ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2013

I just saw the post about the Koala birth in Edinburgh. Those who remember him will know how much Frank Wheeler, the Head Keeper of the Clore who passed away in 2006, wanted them back at London. They are exactly the sort of species that the Zoo is lacking.

A sensible suggestion, a rarely seen & relatively high profile species, which doesn't require too much space. London has lost too many of it's crowd pullers and some will never return to the current site e.g elephants, rhinos & sealions whilst others such as bears, more big cats or orangutans don't seem to be on the horizon. Koala might be just right at London
 
I agree, a koala house in similar style to the Komodo dragon house, perhaps with an aviary, tree kangaroos or other small but interesting Australian fauna would be great.
 
That's brilliant news, hope all goes well. It will be a huge plus for the zoo, especially so soon after their arrival and the opening of the new enclosure.
 
That's both excellent & very exciting! I didn't even know Melati was pregnant. Anyone got any idea what the gestation periodisfor a Sumatran Tiger? Hope to see this rascal soon. Huge congrats to ALL the staff, keepers, volunteers, & friends of ZSL London Zoo
 
Early to make the announcement with a first-time mother, but still thrilling news. It would be good to see this as being the start of a new era for tigers at London.
 
That's both excellent & very exciting! I didn't even know Melati was pregnant. Anyone got any idea what the gestation periodisfor a Sumatran Tiger? Hope to see this rascal soon. Huge congrats to ALL the staff, keepers, volunteers, & friends of ZSL London Zoo

The ZSL newsletter states 105 days.
Great news, i hope all goes well.
At least they finally have a compatible pairing.
I echo Ian's comments and hope this really is a new era.
 
Congrats to ZSL after a long stand-off and also genetically a very important breeding for the EEP population.
 
It’s always very hard to read stories like this, everyone tries to do their best and despite this it ends in tragedy.
Sincere sympathies to all involved and all the very best for the future.
 
Sad news - visited on Saturday and I feared something was not right as Melati was own her own in the paddock for a long time and the exhibit was temporarily shut.

Looking forward Melati and Jae Jae do seem to be attracted to and interested in each plus they are certainly young enough to have futher cubs.
 
I note the attached comment to the story, along with the usual BFF idiots:-

Aren't these people supposed to be 'experts' on the care of animals? Don't they know the depth of water which may prove hazardous to a tiger cub? Are these people earning good salaries for their 'expertise'? There are many questions to ask about this unnecessary death.

It really doesn't portray the Zoo in a good light. Unfair maybe - I don't doubt that other UK collections suffer similar tragedies without this level of exposure. But bad news spreads faster from London Zoo to Fleet Street, and instead of the positive spin of a young Tiger for half-term the Zoo's Press Office can now expect more letters like this.
 
I don't doubt that other UK collections suffer similar tragedies without this level of exposure. But bad news spreads faster from London Zoo to Fleet Street, and instead of the positive spin of a young Tiger for half-term the Zoo's Press Office can now expect more letters like this.

Different circumstances obviously but shades of the baby Gorilla death here. As you say, they can't seem to avoid the limelight when bad things happen there as well as good. Elsewhere this could easily have gone unnoticed......
 
Just a couple of changes... there are now vicunas – three, I think, though one could have been hiding – settling into the old rhea enclosure, that is opposite BUGS, forming the grassy roof of the craft centre. A new wooden shelter has been built for them. It's been empty for years so it'll be nice to have something to draw people up there (the anteaters being on the whole too idle to come outside).

Also, the amphitheatre where Animals in Action has been held for years was irreparably damaged in the storm – it looks very sad, torn and broken in the middle there, and roped off for safety. Nobody was hurt! – animal or human. Another location will have to be found till the tent is rebuilt, but nothing's been decided yet.

There are two new birds, curassows, in the rainforest, causing havoc as they are running around getting used to their surroundings, but I daresay they will settle down soon.

I think that's it for now!
 
Just a couple of changes... there are now vicunas – three, I think, though one could have been hiding – settling into the old rhea enclosure,

What goes around, comes around. I think I can remember a time(1980's perhaps?) when ZSL were one of very few UK collections to have them.
 
Now to wonder what the next species hidden behind the giraffes will be! That semi offshow area could probably become part of the hippo area when the tapirs move out. Good that they got this move out of the way quickly so the next big projects can be focused on.
Curassows seem good news too, the area needed more big birds than solely the rather lonely-looking trumpeter.
 
Oh, the trumpeter went some weeks ago! She's gone to Paignton to be with other trumpeters, which must be good. The curassows are very entertaining, as in "miss, why is that bird carrying its egg on its head?"
 
Can't wait to see them in December. Shame about the trumpeter, despite always looking a bit lost, I rather liked it. I wonder if they'll add more species, since the area does have the potential to look quite empty at times.
 
Back
Top