They have been doing various maintenance mainly digging a trench , laying/burying some piping presumably for some cabling refiling trench the past couple of midweeks - The route of the trench is outside of the lion enclosure but crosses/runs under the pathway hence its closure.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025
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They have been doing various maintenance mainly digging a trench , laying/burying some piping presumably for some cabling refiling trench the past couple of midweeks - The route of the trench is outside of the lion enclosure but crosses/runs under the pathway hence its closure.
theli0n
Well-Known Member
Okay thank you
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
ZSL have announced a pair of capybara in London next to the pygmy hippos for the summer!
“A pair of capybaras have moved to London Zoo, just in time for May half term! The adorable duo, named Gizmo and Kiwi, will be enjoying a summer in the city, while a new permanent home is prepared for them at Whipsnade Zoo!”
Conservation zoo becomes home to world’s biggest rodent | London Zoo
Personally, I’m really excited by this as my partner loves them and they are always great to see, would be nice to finally see someone in the outdoor paddock there!
“A pair of capybaras have moved to London Zoo, just in time for May half term! The adorable duo, named Gizmo and Kiwi, will be enjoying a summer in the city, while a new permanent home is prepared for them at Whipsnade Zoo!”
Conservation zoo becomes home to world’s biggest rodent | London Zoo
Personally, I’m really excited by this as my partner loves them and they are always great to see, would be nice to finally see someone in the outdoor paddock there!
Jambi
Well-Known Member
You mean to tell me if I had just scheduled my recent visit a week or so later I could've (for a limited time only) seen my favourite animal at London Zoo?
Damn it....
Baringogiraffe12
Well-Known Member
Not to worry, there’s still fifty plus collections in the UK where you can see capybara!
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
Tbf exactly like 3 are presumably reachable without a carNot to worry, there’s still fifty plus collections in the UK where you can see capybara!
Has anyone who’s visited recently got a progress update on the Gorilla extension?
Went a few weeks back but couldn’t see anything but that fencing had been put up.
On my last visit a week ago, no work at all. I wonder if there is any agreement with any company to start work or are the proposed tenders too expensive
Given that the planning application process appears (link in first post of this thread) still to be ongoing I wouldn’t expect the main demolition/construction to be occurring yet. There maybe be some replacement tree plantings etc that have been occurring in some areas of the zoo.
If planning application is still ongoing, why close off the pathway.
They're expanding the current Gorilla space.
Expansion of two outdoor enclosures in Gorilla Kingdom including creation of new gorilla bridge links; Internal reconfiguration of indoor gorilla areas; and other associated works.
24/08395/FULL | Expansion of two outdoor enclosures in Gorilla Kingdom including creation of new gorilla bridge links; Internal reconfiguration of indoor gorilla areas; and other associated works. | London Zoo Outer Circle Regents Park London NW1 4RY
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
It’s going to use one of the Diana monkey enclosures towards the little aviary, and take some of the visitor path for the new black crested mangabey enclosure, iirc
I went for another visit to London Zoo today. Not a lot of new things that I noticed, but some of the things I did see were rather interesting:
- New species: Although I did not set eyes on any, the Bird Safari aviary now has signage suggesting there are European turtle doves present.
- For the first time, I managed to see the Dumeril's boa in the reptile and amphibian house, in a large tank in the room visible through the Laos warty newt display.
- In Tiny Giants, the weaver ant tank remains empty, the sea nettle jellyfish tank is empty, the jewel wasp tank is empty and has had the substrate replaced with dead leaves (possibly for a new inhabitant?); additionally, the former vinegaroon tank is now home to tailless whip-scorpions (which I think were in the collection but off-show previously).
- It was interesting to see just how popular the new pair of capybaras were - not only was the specific viewing area for their enclosure full, but people were gathering at the viewing areas for the adjacent pygmy hippo enclosure to look at the capybaras through the fencing.
Jambi
Well-Known Member
I didn't see the turtle doves during my last visit, but I do remember hearing two guest pointing out the signage and jokingly singing "Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree". It's always so surreal hearing Christmas songs in Spring and Summer.
That's capybaras for you.
Hi Guys, quick question, does anyone know if the nocturnal house switches to daylight-like lights during the zoo evenings? Do any zoos with a nocturnal area do this? I've noticed in the mornings at a few places I've been to like Hamerton and Hemsley that there have been normal lights on that then switch to the red nocturnal lighting. Lots of animals I'd like to get a picture of under better lighting haha.