ZSL London Zoo London Zoo News 2023
- Thread starter Kalaw
- Start date
One day there might be a special museum displaying historic items from zoos' soft play areas (if any survive after they have been thoroughly played with) 
This week the first transfer of stock began to the new Reptile/Amphibian centre. The Mountain Chicken frogs were one of the first transfers
That is good news.
That is certainly a surprise, the ones from Chester? If not it would have to have been a fresh import.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Zootierliste implies they have been transferred from Chester. Looks like it's only been updated yesterday though and doesn't say how many there are.
They are on semi-display now - you would be able to see them if they were outside. A keeper I talked to yesterday said that they are currently very shy and won't be on full-display until the new year (the interior 'office' den has matting over the windows currently).
Just noticed the 2022/23 Annual Report is on the website. ZSL made a surplus of £3.8m in the last fiscal year. Pretty good considering inflation/energy costs. They could have been close to last years record of £8.7m if it wasn’t for the increase in costs!
Still plenty of projects to spend that money on…
Still plenty of projects to spend that money on…
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
I love this Indian-style signage !!!
hylobates_hobbyist
New Member
I visited London Zoo for the first time today. It was a great experience and I loved the Rainforest and Nightlife areas. Unfortunately, a lot of the animals were hiding from the poor weather, but I got some great views of a pygmy hippopotamus, a bold saki monkey and a Sulawesi crested macaque.
One negative was the zebra habitat in Into Africa (imgur.com). I'm not sure if it was just the rain stopping me from having a good look around, but was it actually as small and barren as it seemed? And it looked almost paved? Compared to Colchester it's a world of difference.
One negative was the zebra habitat in Into Africa (imgur.com). I'm not sure if it was just the rain stopping me from having a good look around, but was it actually as small and barren as it seemed? And it looked almost paved? Compared to Colchester it's a world of difference.
The substrate of the zebra and giraffe enclosure is a limestone/sand mix. It actually benefits there feet when walking on it. However yes, from a visual perceptive "it doesn't look like Africa" - the age old balance of designing enclosures for animal welfare vs visitor perceptive. A bit of greeny would help.
equidae
Well-Known Member
The substrate, as LucasRyan says, is ideal for their feet, helping to strengthen the hoof and have them self-trim a bit. Limestone is also good for drainage (London’s on clay soil so they could never just have grass without the whole enclosure becoming boot-sucking mud). In general, having no grass also helps considerably on the weight management front.
It does look bare in the photo, but it will always look a bit worse in winter when the trees aren’t full of green. They also get treat balls / enrichment devices throughout the day, which help liven the place up a bit, though it looks like at the time you took the photo they hadn’t received any yet.
I’ve attached a photo from the summer so you can see how much greener it looks. Obviously, it’s not Colchester but it’s a well thought out design given the space restriction.
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Other 2023 News (2):
On May 21st, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.0.2) crested caracara and a (0.1) narrow-striped mongoose to the Marwell Zoo in Hampshire on April 20th and April 21st respectively.
https://www.marwell.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023_000-Arrivals-Births-MAY-2023.pdf
On July 17th, the zoo announced that (0.0.11) Humboldt penguins named Cricket, Ernest, Karen, Kermit, Piggy, Ping, Pong, Ron Burgundy, Sean, Stella, and Tiki hatched in April and May.
London Zoo - This year’s hatch of 11 Humboldt penguin...
Penguin chicks find their flippers | London Zoo
On August 2nd, the zoo announced that the tamarin was named Kumquat.
London Zoo - It's International Golden Lion Tamarin Day...
On August 11th, the zoo announced that the deer were named Mulan, Nanxi, Pearl, and Tai.
Have you spotted our Chinese water deer? | Meet Pearl, Mulan, Nanxi and Tai – thanks to our members for naming them! The four Chinese water deer fawns moved from Whipsnade Zoo to London Zoo –... | By London Zoo | Facebook
On September 3rd, the zoo announced that the vulture was sexed as (1.0).
London Zoo - Egbert update Baby Rüppell’s griffon...
On September 20th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) scarlet ibis named Ritzy hatched on August 27th and is now on display in the Bird Safari walkthrough exhibit.
London Zoo - Can you guess the species? On 27 August,...
London Zoo - Remember Ritzy? The Scarlet ibis chick was...
On May 21st, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.0.2) crested caracara and a (0.1) narrow-striped mongoose to the Marwell Zoo in Hampshire on April 20th and April 21st respectively.
https://www.marwell.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023_000-Arrivals-Births-MAY-2023.pdf
On July 17th, the zoo announced that (0.0.11) Humboldt penguins named Cricket, Ernest, Karen, Kermit, Piggy, Ping, Pong, Ron Burgundy, Sean, Stella, and Tiki hatched in April and May.
London Zoo - This year’s hatch of 11 Humboldt penguin...
Penguin chicks find their flippers | London Zoo
On August 2nd, the zoo announced that the tamarin was named Kumquat.
London Zoo - It's International Golden Lion Tamarin Day...
On August 11th, the zoo announced that the deer were named Mulan, Nanxi, Pearl, and Tai.
Have you spotted our Chinese water deer? | Meet Pearl, Mulan, Nanxi and Tai – thanks to our members for naming them! The four Chinese water deer fawns moved from Whipsnade Zoo to London Zoo –... | By London Zoo | Facebook
On September 3rd, the zoo announced that the vulture was sexed as (1.0).
London Zoo - Egbert update Baby Rüppell’s griffon...
On September 20th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) scarlet ibis named Ritzy hatched on August 27th and is now on display in the Bird Safari walkthrough exhibit.
London Zoo - Can you guess the species? On 27 August,...
London Zoo - Remember Ritzy? The Scarlet ibis chick was...
Visited today - jut a few notes to close off the year:
No-show on the mongoose front but unsurprising really.
- A few newcomers and rearrangements in Night Life and environs - Southern three-banded armadillos new downstairs in the former jumping rat exhibits as you enter - Senegal bushbaby now in the former Moholi bushbaby exhibits, harvest mice fully on show (though their exhibit is prohibitively dark).
- Aye-ayes have new neighbours - Grey mouse lemurs - a welcome addition, though again one of the exhibits in particular could do with better lighting.
- Two new(ish?) species in Blackburn - Lilac breasted rollers and Eastern hill mynas. Nice additions.
No-show on the mongoose front but unsurprising really.
