ZSL London Zoo First thoughts

Mr Saxon

Mr Saxon

Well-Known Member
Now I know there's recently been another 'First time to London zoo' thread but I didn't want to jump into that discussion with my own little 'first visit' because I felt that would have been quite rude. I've been typing this a bit at a time for 2 weeks since my visit on Tuesday the 3rd of August 2010. First time to London altogether so had no idea where the zoo was so we just got a taxi.

We arrived at about 10:00am and paid our way in. I initally didn't know where to go to first as the Aquaruim, Gorilla kingdom, Outback, reptile house and Into Africa all had signs pointing in different directions. I decided to head to Into Africa first the loop round that side of the zoo.

TBH my first impressions before arriving at the zoo was that it was small (it looked small on the map!!:D) because it was in the middle of a big busy city. However I was soon delighted to see how large it was and anticipation kicked in.

Into Africa was a nice walk about and was filled with a few 'first times'. (I should point out here that when I say 'first times' I mean the first time I've seen a particular species in a zoo firsthand. Soon in Into Africa I was happy to see Warthogs and Okapi, especially the latter up close in their house. I was also surprised to see how many African Wild Dogs the zoo had. I know that two females have been introduced recently and that brought up the pack to what? Seven or eight individuals? The most I'd seen was 4 or 5!

It was then time to head to Snowdon Aviary and I only counted about 3 or 4 different species but a great sized flock of Sacred Ibis and Northern Bald Ibis. Then came the long walk with the owls and Lovebirds etc. I was surprised at the amount of species of owls the zoo had and managed to get a few photos, especially of the Tawny frogmouths.
Then it was Otter time and it was great to see all 9 of them in their den curled up asleep, just a mass of tails and paws and the odd head here and there. Round the ring-tailed lemurs and meerkats then suddenly I randomly changed route, missing Rainforest/Night life completly (don't worry we got back to it) and headed for Barclay court with the intention of going past the vultures and into the Aquarium which went on and on until I actually thought I was in the ocean!:p

We came out of the Aquarium and then straight into the Reptile house. By this point there was a lot of people in the zoo now compared to the amount of wandering souls that arrived at our time. So seeing everything in the reptile house was difficult. As for getting photos it was even harder! But I was also impressed with it's size and diversity of species and as we exited I was looking forward to our next exhibit, Gorilla Kingdom!!!!

I'll post the next part later once I've finished what I'm doing around the house!
 
continued....

I was amazed by Gorilla Kingdom. I had heard great things about it here and from other people who'd been but it was still stunning! Both gorillas were in at the time but we heard a keeper say to come back later because they would be out on the island. I made a mental note of that and after a few pictures of the place we moved on.

Next we were at the Bearded pigs and I was yet again surprised to see such a number of them. Nine I counted. Then it was round to the Pelicans and flamingos. We then went into the butterfly house were one landed on my head and wouldn't get off for the whole time I was in there. Had to brush him off at the end in which he flew and landed on an elderly ladies head:D

Then past more birds and then up to the Servels. Next was the lions and I couldn't see them at the moment, apart from the male lying on the ground with his back leg in the air lol. Stopped at the gift shop and my mum bought loads of things for people back home and had a cuppa while I went off to B.U.Gs and the giant anteater. Yet again I was surprised to see such a large building that was informative, nicely layed out and got you close to the all the insects and other animals.
Anteater was inside and curled up asleep, got a photo of it and was frankly annoyed because everybody coming out of Meet the Monkeys ignored the indoor area and walked past despite me crouched down taking photos. Their loss I suppose.
Anyway before I could go in to MtM, mum called me and I went back to the gift shop were we passed the Llamas and donkeys and went all the way back to the Barclay court to see the Penguins feed. It was too crowed there and I couldn't see so we decided to go back at the later time. All the way back to the bearded pigs then we went into zoo world where most of the exhibits were empty. I was disappointed to find I missed such animals as Skunks and Black-footed ferrets...I think.
Outside met the Bactrian camels then round to the pygmy hippos who were lazily drifting in the water.
Not knowing where I was going next I followed a path and excitedly found the Komodos. Even better I got a front seat as their talk began and the keeper went in to show us who they are trained and then gave him some mice in various places. Took loads of photos of him. Unfortunatly we missed the Galapagos tortoise talk but saw them after. Got a few pics of the male trying to mate with the female, but she was having none of it and made her way straight to us as the male decided to ignore her. It was my first time for both these species.
Next we came to the Austrailian outback which looked pretty neat but I'm curious to know what future expansion might include?

