Have they just completely given up on trying to display any kind of animal in here? Is it destined to be an architectural museum curiosity from here on?
What were the attempts for animal display post-penguins? There were still penguins in it the last time I saw it in 2001.
It seems like it might make an adequate display for some kind of waterfowl species. Maybe a seasonal exhibit for a crocodilian species or an endangered Asian turtle conservation exhibit?
The best thing to do would be to have the entire structure removed to an art gallery. Placed outside Tate Modern it would look excellent.
At London Zoo it simply takes up space that the main garden can't afford to waste. That whole area, encompassing the events lawn and the ineffectual water birds aviary, is crying out for a re-think.
The building behind with the green poky bits sticking up requires me to take medication before I think about it....
At London Zoo it simply takes up space that the main garden can't afford to waste. That whole area, encompassing the events lawn and the ineffectual water birds aviary, is crying out for a re-think.
The building behind with the green poky bits sticking up requires me to take medication before I think about it....
@Ian and whoever else wants to chime in: realistically what would you like to see done to make the London Zoo a better zoo? It seems like they are severely limited in what species they can display both because of limited space and so many exhibits that can't be fundamentally altered to meet modern exhibit standards.
Is there any way that bears (any species), rhinos, or other "charismatic megafauna" other than giraffes, gorillas, and big cats can be housed at the zoo?
What other species or types of exhibits are people asking/wanting to see at London Zoo?
@Ian and whoever else wants to chime in: realistically what would you like to see done to make the London Zoo a better zoo? It seems like they are severely limited in what species they can display both because of limited space and so many exhibits that can't be fundamentally altered to meet modern exhibit standards.
Is there any way that bears (any species), rhinos, or other "charismatic megafauna" other than giraffes, gorillas, and big cats can be housed at the zoo?
What other species or types of exhibits are people asking/wanting to see at London Zoo?
To be honest, I think London's looking better than it has done for quite a while at the moment (Reptile House, Clore (diminished but still good), Aquarium, Blackburn Bird Pavilion, BUGS, new Penguin enclosure all excellent). It would seem that the remaining "blind spots" are known/understood and plans appear to be in action to remedy them over time.
My biggest bugbear when I visit is how much space I perceive is wasted due to Lawns, Merry-go-rounds and non-animal exhibits (and could be freed up for further "charasmatic megafauna") -but I accept London Zoo can never be all things to all people and ultimately I am happy it seems stable and improving.
To be honest, I think London's looking better than it has done for quite a while at the moment (Reptile House, Clore (diminished but still good), Aquarium, Blackburn Bird Pavilion, BUGS, new Penguin enclosure all excellent). It would seem that the remaining "blind spots" are known/understood and plans appear to be in action to remedy them over time.
My biggest bugbear when I visit is how much space I perceive is wasted due to Lawns, Merry-go-rounds and non-animal exhibits (and could be freed up for further "charasmatic megafauna") -but I accept London Zoo can never be all things to all people and ultimately I am happy it seems stable and improving.
My feelings exactly. I'm not going claim I think every recent decision is perfect, but they're all very much pointing in the right direction. London hasn't looked and felt as good as this in all the time I have been visiting (even if the big ABCs have dwindled in recent years).
My only qualm is that the Mappins are still wasted. The conversion to Australian exhibit is quite nicely done, but it needs to be a more exciting display than Emus and Red-necked Wallabies. Brolgas are an encouraging step in the right direction for the nerdy contingent, but it needs something flashier for the less geeky visitor - I would suggest either Red Kangaroos (big and showy), some more colourful macropods (nice big group of Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies would look superb!) or somehow incorporating Koalas. Ever since the bears left this corner has been a dead zone for visitors, hidden behind the Reptile House and with little to draw people in.
I very much agree with the last two statements. But I do think that, given the fact that many (most?) visitors don't read signs, the penguin pool simply looks like a random empty exhibit.
I visited recently with a non-zoo person and she commented on how much space wasn't used for animals and contrasted it with Chester and Bristol where she felt the non-animal space was more attractive in terms of gardens and plantings. I pointed out that we were visiting London in winter and that we went to Bristol and Chester on sunny summer days but still I get what she means.
London is definitely moving in the right direction and has made enormous progress over recent decades but I think she had a point.
