ZSL London Zoo London Zoo discussion thread

Fallax

Fallax

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Moderator note: this thread was split from the news thread: https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/london-zoo-news-2023.486291/



I don't think London will ever be seen as the "best zoo in the country" ever again simply because the space doesn't allow for holding a lot of the animals it once did.

Can London be better? Of course. But I think it's a stretch to say it has potential to be the best zoo in the country again...

Whipsnade however...
 
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Fallax said:
I don't think London will ever be seen as the "best zoo in the country" ever again simply because the space doesn't allow for holding a lot of the animals it once did.

Can London be better? Of course. But I think it's a stretch to say it has potential to be the best zoo in the country again...

Whipsnade however...
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As a filthy burgerman, I'd consider Chester the best zoo in the UK as it has a ton of amazing species and quality exhibits.
 
Saying that London Zoo has a lot of dead space, which could be used to keep more animals, such as 2 car parks, a mini farm growing area on the other side of the canal and dated buildings along the outer circle.

The zoo is shaped like a sail, with the point of the sail where the squirrel mountains are, II always wondered if the Royal Park gave the zoo more land, so that to make the zoo square what more animals could be kept?
 
Reptile House said:
Saying that London Zoo has a lot of dead space, which could be used to keep more animals, such as 2 car parks, a mini farm growing area on the other side of the canal and dated buildings along the outer circle.

The zoo is shaped like a sail, with the point of the sail where the squirrel mountains are, II always wondered if the Royal Park gave the zoo more land, so that to make the zoo square what more animals could be kept?
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Will never be allowed to be made bigger. But could still be best in the country with intricate details and valuable species.
 
Reptile House said:
Saying that London Zoo has a lot of dead space, which could be used to keep more animals, such as 2 car parks, a mini farm growing area on the other side of the canal and dated buildings along the outer circle.

The zoo is shaped like a sail, with the point of the sail where the squirrel mountains are, II always wondered if the Royal Park gave the zoo more land, so that to make the zoo square what more animals could be kept?
Click to expand...
London Zoo was going to take an option for an extra 10 acres running parallel with the former Children's Zoo and exhibits north of it about 30 years ago. There was a big backlash from local residents and the plans did not progress.
 
Reptile House said:
Saying that London Zoo has a lot of dead space, which could be used to keep more animals, such as 2 car parks, a mini farm growing area on the other side of the canal and dated buildings along the outer circle.

The zoo is shaped like a sail, with the point of the sail where the squirrel mountains are, II always wondered if the Royal Park gave the zoo more land, so that to make the zoo square what more animals could be kept?
Click to expand...
I mean, the huge underused space which a lot of people talk about could house a large animal or lots of animals is the Mappins.
 
They should certainly be allowed to expand, but it is unlikely it will ever be allowed to.

But the zoo does not help itself by leaving large spaces unused, and is now paying the price for expensive buildings designed by leading architects. The Casson is a complete lump, the Mappins barely usable and the penguin pool not fit for purpose!
 
The curse of autocorrect perhaps, but possibly a feasible solution as to what to house on the Mappins-would knock out the lion exhibit for extreme thematics certainly!

I can picture the meeting: “Imagine a bunch of squirrels…but on a mountain!”Maybe have trouble spotting anything though.:p
 
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I did mean Squirrel monkey.

With the Mappins Terrace, which also includes the Aquarium, by the side there is a large yard and old buildings, which could be knocked down and moved into a modern building, maybe at Whipsinade. All this could be redeveloped into modern exhibits, it would be cool to have pandas there again!!!!
 
Reptile House said:
All this could be redeveloped into modern exhibits, it would be cool to have pandas there again!!!!
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I agree with the former, but I think I'd actually have a fit if ZSL decided to throw in with bloody pandas again. They've been making consistently great choices for the past decade so I think I can sleep happy that they won't

If they want something black, white, asian and rare, they should get sloth bears again.

Obviously in an ideal world London would be allowed to expand into the surrounding park and unused area to finally give a zoo not only of historical significance but in line with the Schonbrunns, Pragues and Berlins of the continent. Not to necessarily house megafauna again, but to give the current species more space and have the chance to hold even more smaller animals in fantastic exhibits (not that the current ones aren't, of course). But Whipsnade makes that somewhat less of a priority, and besides there's far more room there to allow ZSL to reach a world beating status.
 
cerperal said:
I agree with the former, but I think I'd actually have a fit if ZSL decided to throw in with bloody pandas again. They've been making consistently great choices for the past decade so I think I can sleep happy that they won't

If they want something black, white, asian and rare, they should get sloth bears again.

Obviously in an ideal world London would be allowed to expand into the surrounding park and unused area to finally give a zoo not only of historical significance but in line with the Schonbrunns, Pragues and Berlins of the continent. Not to necessarily house megafauna again, but to give the current species more space and have the chance to hold even more smaller animals in fantastic exhibits (not that the current ones aren't, of course). But Whipsnade makes that somewhat less of a priority, and besides there's far more room there to allow ZSL to reach a world beating status.
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If we are ever to see bears at London again I feel like sun bears would be the most sensible option, smaller in size, becoming more popular across the UK and would fit with the general Southeast Asia theme they have going on near the tigers and gibbons.
 
Fallax said:
If we are ever to see bears at London again I feel like sun bears would be the most sensible option, smaller in size, becoming more popular across the UK and would fit with the general Southeast Asia theme they have going on near the tigers and gibbons.
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It's also worth pointing out that the sun bear was first described by ZSL's founder, Sir Stamford Raffles - another reason why it might be nice to see this species at Regent's Park.
 
Fallax said:
If we are ever to see bears at London again I feel like sun bears would be the most sensible option, smaller in size, becoming more popular across the UK and would fit with the general Southeast Asia theme they have going on near the tigers and gibbons.
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Now you mention it, that's a brilliant and completely feasible idea. It also would open the door for a mixed exhibit a la Chester. As bitter as I am over Colombo's passing still, having any bears back in the capital would be a major draw.
 
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