I was at Night Life at the end of my last visit in April 2024 and the lights did not go on in any of the habitats before zoo employees were shooing us out, fwiw. The slender loris also totally stood me up that day. I saw it for a moment a couple days earlier at least..
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter aquilla1
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Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
Went to Rainforest Life during Zoo Nights today, when we got to the nocturnal area around 19:00, the lights were still off, also where the Aye-Aye is. Apparently the building is open to 20:30, so it might be different around then although I do doubt that. Sorry to not be of more help!
Unfortunately, I did not find anyone to ask about the Diana monkeys, but only saw the two in their enclosure that’s still visible (so not the “building site”).
Talking about building site, there seems to have been no works going on at all from what I could see so it seems weird to cordon that whole area off months ago?
otherwise Zoo Nights was a nice experience, finally saw the small Indian Mongoose and one of the porcupines was nice and active outside. The lion “cubs” were super playful and great to see. Plus it was so lovely how quiet and peaceful the zoo was without children.
Finally, it was great to see the capybara actually providing some interest to the pygmy hippo area (it being the third time in a row the pygmy hippo was just hanging out in its water tub inside, barely visible). The enclosure works super well for them and they were a delight to see, a reaction many other visitors seemed to share.
Well thats a shame. Thanks so much for checking it out though! Hugely appreciated
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
Quick phone photo, hope that does the job!
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Thank you very much!
They look right at home there. Given the small space requirements I’m surprised there aren’t any capybara at London full time.
If whipsnade decide to keep them full time and get in some for breeding it's quite possible any offspring will make there way to London.
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Visited the zoo today - apologies if any of this has been mentioned before:
. Sardinian Brook Salamanders now inhabit the old Lake Patzcuaro Salamander as a placeholder presumably.
. I managed to see one of the new Turtle Doves in the Bird Safari which was lovely to see (I live close to one of their UK strongholds), begs the question why rare UK species of bird are barely kept in our zoos. Is there some kind of red tape that I might be missing information on?
. I found out that the blinds infront of the Darwin's Frog enclosure are actually there to deflect the sun's rays (a form of temperature control). The frogs are kept at a chilly 16 degrees celsius with winter drops as low as 5(!).
. Unsigned Bali Starling, Mountain Peacock Pheasant in the Blackburn walkthrough (also alive with many Scarlet-chested Sunbirds).
. On my way back to Camden station as I went to cross the road from Regent's Canal my girlfriend suddenly shouted "SNAKE!". Just on the other side of the fence, a decently sized Aesculapian Snake was out enjoying the afternoon sun. A young couple heard the commotion and truly could not believe their eyes! The gentleman proceeded to ask if I was having him on. He asked this numerous times
. Sardinian Brook Salamanders now inhabit the old Lake Patzcuaro Salamander as a placeholder presumably.
. I managed to see one of the new Turtle Doves in the Bird Safari which was lovely to see (I live close to one of their UK strongholds), begs the question why rare UK species of bird are barely kept in our zoos. Is there some kind of red tape that I might be missing information on?
. I found out that the blinds infront of the Darwin's Frog enclosure are actually there to deflect the sun's rays (a form of temperature control). The frogs are kept at a chilly 16 degrees celsius with winter drops as low as 5(!).
. Unsigned Bali Starling, Mountain Peacock Pheasant in the Blackburn walkthrough (also alive with many Scarlet-chested Sunbirds).
. On my way back to Camden station as I went to cross the road from Regent's Canal my girlfriend suddenly shouted "SNAKE!". Just on the other side of the fence, a decently sized Aesculapian Snake was out enjoying the afternoon sun. A young couple heard the commotion and truly could not believe their eyes! The gentleman proceeded to ask if I was having him on. He asked this numerous times
‘Many’ Scarlet-chested Sunbirds?Visited the zoo today - apologies if any of this has been mentioned before:
. Sardinian Brook Salamanders now inhabit the old Lake Patzcuaro Salamander as a placeholder presumably.
. I managed to see one of the new Turtle Doves in the Bird Safari which was lovely to see (I live close to one of their UK strongholds), begs the question why rare UK species of bird are barely kept in our zoos. Is there some kind of red tape that I might be missing information on?
