ZSL London Zoo Your ideas for spare land at London Zoo

[IanRRobinson]

TBH, I think that this is the rationale for reindeer, no more, no less.

The area isn't THAT small. It comprises the lion's share of the old Insect House/Central Mammal House, and it slopes down towards the canal bank. Accommodation for margays, fossa, yellow-throated marten, binturong...these are all small carnivore species that would appreciate a reasonably quiet corner of the zoo. Oh well, no point in daydreaming...

 

[Cat-Man]

its a shame. the 2007 masterplan was very ambitious, and i like it very much. does anyone have a copy i can view online?

 

[stulch]

Masterplan

It can be found here (APPENDIX 3 - MASTERPLAN):-

10/07098/FULL | Demolition of existing two storey detached Parrot House building and relocation of the Grade II listed K3 telephone box to facilitate the enlargement of the existing Penguin Pool enclosure including a larger pool, landscaped penguin b

I wouldn't really say it doesn't fit in with the masterplan in which it is just a lawn on it and there is the Northern (Forest) area over the canal.


Because while they build it the raised path up to it is currently blocked off in the Zoo, you can at the moment only see the actual development from outside of the zoo.

When it's finished it will be like the giraffes, hunting dogs and penguins where you can see them (in part) from outside of the zoo. Hopefully this makes people aware / reminds them that they are passing the zoo and makes them think about / want to visit.

What's the problem if a child sees the reindeer from the street and as a result visits the actual zoo with their parents and someone makes a donation to the Tiger SOS campaign when they do? Not forgetting the gate money that can go towards an endangered animal.

 

[TARZAN]

It can be found here (APPENDIX 3 - MASTERPLAN):-

10/07098/FULL | Demolition of existing two storey detached Parrot House building and relocation of the Grade II listed K3 telephone box to facilitate the enlargement of the existing Penguin Pool enclosure including a larger pool, landscaped penguin b

I wouldn't really say it doesn't fit in with the masterplan in which it is just a lawn on it and there is the Northern (Forest) area over the canal.


Because while they build it the raised path up to it is currently blocked off in the Zoo, you can at the moment only see the actual development from outside of the zoo.

When it's finished it will be like the giraffes, hunting dogs and penguins where you can see them (in part) from outside of the zoo. Hopefully this makes people aware / reminds them that they are passing the zoo and makes them think about / want to visit.

What's the problem if a child sees the reindeer from the street and as a result visits the actual zoo with their parents and someone makes a donation to the Tiger SOS campaign when they do? Not forgetting the gate money that can go towards an endangered animal.

Yes,quite agree, reindeer might not be the most exciting zoo animal on four legs, one thing can't be denied, however, they are popular. Also when the camels are rehomed on that side of the zoo it will certainly"jazz up" this area, looking forward to seeing it.

 

[Maguari]

It can be found here (APPENDIX 3 - MASTERPLAN):-

10/07098/FULL | Demolition of existing two storey detached Parrot House building and relocation of the Grade II listed K3 telephone box to facilitate the enlargement of the existing Penguin Pool enclosure including a larger pool, landscaped penguin b

I wouldn't really say it doesn't fit in with the masterplan in which it is just a lawn on it and there is the Northern (Forest) area over the canal.

Unless I'm missing something, one thing that doesn't fit in with that masterplan is the flashy new penguin pool they've just built! I guess there's been a change of plan somewhere along the line.

 

[IanRRobinson]

For that matter, camels (another domestic animal kept in substantial number at Whipsnade) don't normally come from boreal forests.

It's all a matter of personal taste. I can remember RP was full of species that weren't to be found anywhere else in the UK and hardly anywhere else in the world. To me, charging top of the range prices for lions, tigers and gorillas (on view in many other places in SE England);surplus giraffes and zebra; hardy perennials such as short-clawed otters, meerkats and ring-tailed lemurs; domestic species like reindeer and bactrian camels; and carousels plus outdoor playgrounds that aren't capable of use nine months of the year, frankly does NOT fill the remit of what a capital city zoo should be about.

Yes, I know that I'm probably being unfair to the biggest collection of reptiles in the country, one of the finest collections of invertebrates in the world and to Aquarium staff who try very hard indeed, but then I remember the Mappins being given over to surplus emus and Bennett's wallabies.

I can only say that a very different impression is given by Antwerp, Artis and Frankfurt, all founded before 1860 on limited NW European sites.

 

[stulch]

Masterplan

Unless I'm missing something, one thing that doesn't fit in with that masterplan is the flashy new penguin pool they've just built! I guess there's been a change of plan somewhere along the line.

As I said on another thread, a while back:-

"Penguin Beach covers most of the ticket booths and most of the New Life Building on the Masterplan. The penguins, on the masterplan, are next to the New Life Building, the south-east corner.

However, it still said in the Penguins Beach planning application, that the new entrance was going to be moved there (at a later date).

