That sure is an exciting development! Fits in with the Mappins Africa theme and feel / atmosphere.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2015
- Thread starter Jedd Cullinan
- Start date
That sure is an exciting development! Fits in with the Mappins Africa theme and feel / atmosphere.
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
Mappins? Cottons isn't it?
It would be nice to have that side of the zoo more "African", and an elevated walkthrough primate exhibit is very exciting, are there any similar ones anywhere? Should revitalise this part of the zoo nicely, it seemed very dead when I was there, and generally avoided by visitors.
And I was so missing the negativity
On the other hand, is it at all possible to house birds with Colobus? Or are these monkeys partial to a bit of meat every now and then?
These could potentially go (back?) to the Mappins.
FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
I know it's not a walkthough but the raised walkway next to the primate enclosures at Melbourne was one of the highlights for me. The change in viewing angle really improved the experience. Hopefully this will be even better.
It would be a waste of so much space not to add more species I think. Seems a few zoos mix them with duikers, which would maybe work well here?
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As a Fellow I suppose Im more than entitled to a view on the ZSL`s developments especially as ,from a historical perspective, it is probably the most important zoo in the world.Im delighted that more of the Clore is being utilised(lemur walkthrough)though I haven't seen it yet and I cant see the point of duplicating species found at Whipsnade.Londons history is one of being leaders in the zoo world ,but there is now what might be termed a "British set" of exhibits i.e.lemur walk-through,butterflies,meerkats,ascos(Asiatic Short-clawed Otters),that are seemingly found in every zoo here and London is more than happy to have the full set of these.Despite the popularity of these things with the public,they have little or no conservational relevance and may well have numbed the public into an acceptance,even a satisfaction,with displays that are somewhat less than jaw-droppers and are,of course quite inexpensive to do.
Just one other point..and that is the amount of London`s 36 acres that are given over to non-animal exhibits,its actually quite significant.Take a look at maps of Berlin,Antwerp,Artis,Cologne,Hagenbecks,Copenhagen,Basel, and more,they are full of animal exhibits with almost no dead space,for goodness sake theres a huge park next door if I want to sit on a lawn....the zoo,its about animals isn't it?
Just one other point..and that is the amount of London`s 36 acres that are given over to non-animal exhibits,its actually quite significant.Take a look at maps of Berlin,Antwerp,Artis,Cologne,Hagenbecks,Copenhagen,Basel, and more,they are full of animal exhibits with almost no dead space,for goodness sake theres a huge park next door if I want to sit on a lawn....the zoo,its about animals isn't it?
Actually,it would be unfair to describe lemur walk-throughs as "conservationally irrelevant",as I suppose virtually all lemur species are under threat including the Ring-tailed species..a neuroticism with public safety means that these exhibits are virtually absent from the USA incidentally.
volvox
Well-Known Member
And the new walkthrough has a thorough conservation message throughout – it's trying to educate re habitat destruction, forest being destroyed for charcoal etc, because, yes, even ring-tailed lemurs are considered endangered in the wild now, it's just that we're used to seeing them in captivity where they do pretty well.
Was at the zoo on Maundy Thursday - very impressed with the new walk-through, the lemurs are very active and the public were extremely engaged talking to the keeper on duty etc. Looks fabulous (or will do when the plants grow in a bit.) And pleased about the tenrecs!
I also noticed far fewer mice in the Clore. Apparently there has been a concerted campaign against them, with the 'Rainforest Look-out' animals being briefly cleared out to allow setting of traps etc.
I also noticed far fewer mice in the Clore. Apparently there has been a concerted campaign against them, with the 'Rainforest Look-out' animals being briefly cleared out to allow setting of traps etc.
I popped in today to see the new lemur walkthrough and thoroughly enjoyed it. Both lemurs and people were very happy. At the very least we should be thankful that males not required for breeding are being well cared for and not ending up as lion feed as happened to that poor giraffe in Denmark.
Forgot to mention Rainbow lorikeets! On the 'British set' one might suggest that they are the modern equivalent of the classic zoo animal set - giraffe, zebra, elephant, lion/tiger, bear, generic monkey, sealion, penguin etc. I don't think it is a huge problem, as long as it doesn't dominate the collection. There is a reason they are popular and the zoo is just following the demand. And also I don't think it is just a British thing. Has happened in Australia/NZ too, and I'm sure our Continental and US friends could enlighten us if the same is happening there too?
