ZSL London Zoo Information for a visit

DesertRhino150

DesertRhino150

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I am heading off to London Zoo tomorrow, and was wondering if anyone knew the answers to a couple of questions I have:

- Is the Zoe's imperial pigeon still there, and if so where exactly is it? From searching through the information on here, it is in the 'North Bank aviaries' but they aren't listed on the zoo map at all.
- How easy is it to see the Australian water rats and armadillos? The latter particularly have bugged me many times at other zoos and I am getting rather desperate to see one.

Also, are there any other species that really shouldn't be missed. I am mostly thinking about reptiles, amphibians and (particularly) invertebrates. I will definitely look for the bearded pigs and hummingbirds; what else should I look out for?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
I certainly have not heard that the Zoe's Imperial Pigeon has died - although my last visit was in October 2012 so my personal experience is slightly out of date. If it is indeed still in the collection, the North Bank Aviaries you are looking for are along the path stretching from the Snowden along to where there is a label for Owls on the following map:

http://www.zoogreen.com/images/London-zoo-map-2011.jpg

The water rats and armadillos are both very easy to see - both being very active, and the latter species being held in a number of places around the zoo. Another three species you must not miss in the nocturnal house are the Potto, Moholi Galago and Slender Loris, all the only ones onshow in the UK.

Reptile and amphibian wise, as long as you go into the Reptile house you are certain of seeing a lot of rarities - I am particularly fond of the Lake Oku Clawed Frogs and the Fiji Banded Iguana.
 
The Australian water rats are usually very active and easy to see. You can see armadillos in the ground level of the rainforest through the viewing window to your right as you enter the nocturnal area. You can also get a good view of one in the Casson pavilion/ zoo world building in an enclosure to your left as you enter the building.
 
TheOnlineZoo said:
For me, the unique species at the London Zoo were Asiatic Lion...
Click to expand...

That's purely down to geography, being American you're used to seeing Africans whilst in Europe the most commonly kept subspecies is the Asiatic lion. We're knee deep in them! :)
 
Armadillo hot tip: the volunteers usually have one or both of the two youngsters in the Casson, Jack and Marian, out for exercise at some point in the day. That happens in a pen which is inside the sheep and goat paddock in the "Animal Adventure" area (otherwise known as the children's zoo!). The day I volunteer we do it at about 11.30 but the best policy is to go to the information kiosk where they should know what time that day's volunteers will have the armadillos out. It's a nice opportunity to see them up close. They are large hairy armadillos, the offspring of Amy and Rolex who live in the far end of the rainforest enclosure. If you don't see those two immediately, keep going back – they're more than likely burrowing.

Also in the rainforest, ask the volunteer/s on duty where the tamandua is – she's a beautiful animal, usually snoozing somewhere, but sometimes out and about.
 
I went four weeks ago and didn't see the Zoe Imperial Pigeon, a lot of the north bank aviaries contained tawny frogmouths.

In the reptile house there are some Sardinian Brook Salamanders, look for them to the right of the midwife toad tadpoles.
 
In my very limited experience, it's easiest to see the armadillos in the Clore Rainforest by looking down from the far corner of the gallery.

Alan
 
Thanks for all the advice everybody. Had a great visit yesterday and managed to see most of what was suggested. Saw my first armadillos both in the rainforest and Casson pavilion and also particularly enjoyed seeing the water rats, bushbabies, potto, slender loris, bearded pig, Lake Oku clawed frogs and Amazilia hummingbirds. Even though I didn't see it active, the tamandua was great to see as well.

The signage for the Zoe's imperial pigeon is still up in one of the North Bank aviaries but despite that it remained hidden.
 
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