ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2024

[polarbear]

The second Winnie statue is still on display in the Children’s area. It’s alongside one of the paths, between the hot air balloon and before the meerkat picture that you can stick your head through. It’s probably more prominent in this area, and seen by more people, as it has a book style sign next to it with the history of Winnie at the Zoo.

Regarding the Lions House sign - is it the long one you’re referring to? If so, it can still be seen in the Lion development, just quite hard to see. Really hard to explain, but it’s towards the back of the railway station enclosure, below the upper walkway, but I only saw it on a visit in the past couple of years and happened to be in the right place / level to spot it. As said, really hard to explain how to see it. I was surprised to see it, but also glad that it was still there.

And here are photos of Winnie in the new position - this photo is from 2020 so been there a while now.

 

[Panthera1981]

Just found my photo of the sign from 2022

Well I’m relieved it’s still around, but ,for something so historical, you’d never know it was there!

Hopefully it can be removed and have a prominent place in the museum (if that is the confirmed role for the old Reptile House)

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Can anyone remember the lion mask that was resited from the old lion House to the lion terraces when they were built? Would that be something that would grace a new museum, or was it relocated to the current lion/tiger enclosures?

 

[Panthera1981]

Can anyone remember the lion mask that was resited from the old lion House to the lion terraces when they were built? Would that be something that would grace a new museum, or was it relocated to the current lion/tiger enclosures?

Thats still there, in a prominent position. However, there was also previously a bust of a male lions head which I couldn’t locate in the new exhibit. I think that was also part of the old lion house too.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Thats still there, in a prominent position. However, there was also previously a bust of a male lions head which I couldn’t locate in the new exhibit. I think that was also part of the old lion house too.

Thanks for the information

 

[Panthera1981]

The zoo have announced that male Pygmy hippo Thug passed away last week from age-related health issues. He was 28.

Thug arrived at London Zoo in 1998.

 

[cerperal]

The zoo have announced that male Pygmy hippo Thug passed away last week from age-related health issues. He was 28.

Thug arrived at London Zoo in 1998.

Well there go the current breeding plans. Must be horrible for the keepers, they were all clearly awfully fond of him.

 

[Rosie183]

Will they move Amara to whipsnade to breed with tapon! Since they said they were looking for a girlfriend for him in a recent video on YouTube x

 

[Cat-Man]

Terrible news for London. Not a bad age but not particularly remarkable, sadly!

 

[ajmcwhipsnade]

Awful news So tough on the keepers, thoughts and prayers with them.

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

The zoo's 13-week-old Asiatic lion cubs have been named Mali (male), Syanii (male) and Shanti (female).
London Zoo's lion cubs in pictures as three baby lions given names

 

[Lafone]

The zoo have announced that male Pygmy hippo Thug passed away last week from age-related health issues. He was 28.

Thug arrived at London Zoo in 1998.

Sad news! What sad times for keepers and staff after he spent such a long time at the zoo.

 

[Kalaw]

The zoo have announced that male Pygmy hippo Thug passed away last week from age-related health issues. He was 28.

Thug arrived at London Zoo in 1998.

That's really sad news. Haven't been visiting London Zoo for long enough (only about a decade now) to develop a close enough connection to an animal that would die while I was visiting, but this is very much such an example. Thug was always one of my favourite animals at the collection, and his lively and friendly personality, not often seen in Pygmy Hippos, contrasting with his name was always very entertaining, and a fact that keepers would regularly point out. He will be very dearly missed by all keepers and regular visitors to London, myself being no exception.

The zoo's 13-week-old Asiatic lion cubs have been named Mali (male), Syanii (male) and Shanti (female).
London Zoo's lion cubs in pictures as three baby lions given names

I rather like those name choices and very much look forward to seeing them. Has anyone had very luck with active lion cubs, as family members who visited recently stated that, despite their best efforts, them and Arya were invisible throughout the day?

 

[Cat-Man]

Climbing hippos, May 31st 2014 - ZooChat I love this photo of Thug. He will be missed.

 

[Kalaw]

Climbing hippos, May 31st 2014 - ZooChat I love this photo of Thug. He will be missed.

Brilliant photo indeed, made better by the fact that the logs pictured were intended as the fencing between the two enclosures. Strange that they did not opt to change said fencing even after this - presumably it was a one-off thing that I would never try again; certainly isn't something that I have ever seen, or for that matter imagined, a hippo doing!

 

[Crowthorne]

Very sad news, Thug will be very much missed

 

[DCzootripper]

The zoo's 13-week-old Asiatic lion cubs have been named Mali (male), Syanii (male) and Shanti (female).
London Zoo's lion cubs in pictures as three baby lions given names

seriously, and they haven't even named the gorilla babies from may and april yet!

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

seriously, and they haven't even named the gorilla babies from may and april yet!

Dude. Be patient. This is not surprising at all, because usually zoos wait awhile before announcing their baby animals' names for a reason, usually to pick a name that fits perfectly for them or they set up a naming contest, which might not finish until the new baby is a month or two old before announcing their name(s). A perfect example is that of these lion cubs whose names were not announced until they were three months old. That's just the way zoos work sometimes.

 

[Kalaw]

Dude. Be patient. This is not surprising at all, because usually zoos wait awhile before announcing their baby animals' names for a reason, usually to pick a name that fits perfectly for them or they set up a naming contest, which might not finish until the new baby is a month or two old before announcing their name(s). A perfect example is that of these lion cubs whose names were not announced until they were three months old. That's just the way zoos work sometimes.

No, it is surprising, because the gorillas were born in early January and mid February, so close to five and four months ago respectively, whereas the lions were born in late March. Not sure why you use them being less than two months old to explain this when they are in fact double that age. According to posts made upthread, the shortlist for possible names was even decided upon for the gorillas in around April to May, so it is not as though getting close to the gorillas is a problem. It isn't a criticism of the zoo, who certainly have a reason behind this, but it is quite bizarre, and @DCzootripper had absolutely every right to point that out; he is by no means being impatient.

 

[Dr. Loxodonta]

seriously, and they haven't even named the gorilla babies from may and april yet!

You do have an interesting point @DCzootripper, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, they have got current ‘names’ which have not yet been published by ZSL themselves. I imagine this is because of how busy the teams at both Whipsnade and London, with not one but 2 new areas being constructed in the ZSL Zoos (including the state of the art SLoRA). Then the birth of the lions (an amazing achievement) has just meant it has been overlooked. I do hope that the current name ‘ideas’ go through successfully as I am a big fan of theses .