On the composition of London's collection I do find it baffling that there is endless repetition between Whipsnade and London. Surely it obvious to put the big species in the countryside and focus on the tiddlers in the city (with a few large focal species such as tigers and gorillas). Give London the kudos for the greater ZSL work and focus on the in-situ work by displaying the species (where possible) at London. They should be following Jersey's lead.
And yes the green space is an odd one...
I strongly agree with the comments of Tim Brown and tetrapod. I think we must accept that there is a basic set of animals which the average visitor expects to see in every zoo, so it is pointless to complain about meerkats etc - but they should be displayed well and if possible, put into context with related species or animals from the same habitat nearby.
Likewise we must accept that Regents Park has to cater for families with young children and tourists, from other parts of the UK and from overseas. The animal shows and children's entertainments are commercial necessities and can usefully complement the ZSL's other activities.
However the whole object of Zoo is to display, study and conserve a wide range of animals. There can be no return to the 1970s, but there ought to be a continuing policy of developing good exhibits for rare and unusual species. The new Lemur walk-through, coupled with the reopening of a wing of the Clore, fills this bill - and includes a very popular species too.
I am yet to be impressed by the Snowdon aviary becoming a colobus walk-through: it might be satisfactory on a nice summer day, but colobus are not particularly active animals and if there is a breath of wind, I can only imagine them huddling in a sheltered corner or in their indoor quarters (which I presume will have to be constructed). On the whole, I'd prefer to see it remain an aviary, perhaps featuring European birds like 'Europe on the Edge' at Chester (but without the vultures). That could have a much stronger conservation message than colobus could offer.
The strength of Regents Park's collection is its balance of a few large mammals with more medium and small species, plus a very wide range of birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The new lion exhibit curtails this range; but the lemur development shows that it is possible to use previously wasted spaces constructively for smaller species. There is space for some smaller carnivores, for some breeding aviaries, for an Amphibian Ark and more besides.
Alan
Likewise we must accept that Regents Park has to cater for families with young children and tourists, from other parts of the UK and from overseas. The animal shows and children's entertainments are commercial necessities and can usefully complement the ZSL's other activities.
However the whole object of Zoo is to display, study and conserve a wide range of animals. There can be no return to the 1970s, but there ought to be a continuing policy of developing good exhibits for rare and unusual species. The new Lemur walk-through, coupled with the reopening of a wing of the Clore, fills this bill - and includes a very popular species too.
I am yet to be impressed by the Snowdon aviary becoming a colobus walk-through: it might be satisfactory on a nice summer day, but colobus are not particularly active animals and if there is a breath of wind, I can only imagine them huddling in a sheltered corner or in their indoor quarters (which I presume will have to be constructed). On the whole, I'd prefer to see it remain an aviary, perhaps featuring European birds like 'Europe on the Edge' at Chester (but without the vultures). That could have a much stronger conservation message than colobus could offer.
The strength of Regents Park's collection is its balance of a few large mammals with more medium and small species, plus a very wide range of birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The new lion exhibit curtails this range; but the lemur development shows that it is possible to use previously wasted spaces constructively for smaller species. There is space for some smaller carnivores, for some breeding aviaries, for an Amphibian Ark and more besides.
Alan
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
Doubtless I'll get accused of negativity, but to me it would have been better to have had the Snowdon Aviary used for lemurs; it is much larger, and could, with care,be split into areas so that the domineering Ruffed lemurs don't crowd others out. Satellite accommodation for Malagasy carnivores, birds such as couas and reptiles (don't forget Madagascar's fabulous array of chameleons) could be held in new accommodation in the long disused area between the Snowdon Aviary and the Education Centre.
I'd like the Clore to have an Australasian revamp. A greenhouse on the western side akin to Paignton's desert house might hold some nice Australian parakeets(e.g. Princess of Wales), Stubble Quail, Diamond doves, Zebra Finches, and Tammar Wallaby. Tim May would be very brave about echidnas being there, I suspect.
