ZSL London Zoo giant pandas for London?

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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I couldn't remember which thread it was that giant pandas were being discussed on, but...
http://www.zoochat.com/24/panda-experts-check-enclosure-27363/
the link on the above thread says that London is sourcing some giant pandas.
the relevant sentence says "We have the director of zoology at London Zoo who are in the process of sourcing giant pandas at the moment and also the director of Taipei Zoo who will be receiving their pandas in the next couple of months."
 
well i didnt see that one coming, zoo giraffe knows alot about zoo plans, have you heard anything about this?
 
Giant panda loans are usually $1 million per year, but the London Zoo obtaining a pair of the black-and-white bears in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics would be fantastic for the zoo community there. As I wrote on the Adelaide Zoo thread, I think that having pandas is a brilliant concept for a zoo looking to significantly boost attendance and publicity.
 
Oh, fantastic if this works out! I always thought the Mappin Terraces would make a great enclosure, with a wooden viewing bridge going along the old, disused path that's at the foot of the 'mountains'.
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
well i didnt see that one coming, zoo giraffe knows alot about zoo plans, have you heard anything about this?
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Thanks for your vote of confidence in me but as far as this is concerned i`m in the dark on this one i do know people connected to London,but they have said nothing about this one,so its anybodys guess.If they do get them that would been London and Edinburgh keeping them in the U.K,so i would guess Chester my follow.
 
Well, this would actually explain the low-key mappins redevelopment. There's no way ZSL would make this kind of announcement as it would be torn apart, so it makes sense for it to come from another source. If it is true, I'm sure ZSL aren't too pleased about the cat being out of the bag. But yeah, 2012 olympics and pandas sort of makes sense, I can see how they would try and make that happen. Also the controversy would be softened somewhat by Edinburgh taking most of the criticism first...
 
CZJimmy said:
Perhaps the Edinburgh panda story is just a cover up for ZSL bringing them in ;):p
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Nostradamus, anybody? ;) I posted that on the 19th of May in a light hearted manner.

Will be interesting to see how ZSL will exhibit Pandas. London really seems to be stepping up a gear with it's developments now. The children's zoo, mappins and cat terraces all being renovated recently or soon to be done up. All that's left is the damn Casson Pavillion!
 
There's plenty more to be done at ZSL. The entire north bank for a start, the old parrot house, and of course the zoo entrance is moving to the east side of the zoo....
 
CZJimmy said:
Nostradamus, anybody? ;) I posted that on the 19th of May in a light hearted manner.

Will be interesting to see how ZSL will exhibit Pandas. London really seems to be stepping up a gear with it's developments now. The children's zoo, mappins and cat terraces all being renovated recently or soon to be done up. All that's left is the damn Casson Pavillion!
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And not before time Jimmy, for a "National zoo" they have been treading water for way too long maybe some new thinking might be creeping in :rolleyes:
 
i think london zoo has always been a world leader, not just a UK leader in the fields of zoological science, field conservation and conservation breeding. however, it must be said that it lost the mantle of leading UK zoo for exhibits some time ago...to whom exactly is debatable.
having said that, the recent developments at LZ auger well for their future, and I think they are coming up with some very good exhibits. future renovations are needed, but Im sure theyll be of a high standard. and giant pandas would be a bonus.
 
I think that the London Zoo lost a lot of its power and prestige 20 years ago, and people tend to forget that at one time it came within a whisker of closing for good. However, London is still a "name" in the zoological community, and with the possibility of new exhibits, giant pandas, and the boost from the 2012 Olympics things are now progressing nicely there. Whipsnade has helped out tremendously over the years, as the size and scope of that park's habitats and animal life has offset the shrinking number of animals showcased at the main zoo. Another attraction that will be open by the Olympics is Biota!
 
zoogiraffe said:
Thanks for your vote of confidence in me but as far as this is concerned i`m in the dark on this one i do know people connected to London,but they have said nothing about this one,so its anybodys guess.If they do get them that would been London and Edinburgh keeping them in the U.K,so i would guess Chester my follow.
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your all ways my first port of call
 
Hey people out there, don't get me wrog butt you all seem to be suggesting that ZSL would bring in Giant Pandas to boost attendance and give credability to itself.

I am sure that the ZSL of London would like people to think that they are of the highest standard and respected throughout the zoo community.

Many years ago l am sure this was the case butt not for a very long time.

ZSL is now going back to the old style of zoo keeping "putting on a show for the public" with very little substance .

I was there 7 months ago. So my opinion is based on my experiance.

It would seem a perfect example of the true position of the ZSL would be the Gorilla Kingdom experiance. Why has this taken so long to get to a reasonable standard. Yet still missing the fact that gorillas don't like big glass windows and open enclosures. ZSL could have really reinvented itself with this exhibit and become a front runner again. Also why didnt ZSL get to put together a better group? Yes l do understand about there silverback. Yet it would seem the people responsible for allocating gorillas to ZSL just dont trust them either.
 
zooman said:
Hey people out there, don't get me wrog butt you all seem to be suggesting that ZSL would bring in Giant Pandas to boost attendance and give credability to itself.

I am sure that the ZSL of London would like people to think that they are of the highest standard and respected throughout the zoo community.

Many years ago l am sure this was the case butt not for a very long time.

ZSL is now going back to the old style of zoo keeping "putting on a show for the public" with very little substance .
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I'm sorry, but i really don't agree with these points.

As Glyn pointed out, ZSL is still one of the major front runners in in-situ conservation which means that they deserve some major respect in the zoo world. It may have got left behind in 20 years ago in exhibit standard, but the developments so far in the 21st century means they regaining some of their reputation. London Zoo has realised that it is a city zoo now and therefore have changed the species list accordingly.

About ZSL going back to 'putting on a show', what do you base this on? ZSL is focussing largely on conservation efforts (which Gorilla Kingdom is superb at)

Gorilla Kingdom was originally a disappointment, but has improved considerably and ZSL really doesn't deserve some of the criticism it can get on here....
 
i still think that they should put bonobos in gorrila kingdom and make it bonobo bonaza or something... i know take twycross's bonobos!
 
zooman said:
Also why didnt ZSL get to put together a better group? Yet it would seem the people responsible for allocating gorillas to ZSL just dont trust them either.
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I disagree here as I think the EEP try to be fair across the board. In London's case they have been allocated a proven breeding female(Effie) from Berlin and a prime young female(Mjuku) from Chessington in the hope that both will breed. Females to add to new groups are not available in large number so establishing this small group is all that ZSL could hope for at this stage.

Although there has been so little Gorilla breeding at London over the years, since Gorilla Kingdom opened they are making every effort to get a proper breeding group started. If the male fails to get the females pregnant soon though their next sensible option may have to be replacing him.

Regarding Giant Pandas- London have exhibited them several times before at roughly twenty year intervals so its quite likely they could reappear again in the future and 2012 would be a very obvious target for them.
 
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Tigerlemurguy said:
i still think that they should put bonobos in gorrila kingdom and make it bonobo bonaza or something... i know take twycross's bonobos!
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London will always keep the Gorillas- they are too popular for them not to have. What would be good is another adjacent exhibit ('Bonobo Forest' ;) ) created for Bonobos too but I fear its unlikely..
 
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