ZSL London Zoo London Zoo News 2023

The bird collection as a whole seems to have been moved around quite a bit. There were Red-crested Turaco and Mindanao Bleeding-heart signed in Bird Safari, although sadly, I did not see any, and only saw the signage. There are several new species in the main walkthrough in Blackburn Pavilion, as well, such as Emerald Dove, White-rumped Shama, Emerald Starling and Fischer's Turaco, with the latter in particular being very impressive and active within the walkthrough. I also saw Asian Fairy-bluebird, which I believe is a new species for the zoo. Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but the signage states that there is a Victoria Crowned-pigeon chick in Blackburn Pavilion and a Violet Turaco chick in Meet the Neighbours.
Are the Sacred Ibis still there?
 
Are the Sacred Ibis still there?
I didn't see any, which is unusual, but they could have been indoors. Can't remember whether they were signed or not, sorry.
Which entrance did you use to enter the Cassons?
The door opposite the farm opens, but you have to get really close to activate the sensors
Yes, I did use the entrance near the farmyard and Display's Lawn. I don't believe the doors in Tiger Territory can be used by the public.
The animals are Linne's two-toed sloths and Rodriguez flying foxes
I must have been tired when writing that. What was I thinking to write 'Linne's Flying Fox'?! :p
 
ZSL sent information to members etc that London zoo will be closed on 14th October for a corporate day. Plays into the discussion speculating ZSL does nothing with business fundraising etc as well as confirming a closed day.

Our business partnerships are also crucial to this, and a unique opportunity to work with a long-standing corporate partner on this date in October will allow us to invest even more in our conservation efforts.
 
ZSL sent information to members etc that London zoo will be closed on 14th October for a corporate day. Plays into the discussion speculating ZSL does nothing with business fundraising etc as well as confirming a closed day.

Our business partnerships are also crucial to this, and a unique opportunity to work with a long-standing corporate partner on this date in October will allow us to invest even more in our conservation efforts.

Intriguing. Maybe the zoo’s being paid to demolish the Mappins? Clearly it would only take a day!:p

On a serious note, let’s hope it’s worth any mitigating losses the zoo may incur for closing for a day (ZSL seem to think so) and that the outcome of this “unique opportunity” is properly communicated.
 
Intriguing. Maybe the zoo’s being paid to demolish the Mappins? Clearly it would only take a day!:p

On a serious note, let’s hope it’s worth any mitigating losses the zoo may incur for closing for a day (ZSL seem to think so) and that the outcome of this “unique opportunity” is properly communicated.

Maybe it’s a bring your own hammer to the Mappins event!

Must be a revenue calculation in it from a day or longer term pov.
 
I would understand closing on a weekday in a cold October, as you only really get a few hundred visitors. But a Saturday are generally busy all year around. Sucks for members, but even worst for tourists who maybe just have a couple of days in London and allocated that day for the Zoo.
 
ZSL sent information to members etc that London zoo will be closed on 14th October for a corporate day. Plays into the discussion speculating ZSL does nothing with business fundraising etc as well as confirming a closed day.

Our business partnerships are also crucial to this, and a unique opportunity to work with a long-standing corporate partner on this date in October will allow us to invest even more in our conservation efforts.
I wish they'd invest more into the zoos!!
 
As do I (and most people on this site, I am sure), but it is difficult to deny that ZSL's conservation efforts are far more important...
I think both are obviously important, but I think the zoos are treated at times as very secondary. If you have ever been to an AGM you should understand this comment or read some editions of the magazine where there are countless pages on conservation of species they don't hold and virtually nothing about animals held at the zoos
 
Last edited:
I wish they'd invest more into the zoos!!

Same but they do mention work in the zoos contributing to conservation as much as work outside in the email so I guess they mean investment in both.

We have had brilliant conservation successes at our zoos this year. From the birth of endangered red panda cubs to our keepers meticulously hatching out a tiny vulture chick called Egbert, to the reintroduction of thousands of Partula snails to the wild, your membership has contributed enormously to this work.
 
Same but they do mention work in the zoos contributing to conservation as much as work outside in the email so I guess they mean investment in both.

We have had brilliant conservation successes at our zoos this year. From the birth of endangered red panda cubs to our keepers meticulously hatching out a tiny vulture chick called Egbert, to the reintroduction of thousands of Partula snails to the wild, your membership has contributed enormously to this work.
I'd like to think you were right, but I'm afraid from experience I can't be so confident. On another note , the chances of a 'troublemaker' like me who has the zoos at heart being elected to council have been severely limited by Draconian vetting by a committee of any nominations ,they really aren't interested in having zoo enthusiasts on the council!
 
Last edited:
The zoo's Annual Weigh In, in which all 14,000 animals currently at ZSL London Zoo are weighed and measured. Reading the article, it is interesting to see how the information acquired isn't just used for health updates and veterinary operations at the Zoo, but added to ZIMS so that information can be compared between zoos. Whipsnade performed their weigh-in three days earlier.

London Zoo’s Annual Weigh In sees 14,000 animals step onto the scales | London Zoo
 
The zoo's Annual Weigh In, in which all 14,000 animals currently at ZSL London Zoo are weighed and measured. Reading the article, it is interesting to see how the information acquired isn't just used for health updates and veterinary operations at the Zoo, but added to ZIMS so that information can be compared between zoos. Whipsnade performed their weigh-in three days earlier.

London Zoo’s Annual Weigh In sees 14,000 animals step onto the scales | London Zoo

ZIMS is generally used by collections now for record keeping for their own sake too! Much easier to read, store and analyse data using ZIMS than traditional pen and paper methods.
 
Sometimes if you arrive before the zoo opens (around 8-8:30), you can see them out and about from the canal. Otherwise, I usually see them in the early afternoon, particularly huddled together in their shelters.
Good tip - I saw four of them while cycling along the canal yesterday morning (around 10am I think) - thanks!
 
Last edited:
She was still at the Zoo when I visited last Saturday. Both lovely and slightly worrying (given how common hybrid giraffes are in zoos) to see the difference in pattern between her and her non-subspecific companions - quite a bit more obvious than I had suspected.
 
Is Nuru the one with the well-defined spots? Was looking last week and noticed that there were differences
 
Back
Top