. I found out that the blinds infront of the Darwin's Frog enclosure are actually there to deflect the sun's rays (a form of temperature control). The frogs are kept at a chilly 16 degrees celsius with winter drops as low as 5(!).
. Unsigned Bali Starling, Mountain Peacock Pheasant in the Blackburn walkthrough (also alive with many Scarlet-chested Sunbirds).
. On my way back to Camden station as I went to cross the road from Regent's Canal my girlfriend suddenly shouted "SNAKE!". Just on the other side of the fence, a decently sized Aesculapian Snake was out enjoying the afternoon sun. A young couple heard the commotion and truly could not believe their eyes! The gentleman proceeded to ask if I was having him on. He asked this numerous times
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The mynas have been in the main walkthrough for several years now, but the peacock-pheasants are certainly new, as they were previously kept in the original aviary. As a firm believer both in that any bird's beauty is more appreciable in a walkthrough setting, and that the otherwise-perfect Blackburn pavilion has been missing a large-ish pheasant and the sensation having one walk across your path provides, I am very happy to hear this. Previously, they were kept in one of the external enclosures with Java Sparrows - now that I think about it, it was probably the one immediately left of the entrance, which on my most recent visit was only inhabited by the new Grosbeak Starlings. By chance did you happen to note if there were still any pheasants in the external enclosures, or have they all moved to the walkthrough?
Also, congratulations on seeing one of the resident snakes by the Canal. I have always wanted to see one but never succeeded in a decade of biannual visits.
Supposedly their relatively common in the zoo itself, especially around the Woodland Walk area (which I'm not sure I have ever inspired in its entirety so this is a good motive to do so). One member even saw and photographed one on those big stones that line the entrance to the Clore - very near the canal, but also typically very congested, suggesting they aren't exactly shy!
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
I didn’t see any pheasants in the external aviaries but they are really densely planted! Seeing the snake was quite a shock as I wasn’t looking for them at allThe mynas have been in the main walkthrough for several years now, but the peacock-pheasants are certainly new, as they were previously kept in the original aviary. As a firm believer both in that any bird's beauty is more appreciable in a walkthrough setting, and that the otherwise-perfect Blackburn pavilion has been missing a large-ish pheasant and the sensation having one walk across your path provides, I am very happy to hear this. Previously, they were kept in one of the external enclosures with Java Sparrows - now that I think about it, it was probably the one immediately left of the entrance, which on my most recent visit was only inhabited by the new Grosbeak Starlings. By chance did you happen to note if there were still any pheasants in the external enclosures, or have they all moved to the walkthrough?
Also, congratulations on seeing one of the resident snakes by the Canal. I have always wanted to see one but never succeeded in a decade of biannual visits.
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
I definitely saw more than 1.1 as the recent stocklist indicates. Hopefully someone who is more clued up on birds can shed some light on this soon. Saw atleast 4-5 individuals
Visited the zoo today - apologies if any of this has been mentioned before:
. On my way back to Camden station as I went to cross the road from Regent's Canal my girlfriend suddenly shouted "SNAKE!". Just on the other side of the fence, a decently sized Aesculapian Snake was out enjoying the afternoon sun. A young couple heard the commotion and truly could not believe their eyes! The gentleman proceeded to ask if I was having him on. He asked this numerous times
Wow, I would love to see one of those snakes, where exactly was it? Did you mean by the Outer Circle road pedestrian crossing or the by bridge over the canal near that? thanks!
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Just crossing over Prince Albert’s Road on the side closer to the canal (where there are roadworks currently). Just looked down next to a brick structure behind the gate and there it was
Just crossing over Prince Albert’s Road on the side closer to the canal (where there are roadworks currently). Just looked down next to a brick structure behind the gate and there it was
thank you!
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Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Well, that is absolutely amazing news. The inveitable (or so I thought) fact that London would eventually run out of the species was a real concern to me, but this is brilliant. No idea where they could have come from though, as ZTL lists nowhere else in the world that keeps them. There must be a private holder somewhere or another.
I think they might have been fairly freely available in the days when large numbers of European reptiles were being imported. There’s another well established population around the Welsh Mountain Zoo