Although it's a masterplan, I still think you need to be flexible, for instance, when it comes to putting an actual planning application in, you might find a better way of doing something, come up with a better idea of its design or advances in science might require you to adapt.

What we're seen of the tigers design, on here previously, does also differ slightly from the masterplan.

I do think you would be foolish to stick to a masterplan religiously but then of course there is a purpose to it."

 

[Pertinax]

They will never replace Penguin Beach, at least not in the short term, after just having spent so much building it.

On my last visit I got the impression a new Entrance may be created to the North of it- adjacent to the Zoo Shop area and which is, or used to be, a Service Gate?

 

[stulch]

They will never replace Penguin Beach, at least not in the short term, after just having spent so much building it.

I know, the document wasn't suggesting that and I know I wasn't.

On my last visit I got the impression a new Entrance may be created to the North of it- adjacent to the Zoo Shop area and which is, or used to be, a Service Gate?

This is what I think the document means and what I mean as they haven't built on the full footprint of the original (2007 masterplan) entrance area.

 

[stulch]

I've just remembered something I saw yesterday, I forget to say this. I saw a sign, I can't remember exactly what it said, it was something like summer fast track entrance on one of the gates, I think it might have been the north service gate indicating they had been using it earlier in the year. I imagine it was probably as a result of the too long queues which I remember people were moaning about on here. I just thought I would mention it as it seems they were trying to do something about it.

Of course the long-term solution is the new entrance.

 

[volvox]

The "fast track entrance" was used all summer for people who already hold tickets (and who didn't mind avoiding the photo opportunity at the main gate!!). It's just to the east of the east service gate (which is a staff gate), and opens onto a narrow path which itself opens onto the new exit area and thus into the body of the zoo. You can just see the path on the master plan. Of course it would be good to have the entrance and exit in the same place; I hope they do that one day – at the moment there is a servicing/recycling building in that location, behind the shop. New visitors do seem to find it confusing to have to go to a different place to leave the zoo; and so far (I may be out of date here though) the taxi rank is still outside the main entrance!

 

[stulch]

I did also notice yesterday a big, big sign above the shop saying Zoo Exit!

 

[Cat-Man]

Has it been confired that the camel are moving to that end of the zoo? If so why has that decision been made + what's going into the camel paddock? Thanks all

 

[Pertinax]

I know, the document wasn't suggesting that and I know I wasn't.



what I mean as they haven't built on the full footprint of the original (2007 masterplan) entrance area.

My misunderstanding of what you said.

 

[stulch]

Has it been confirmed that the camels are moving to that end of the zoo? If so why has that decision been made + what's going into the camel paddock? Thanks all

I was wondering about this. As far as I know it hasn't officially or from someone in the know. Have I missed something, forgotten reading something or is it just being presumed from the fact the current camel paddock is part of the tiger plans footprint (which is going to be part of wild Indonesia in the 2007 masterplan)?

I know it would be strange in this situation putting the camels back in there but are we just presuming from artist impressions (although it might be a good presumption)?

 

[stulch]

I was wondering about this. As far as I know it hasn't officially or from someone in the know. Have I missed something, forgotten reading something or is it just being presumed from the fact the current camel paddock is part of the tiger plans footprint (which is going to be part of wild Indonesia in the 2007 masterplan)?

I know it would be strange in this situation putting the camels back in there but are we just presuming from artist impressions (although it might be a good presumption)?

...and if the camels are moved (although they have only fairly recently swapped some camels between London and Whipsnade) they could all just end up at Whipsnade.

 

[Cat-Man]

^it would be a lot easier just too move the camel to whipsnade IMO. I believe that they're just being used to fill the old elephant paddock and serve no purpose in the 2007 masterplan.

 

[gentle lemur]

Unless I'm missing something, one thing that doesn't fit in with that masterplan is the flashy new penguin pool they've just built! I guess there's been a change of plan somewhere along the line.

All plans get changed as circumstances change.

Alan

 

[Maguari]

All plans get changed as circumstances change.

Alan

Oh, of course. Just seems odd they would submit that masterplan along with their application for the penguin exhibit, given that it contradicts all the plans for that exhibit!

 

[stulch]

Oh, of course. Just seems odd they would submit that masterplan along with their application for the penguin exhibit, given that it contradicts all the plans for that exhibit!

The masterplan was from 2007 and the penguin exhibit plans were from 2010. They were referred to it's planning documentation, the full design and access statement:-

One of the main principles of the draft Masterplan is that the Zoo should gradually create a pattern of zones that reflect animals that are found in specific regions of the world. This area is identified as South American where Humbolt Penguins originate and the existing Macaw aviary, on the South side of the site, is also consistent with this theme. Even if an alternative location could be found for the penguins, it is unlikely that this would fulfill the aims of the Zoo Masterplan.