ZSL London Zoo London Developments
- Thread starter ^Chris^
- Start date
I think London used to keep Nyala with their giraffes too, but they have also gone according to ISIS. Not sure whether they'll want to keep taking on too many gazelles, they're better suited to Whipsnade with it being more spacious etc.
I remember kudu at London but not Nyala, though I expect they had some. Whipsnade used to keep a small group of Nyala. They've replaced them with Bongos from London. Marwell has 27 Nyala, so I expect Whipsnade's Nyala were sent there.
When I first went to London in 1985 (except for a visit when I was 4 which I don't remember much), the Cotton Terraces and Giraffe House had all sorts of antelope. I remember Arabian Oryx, Roan Antelope, Blackbuck, Anoa, Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Gaur and South American Tapir. Also Pygmy Hippo I think.
When I first went to London in 1985 (except for a visit when I was 4 which I don't remember much), the Cotton Terraces and Giraffe House had all sorts of antelope. I remember Arabian Oryx, Roan Antelope, Blackbuck, Anoa, Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Gaur and South American Tapir. Also Pygmy Hippo I think.
The first ever time I saw Malayan Tapir was in that Giraffe House. The tapirs have a big indoor pool and I imagined that it may've once housed hippos. The pygmy hippos are now split between an outdoor paddock for summer and the Casson Elephant House in winter I think.
I understand that the Giraffe House once held Bison too.
I understand that the Giraffe House once held Bison too.
in 2005 the snowdon aviary also had kites (yes) and mandarin ducks too. plus starlings and sparrows. i liked the snowdon aviary from the outside but with the ibis colony inside i think most people (myself included) didnt tend to stay long for fear of being **** on. 
in 2005 the cotton terraces had giraffe, arabian gazelle, arabian oryx, a female nyala herd, malayan tapir red river hogs, okapi and anoa. i never once saw the gazelles, they were too nervous.
interestingly, meerkats were in with the giraffes up until quite recently too. little annoyed to hear the bongos have all been sent out to whipsnade, these beautiful antelope are an attraction in themself, and would have fitted in well with the african forest zone.
has anyone got any photos of the cotton terraces? if not UK CORRSEPONDENTS GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!
in 2005 the cotton terraces had giraffe, arabian gazelle, arabian oryx, a female nyala herd, malayan tapir red river hogs, okapi and anoa. i never once saw the gazelles, they were too nervous.
interestingly, meerkats were in with the giraffes up until quite recently too. little annoyed to hear the bongos have all been sent out to whipsnade, these beautiful antelope are an attraction in themself, and would have fitted in well with the african forest zone.
has anyone got any photos of the cotton terraces? if not UK CORRSEPONDENTS GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!
I think you'll find its planned for them to return, perhaps after a new area has been created for them. I believe they're only at Whipsnade on a temporary basis.
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
The warthogs were having a new area developed last time I went. What is it like?
The Warthog and Red River Hog enclosures are on the lower level, either side of the long 'middle' enclosure redesigned for the Hunting Dogs. The two hog enclosures are mirror images of each other- both have a wooden shelter, woodchip/mulch flooring etc. No complaint from me, but for general visitors, it seems a bit strange to have two quite similar Pig species, when basically the Cotton terraces can currently only hold seven or eight species in all..
Snowdon Aviary currently has;
Little Egret;Waldrapp Ibis; Sacred Ibis;Black Kite;Green Peafowl;Grey-headed Gull;White Winged Wood Duck;Mandarin Duck.
I saw all except the ducks... Peafowl had two chicks.
Yes it is. There are Waldrapps in both this and the Snowdon aviaries, plus a pair of choughs and some small ducks in the aviary you describe. It used to have Avocets and other small waders as well. It has a name- can't remember just now...
the mountains above the bears are they used at all, would they not be ideal for say nilgiri tahr linking the bears geographically or some other asian mountain hoofstock such as markhor or takin, or even net part of it over for say himalayan griffon vulture or lammergeier, and say a small corner for red panda for a trully asian experience.
I don't think the top area is really accessible for animals now. I presume it once did house some sort of mountain goat species as it has little caves built into it but I think its currently deemed unsuitable (like so many of London's old exhibits.) The second level does house Hanuman Langurs at the minute though- there's about 3.
Yes, they would. The problem would be access for the public to see them though. The two lower tiers are used by the bear/langur exhibit and the stairs either side leading up to the top level are closed to public access.
They'd have to redesign/reopen the access in order to uitilise the top level again but it could be done?
They'd have to redesign/reopen the access in order to uitilise the top level again but it could be done?
There used to be a big herd of Barbary Sheep. Also Bighorn Sheep. Probably other species at different times. It was always sheep/goats.
Originally, in its 'heyday' it was arranged as;
The top level was three(?) large 'mountains' for sheep and goat species.
The middle level was five or six enclosures for the bears- I can remember Polar(sometimes two pairs) also American Black, Brown/Syrian maybe Himalayan Black too.
The lowest level was a similar number of enclosures for Pigs and Peccaries. (There were a lot of Wild Boar at one stage...)
then Penguins(King) and Pelicans(?) in the pool facing the restaurant.