ZSL London Zoo Clore developments

The reason they're redoing the Clore (and rebranding it) is because they messed up originally with the pipework. Many keepers were unhappy with the current layout as poor placement of radiators meant that keeping conditions optimal for the animals could be quite a challenge. Also, hot pipes underneath the main exhibit led to the extensive death of many of the plants.
Since they have to replant everything and re-run the pipes they're also using the opportunity to make it that little bit more interactive. This will certainly keep the education volunteers on their toes as they've already had to herd curious monkeys back into the central space.
I also know that they're doing a fair bit of work on the Nightzone, because to be quite frank, it was awful. A recent trip to Berlin Zoo certainly highlighted that.
Oh, and they're getting some more bats from Chester (though it took the poor keeper that let her in by surprise as no one was really expecting her), and that there is talk of a mole rat colony and an ant colony much like the one already on display in BUGS!
 
Vulpes said:
I loved the diversity that was once on display!
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Maguari said:
Yes - and it's rather a shame that not only have they decreased diversity by reducing the number of species, they've skewed it by keeping all the callitrichids and getting rid of other stuff
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I can recall when there was a sign in the Clore Pavilion that stated something like:-

There are more species of mammal in the Clore Pavilion alone than in any other zoo in the UK.

This is not an exact quote, but it certainly indicates the diversity of species that were once housed in this building in its heyday.
 
I would well believe it! I will never forget my first visit to the pavilion, I could have spent the whole day there! There were so many species that I had only ever read about in books, some I had never even heard of. My next visit, some years later was to the rainforest and to be honest I was disgusted! I hope the new design somehow redeems what went wrong but I doubt it!
 
Oh yes, we have armadillos now, and new bats from Chester.

The Clore is looking pretty damn good I must say. I've not seen the nightzone yet, but the main area is certainly a lot more green, and the monkeys have more to roam.

Two weeks until it opens officially :D
 
You can see some of the foliage through one of the windows outside, not close enough to get a good idea but saw lots of green which beats lots of dried or dead foliage... Looking forward to the offical opening!
 
The current edition of 'Wild about' (ZSL's magazine) has a feature mentioning that Cave fish, naked mole rats and seba's short-tailed bats will be among the new residents of 'night life'.
On changes to the Clore's rainforest, the article states:
"...the walkways are now part of the whole rainforest feel, with the canopy stretching out above your head..."
And that the brickwork "is now clad with tree bark, to give a more natural feel to the whole area."
Plants are also mentioned, having been sourced from a nursery in Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica.
 
I was told at the weekend it is proposed that visits to the Rainforest area of the renovated Clore will be in supervised groups only , as Twycross do with their Tropical House .
 
Bele said:
I was told at the weekend it is proposed that visits to the Rainforest area of the renovated Clore will be in supervised groups only , as Twycross do with their Tropical House .
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I seriously urge any ZSL staff reading this to do anything they can to prevent this from happening.

The Tropical House at Twycross is one of the worst visitor experiences I've had in Britain - nothing worse than queueing to get into an exhibit at an appointed time then being rushed around without being able to pace yourself, take photos, return to no-shows etc.


I'd hate to see such one of my favourite zoo buildings go the same way.
 
I agree, sounds terrible, one size fits all, dumbed down into a three minute 'experience'. But I won't judge until I know exactly what is happening.
 
Stop panicking!

It's just a rumour. I can find out more details from some of the educational volunteers, one of whom has mentioned something about tours. I didn't get details because I didn't really pick up on the connotations.

From what I've heard it's not to be ONLY supervised tours, more that people can have tours if they'd like them.

If my attempts at bribing an educational volunteer for information tomorrow fails then I will quiz a senior keeper when I'm in on Saturday.
 
are you able to say whether the aye ayes are going into Nightlife or are they to remain in the roundhouse?
 
Thanks procyonlotor, it doesn't take much to get us going does it? Hopefully there won't be angry crowds marching down the Outer Circle just yet...
 
Surely if they did go ahead with this it would only be at Peak times- I can't see them doing it at say, 4.30 p.m on a quiet, wet day?
 
Pertinax said:
Surely if they did go ahead with this it would only be at Peak times- I can't see them doing it at say, 4.30 p.m on a quiet, wet day?
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Twycross do. Well, when the house isn't closed for technical difficulties...
 
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