since King George IV granted ZSL its first Royal Charter in 1829, each reigning monarch has been a Royal Patron of the Zoo.
During her 70 year reign, Her Majesty has visited the Zoo often to open pavilions, exhibitions on bugs and a centre for elephant care, and to unveil not one, but two, lion enclosures. Her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was president of ZSL's council from 1960-1977.
1939 - photo credit ZSL
1990 - photo credit ZSL
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There were two new Sulawesi Crested Macaques in with the existing females yesterday.
Gorillas Kingdom main indoor show room looks like it is having some maintenance to the roof , so gorillas had access to outside and off show areas via the overhead tunnel.
Butterfly exhibit also undergoing maintenance.
Gorillas Kingdom main indoor show room looks like it is having some maintenance to the roof , so gorillas had access to outside and off show areas via the overhead tunnel.
Butterfly exhibit also undergoing maintenance.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
The zoo had four elephants at that time:
0.1 Geeta (1980-2006)
0.1 Thi Hi Way (1982-2020)
0.1 Maya (1982)
0.1 Azizah (1984-2018)
Since three are now deceased, the answer would depend on whether Mya was one of the elephants in that photo.
Cubs are normally stashed away on top of the gabion in the bushes in the 'pool' exhibit. Parents are fairly variable, depends on the time of day but generally are away getting fed around now, so not at all concerning that they aren't out. If the cubs aren't on the gabions, they're probably in the bamboo grove out of visitor sight, so not necessarily any cause for concern. I'll come in probably Sunday and have a look but I doubt there's any cause for concern.