From here I noticed on the map some of the other species and exhibits we've missed so we went through Gorilla Kingdom again (gorillas were indeed outside) and then up to the Lions who were all gather together and we stayed for the big cat talk. After that, back up to the giftshop and into Animal Adventure. Thought it was a great place for kids and was jealous of those who could go through the tunnels and appear in the meerkats exhibit and beside the Aardvarks (yet another first). We got to the end of Animal Adventure then went all the way back through it and into the Blackburn Pavilion. Mum was too tired so sat outside while I walked through. Beautiful little place but one question. Does the zoo have Kiwis? I could swear I saw a sign with them on it but couldn't see any. Also surprised to see the Hummingbird area which was nice, actually took me a few seconds to notice they were hummingbirds. Too fast for photos though. Then I got another shock as the light sprinkler system came on to keep up the humidity and I quickly scurried away protecting my camera.
Outside the Pavilion, we went into Meet the Monkeys were most of the squirrel monkeys were hid in the foliage. Only a few came out to pose or say hello but for the rest it was a blur as they jumped from tree to tree.
Came out beside B.U.G.S but was interested to see people finally found the Anteater who was still dozing. I wanted to go into B.U.G.S again and my mum grimiced and 'euk'ed from each insect. We left that and then went down to the penguin feeding show again. But yet again I was shoved to the front by young children and parents hoping to video it. I didn't get to see them fed (mum did however) but at least I got to hear the commentary and some facts.
Afterwards I checked the map and finally noticed Rainforest/Night life and we hurried to it, past the otters (who were out and posing) and Meerkats again.
Loved Rainforest life, great place loved the Red Titi monkeys and Tamarins saying hello and even got to see the Sloth eating. No sign of the Southern Tamandua though for us.:( Is he free-roaming or in one of the side exhibits?
Night life was also a hoot, didn't take any photos down their though. Loved all the bats flying about, never seen that before in a zoo, usually they are sleeping of course.

Left there went back by accident to Into Africa and then across the bridge, past Snowdon Aviary and the owls to the exit to Camden Town.

All in all a great trip. By the end of it, the time was 5:00PM and I had taken over 678 photos. Super happy I got to spend all day there exploring a brand new zoo and getting lost at times as well which actually made it even better. Got to see mainly everything, maybe missed and odd species or two here and there but confident that most of what the zoo had to offer was experianced. Can't wait to return in a few years when new developments and projects have been completed.
 
Glad to see youn ejoyed it! The zoo doesn't have Black-footed Ferrets or Kiwis, so you haven't missed out there!

(unless things have changed very very recently! :D )
 
You really made the most of your day! I don't think you missed anything, I'm really glad you enjoyed yourself. The zoo doesn't have any black-footed ferrets, only ordinary domestic ones (though they do have black feet...) and probably at that time of day they would have been either over in Animals in Action doing their bit on stage, or in the pen in the sheep area, getting some exercise and being stroked by brave visitors!
The tamandua is free-ranging in the Rainforest, but as other people have noted, she is not only nocturnal but very shy and would have been hiding in a nesting box somewhere. You need to go as late in the day as possible if you want to see her but it's worth it because she's soooooo beautiful!
 
Thanks for the replies. I wanted to stay as long as possible before we had to leave.
Must have been normal ferrets then, did see the Armadillos in Zoo World and as we went into the sheep paddock they were there running about and stuff, nobody was petting them though!
And kiwis, must have been my imagination then!:P

Ah thanks for the tip, I'll try and remember that for next time, whenever that is!!:P
 
There is a picture of a kiwi. The entrance area of the Blackburn pavillion has various Victorian-style sillhouettes showing the diversity of birds and one is of a kiwi.
 
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