ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter aquilla1
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Hopefully they will remove that dreadful fake concrete tree
Thank you for sharing. What primates are planned for the enclosure, and are they planned to mix with the gorillas?
Last year, it was suggested that black crested mangabeys would be moved into Gorilla Kingdom and mixed with the gorillas.
I am curious what the plans for the Diana monkeys are, considering the plans seem to indicate that their enclosure will become part of the gorilla enclosure (unless I have read the map wrong).
Oh, the fake tree..its certainly an ugly thing and never fulfilled its original purpose. Would be good to see it removed.Hopefully they will remove that dreadful fake concrete tree
Do all/any of the plans( I have looked but can't decipher) indicate whether this will create extra space in the indoor 'dayroom' for the gorillas? Is that part of the plan?
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Visited the zoo today:
- Managed to see the Peter’s Keeled Cordylids in the back of the reptile house, but they are very hard to see.
- Managed to see the new Darwin’s Frogs.
- There is a new display for Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula.
- The Whip Spider enclosure has been boarded up.
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Well currently there are two sets of Diana Monkeys enclosures one of which would be demolished for the Gorilla expansion , the other set that the recent 2 American arrivals have seems to survive.
further one document does say
“To future proof the development alongside the ZSL Masterplan the new area should also support the housing of a
large primate species such as Black Mangabeys, Lophocebus aterrimus, or Diana Monkeys, Cercopithecus diana.”
Well currently there are two sets of Diana Monkeys enclosures one of which would be demolished for the Gorilla expansion , the other set that the recent 2 American arrivals have seems to survive.
further one document does say
“To future proof the development alongside the ZSL Masterplan the new area should also support the housing of a
large primate species such as Black Mangabeys, Lophocebus aterrimus, or Diana Monkeys, Cercopithecus diana.”
Interesting, it looks like the new developments will link a bit more closely with the African Aviary?
They also have a good group of White-naped Mangabeys. The closely related Red -capped is sometimes used in gorilla mixes e.g Dublin, so they potentially could be too. But I think a Mangabey/Guenon mix might be asking for trouble.
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The plans for the gorilla expansion and really exciting!
Upon reading through the plans it confirms “Remove redundant Colobus Bridge structure” so the tree will be removed. However a new tower will be built further back from where the tree currently is to connect the new enclosure to the current.
“Mild steel structure, with mild steel and triple-glazed panels to form a Tower and high-level Gorilla Bridge, providing a permanent connection between the Outdoor Gorilla Enclosure and Gorilla Island.”
Upon reading through the plans it confirms “Remove redundant Colobus Bridge structure” so the tree will be removed. However a new tower will be built further back from where the tree currently is to connect the new enclosure to the current.
“Mild steel structure, with mild steel and triple-glazed panels to form a Tower and high-level Gorilla Bridge, providing a permanent connection between the Outdoor Gorilla Enclosure and Gorilla Island.”
Do we know a start date and timeframe for the redevelopment? And what’s to become of the gorillas whilst this is happening? Also, “triple glazed panels.” I imagine Kumbuka would have considered that a challenge were he still alive!
As an aside (and this will never happen!) it’s a shame that Gorilla Kingdom can’t be connected to the Casson in some way. But I suppose there is a loose, non physical attachment with the presence of the Red River hogs.
As an aside (and this will never happen!) it’s a shame that Gorilla Kingdom can’t be connected to the Casson in some way. But I suppose there is a loose, non physical attachment with the presence of the Red River hogs.
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Wonderful news to hear that the concrete monstrosity of a fake tree is being removed!
My only disappointment is that the plan doesn’t include the removal and modernisation of the last two metal cages connected to the Sobell East building that used to house the colobus. (Which now house the Diana Monkeys?) I would have liked to have seen them updated to match the White-naped Mangabey enclosure so the whole complex feels modern and fresh.
Surely if you are doing construction in the area it makes sense to modernise the last of the outdated enclosures at the same time?
Surely if you are doing construction in the area it makes sense to modernise the last of the outdated enclosures at the same time?
Maybe I am being stupid but I don't understand this...they are one and the same?
Agree. The newer outside Mangabey enclosure contrasts with those last old-style ones, they need an upgrade.
It’s all rather Aspinall-speak isn’t it! The question is, will the gorillas be able to look across to France on a clear day?