That west wing could hold reptiles, Australia's dominant life form. Bring those courtyard exhibits back to life. Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby,and Blue-faced Honeyeater would enrich any collection.
The rainforest area could go to New Guinea and have Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo and crowned pigeons; maybe have Agile Wallabies at ground level. Boelen's Python and rainbow fish could be kept nearby.
Downstairs - where do you start, except by commenting that if Bristol could get Eastern Quoll, so should London. And the return of Striped Possum and Kowari would be nice, whilst the acquisition of Bilbies would be wonderful.
The Round House might hold Kea outside, Kiwi and Morepork (Boobook) Owl inside. That meerkat exhibit might very easily have a glass roof and hold Tuatara. And- finally - for the sake of the memory of the late, great Frank Wheeler, let's find the space to get Koalas back.!
I'd like the Clore to have an Australasian revamp. A greenhouse on the western side akin to Paignton's desert house might hold some nice Australian parakeets(e.g. Princess of Wales), Stubble Quail, Diamond doves, Zebra Finches, and Tammar Wallaby. Tim May would be very brave about echidnas being there, I suspect.
That west wing could hold reptiles, Australia's dominant life form. Bring those courtyard exhibits back to life. Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby,and Blue-faced Honeyeater would enrich any collection.
The rainforest area could go to New Guinea and have Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo and crowned pigeons; maybe have Agile Wallabies at ground level. Boelen's Python and rainbow fish could be kept nearby.
Downstairs - where do you start, except by commenting that if Bristol could get Eastern Quoll, so should London. And the return of Striped Possum and Kowari would be nice, whilst the acquisition of Bilbies would be wonderful.
The Round House might hold Kea outside, Kiwi and Morepork (Boobook) Owl inside. That meerkat exhibit might very easily have a glass roof and hold Tuatara. And- finally - for the sake of the memory of the late, great Frank Wheeler, let's find the space to get Koalas back.!
Lemurs
Well-Known Member
I emailed them about seeing their aye-ayes. Sadly it's a no go so I may delay my visit. This was part of the response:
"Our Mammals team have informed me that our Aye Ayes are currently being housed in the hospital as there is a small project due to start very soon in our rainforest enclosure. As the project will be quite noisy, it is better for the Aye ayes to remain in the hospital where it is quiet. The earliest that the Aye ayes should be back on show will be May."
"Our Mammals team have informed me that our Aye Ayes are currently being housed in the hospital as there is a small project due to start very soon in our rainforest enclosure. As the project will be quite noisy, it is better for the Aye ayes to remain in the hospital where it is quiet. The earliest that the Aye ayes should be back on show will be May."
I imagine this project is the second stage of the Great War against mice...
Perhaps they are sound blasting them!
Sounds a bit like the Mouse plagues they experience in places like Australia.If only those in charge of developments at London could have some of this ambition, London Zoo might be world class again. I have to say I'm shocked London Zoo do not have Koala's - relatively easy to obtain, require a small enclosure and immensely popular.
How is land of the lions coming along?
London Zoo
I was fortunate to attend a presentation about the building work for the Land of the Lions on 9 March. David Field gave a talk about the work and at the moment everything is on schedule. Bearing in mind that it is a building site, one had to use imagination but I believe that this exhibit will be one of the best with the welfare of the lions given first consideration. The new lions will be coming from Sakkarbaug Zoological Gardens, Gujarat. It is hoped that the lions will be at London Zoo at the end of this year, so that they can settle in and the keepers can get use to them. Spring 2016 will see the lions on show to visitors
I was fortunate to attend a presentation about the building work for the Land of the Lions on 9 March. David Field gave a talk about the work and at the moment everything is on schedule. Bearing in mind that it is a building site, one had to use imagination but I believe that this exhibit will be one of the best with the welfare of the lions given first consideration. The new lions will be coming from Sakkarbaug Zoological Gardens, Gujarat. It is hoped that the lions will be at London Zoo at the end of this year, so that they can settle in and the keepers can get use to them. Spring 2016 will see the lions on show to visitors
So we'll be getting more unrelated(?) stock in, hopefully these and the other further planned imports will boost the European population and iron out some of the inbreeding issues that currently abound!