ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2015

Unlike most terrapins and freshwater turtles, these eat on land and in water, which adds to the level of enrichment available to them.
I can accept fully that some may dislike this exhibit because the animals are displayed as props but personally reject this as to me that feels rather like the start of a slippery slope to saying that all animals in zoos are props to a wider conservation message. Whilst the stimulation in the exhibit is not naturalistic, I would suggest that there is a variety of textures, the lighting will vary and that there is as much stimulation in this exhibit as in many that look more natural but are really just artificial in different ways.
 
Not long now til I will be going to ZSL London Zoo and since ITV's The Zoo I have already been warned that Kumbuka the silverback gorilla who likes to break and throw things
 
Jedd Cullinan said:
Not long now til I will be going to ZSL London Zoo and since ITV's The Zoo I have already been warned that Kumbuka the silverback gorilla who likes to break and throw things
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What is this people being afraid of Kumbuka? Did London get themselves a silverback that likes to beat up visitors or are there any media channels exaggerating the display behaviour?
 
When you go to Gorilla Kingdom to see Kumbuka, make every effort to see the baby gorilla born in December. Kumbuka is a big silverback but I don't think his behaviour is out of the ordinary, certainly doesn't beat up visitors !!!!
 
DDcorvus said:
What is this people being afraid of Kumbuka? Did London get themselves a silverback that likes to beat up visitors or are there any media channels exaggerating the display behaviour?
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I was a big fan of Kumbuka while he was living at Paignton Zoo. In his last few years here, when he matured, he was kept apart from the other gorillas and seemed to appreciate a bit of attention from visitors when he was outside on the island. He would sometimes respond by throwing whatever was to hand, maybe imitating the keepers who threw food to him. I only ever saw one 'missile' reach the other side of the moat. I certainly never lived in fear of him, or know anyone else who did. In fact, on the one occasion when I was lucky enough to go 'backstage' to meet him, he seemed more afraid of me.

When I visited him in London last year, I was told that the reason he'd thrown something at the glass and cracked it was that some visitors had been winding him up at the end of a long day. I would think that he takes little notice of people now that he's got a family to occupy him.

Ignore this urban myth, Jedd, and enjoy him - he's magnificent.
 
Gigit said:
I would think that he takes little notice of people now that he's got a family to occupy him.

Ignore this urban myth, Jedd, and enjoy him - he's magnificent.
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Absolutely. When I saw him there even before the baby was born, he was perfectly calm. He's well used to the ZSL set-up now and the fact that people can get a lot closer to him than they could at Paignton (probably one reason for his earlier behaviour) As you say, family life will have changed him too.;)
 
Regent said:
When you go to Gorilla Kingdom to see Kumbuka, make every effort to see the baby gorilla born in December. Kumbuka is a big silverback but I don't think his behaviour is out of the ordinary, certainly doesn't beat up visitors !!!!
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My comment wasn't meant seriously. A silverback can be very impressive when displaying and the set up in London means he could do it quit close to the visitors. I am surprised though that we already had 2 people asking about it as even in Rotterdam with Bokito there were less concerns for safety after he escaped.
 
DDcorvus said:
My comment wasn't meant seriously. A silverback can be very impressive when displaying and the set up in London means he could do it quit close to the visitors.
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At Paignton he was separated from people by a wide watermoat and indoors he was rarely onshow as an adult as he lived alone from the others. So on arrival at London he found a set-up with people much closer to him through glass both inside and along part of the outdoors too. Already used to relating to people, he was stimulated to react accordingly with more display and breaking/hurling things. Over time he got used to it all, plus proper family life with other Gorillas, and I think is now a model of good behaviour. Plenty of other Gorilla males have behaved similarly.
 
When I was there two weeks ago,there were signs up talking about him taking his protective father role very seriously or something like that. He seemed quite relaxed until mum and baby came into the on-show area, at which point he began charging the viewing window and showing just how impressive he is!
 
Considering Kumbuka was handraised, had lived alone several years and has not seen a female Gorilla before arriving in London aged 15 years, the odds were rather against him, but I think he has adapted remarkably well to his new role.
 
Annam leaf turtle

kiang said:
Thoughts on the new enclosure for Annam leaf turtles?

New home for Critically Endangered turtles at ZSL London Zoo | Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
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Saw the new set up for the 3 Annam leaf turtles on Friday and as far as I could make out the exhibit is bigger than their previous enclosure. The 2 females and 1 male seemed to be quite at home. Whilst looking at the exhibit, Ben who looks after the reptiles, passed by and I had a chat about the exhibit. It would appear that most visitors understood the conservation message that ZSL was getting across. In my opinion, an exhibit which makes you think, boiling pot in background along with chopping board. Pop along and see what you think.
 
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Zoo Lates

vogelcommando said:
"Zoo Lates" not anymore :
Zoo Lates scrapped in favour of toned down Sunset Safari event at London Zoo | Metro News
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I never attended Zoo Lates but like a lot of people I did read some of the newspapers regarding "bad behaviour" by people going to Zoo Lates. I firmly believe that the staff at ZSL do put the welfare of the animals first and I would like to think that anyone causing distress to any of the animals was quickly shown out. I am sure that many of us have visited a zoo during normal opening times and seen visitors banging on the glass, trying to feed animals or taking flash photography when they shouldn't. The new ZSL event takes place on a Friday nights from 5 June for a period of 7 weeks. It does appear to offer something different and I will be going along on 19 June to see for myself.
 
Land of lions

Nisha said:
London Zoo plans to build family 'safari camp'... on the edge of its lion enclosure - London - News - London Evening Standard
The next money making project has been unveiled.. An overnight experience within the new lion development
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Surely all London Zoo is doing is giving people the opportunity to have an overnight experience close up to lions. The lodges at Whipsnade have proved to be very popular over the years and therefore, it seems logical to extend the venture to London. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I am sure that this new venture will be extremely popular
 
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