ZSL London Zoo London Zoo discussion thread

[Mugcake]

Presumably that's one of the listed features?

I do think it would be in the zoo’s best interests to try and apply for an exception in that case then. It’s nice to see it on there for historical reasons, but it causes an unavoidable loop of confusion:

1. New/Unfamiliar visitor sees the words “Penguin Pool”

2. They go over to look for the penguins, and of course see none

3. They spend time looking for them, thinking they must be inside or something, until they eventually find the panel mentioning its disuse (or just walk off disappointed)

This isn’t the zoo’s fault, but it’s an inevitability given it advertises itself for something it no longer provides. The closure of the African Aviary route also means guests are slightly less likely to find Penguin Beach before it, and it is entirely possible to stumble across the pool without knowing it’s disused. It’s why the zoo abandoned the name “Elephant House” for the Casson Pavilion once the elephants left, because if that was in big letters outside it would inevitably lead to disappointment.

The only real solution is to implement large signs highlighting where the penguins are now, but there may still be a level of confusion. The pool is presumably going to have the title for the foreseeable future, unless the zoo can cover it with cladding that says “Lubetkin Pool” or something similar to “The Cassons”.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

The Penguin Pool words on the structure are part of the listed status.

 

[Mugcake]

The Penguin Pool words on the structure are part of the listed status.

I know that’s what I was replying to :0

But also are they at least allowed to cover it with something? :/

 

[Rajang21]

I know that’s what I was replying to :0

But also are they at least allowed to cover it with something? :/

Probably not. The listing means it must be preserved.

 

[Tetradactyla]

Yes, I was always told that, as it’s considered part of the “architecture” itself, the lettering must be kept visible.

I admit that my personal “pie in the sky” for the Lubetkin pool - before I learned how restrictive the listed status actually was - was for a netted aviary and a flock of weaverbirds, on the theme of “animal architecture”. I always felt the abundance of white would make a handsome backdrop for an arid / semi-arid enclosure - practically Mediterranean!

Alas, the list of prohibited alterations is so long that I suspect the only thing the Lubetkin is good for now, in a zoological sense, is playing a game of “which animal isn’t too big, isn’t too destructive, doesn’t need to climb, fly, or dive…”

 

[Mugcake]

Alas, the list of prohibited alterations is so long that I suspect the only thing the Lubetkin is good for now, in a zoological sense, is playing a game of “which animal isn’t too big, isn’t too destructive, doesn’t need to climb, fly, or dive…”

I mean, climbing is technically something the pool is designed for, albeit climbing on rocky ledges. So you could maybe have something that lives in a mountainous environment, where it’s rocky enough that hard concrete wouldn’t cause them issues.

But then a further issue is that there’s very few animals that fit the size requirements. Something like a Pika is too small, but most mountain goats are too big. Maybe some kind of grouse?

All the same, it seems like the compulsory signage is gonna continue to confuse some visitors until the heat death of the universe. But it’s not at all something ZSL can change and I commend them for keeping the pool in good condition

 

[DCzootripper]

Why did the Cassons pavilion used to be called Zoo-world?

 

[JVM]

Could some species of tortoise or turtle be a candidate for the Lubtekin Pool? There are already some in other points of the zoo, It's not a flashy or exciting pick, but they aren't something that require very high barriers.

I wanted to double check something in the news thread -- are the capybaras moving to a new enclosure or staying put in their current enclosure?

 

[polarbear]

Could some species of tortoise or turtle be a candidate for the Lubtekin Pool? There are already some in other points of the zoo, It's not a flashy or exciting pick, but they aren't something that require very high barriers.

I wanted to double check something in the news thread -- are the capybaras moving to a new enclosure or staying put in their current enclosure?

The capybara are due to move to the enclosure by the Komodo House, which previously held the giant tortoises.

 

[Mugcake]

Why did the Cassons pavilion used to be called Zoo-world?

I think you’re mixing up the Cassons with Zoo World, which is a ticketed play/activities area in the old Reptile House?

The Cassons was primarily just called “The Elephant House” until the elephants left the zoo in 2001, even though rhinos remained there for at least a couple months more (I’d have to research to see if they changed the name at all in the interim period).

Even today I’ll call it “The Elephant House” in conversation with family, because I used to call it that growing up despite never visiting while elephants were there :/

 

[Mugcake]

Could some species of tortoise or turtle be a candidate for the Lubtekin Pool? There are already some in other points of the zoo, It's not a flashy or exciting pick, but they aren't something that require very high barriers.

Unfortunately, the outdoor nature of it means it’s only really good for reptiles that can tolerate cold climates, and that’s not a common trait amongst the turtle and tortoise family (with some standout exceptions).

The only ones I can think of that would really do alright there would be Steppe Tortoise, but even they can have specific care needs. The pool would need to be entirely drained and filled with sand, and the area itself might be a little too big for such a small species.

They are pretty adept climbers though, and the ramps of the pool might actually be something they enjoy. So it could be done, and they are a species listed as Vulnerable (which ZSL tends to take note of), but I reckon they’d more likely end up in the Reptile House instead.

 

[Cobi]

I think you’re mixing up the Cassons with Zoo World, which is a ticketed play/activities area in the old Reptile House?

Actually the Casson Pavilion was called Zoo World for a while. I think it was part of a tendency to give things names to make them sound more exciting than they actually are and consisted of some interactive displays about how zoos work.

The new area in the old reptile house is called ZooTown

@Maguari

 

[Mugcake]

Actually the Casson Pavilion was called Zoo World for a while. I think it was part of a tendency to give things names to make them sound more exciting than they actually are and consisted of some interactive displays about how zoos work.

The new area in the old reptile house is called ZooTown

Ohhh ok, apologies for the mixup. The names are so similar that I couldn’t even tell the difference

Whenabouts was it called Zoo World? I don’t recall it having that name when I first began visiting 20+ years ago, but maybe it did and I just never noticed?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Ohhh ok, apologies for the mixup. The names are so similar that I couldn’t even tell the difference

Whenabouts was it called Zoo World? I don’t recall it having that name when I first began visiting 20+ years ago, but maybe it did and I just never noticed?

That photo is from 2007, and it certainly still had the name when I first visited in 2012.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

It was labelled on the map as Zoo World as well. Was like that for years, and up until recently I think you could still see the shape of where the sign was on the wall. Still not entirely sure why they closed the insides for the long term at the moment, but at least the pigs have some offshow space.

 

[Mugcake]

That photo is from 2007, and it certainly still had the name when I first visited in 2012.

Crazy thing is I visited a LOT around that period and have literally no memories of seeing that sign. I remember literally everything else - the hippos in the sea lion pond and Cassons, the tapir next to the giraffes, the bears on the Mappins - but not the Zoo World sign :/

 

[Daubentoniidae]

Yeah it was nice to see the Cassons b8eing used for so many animals up until quite recently like that.

 

[Mugcake]

Yeah it was nice to see the Cassons b8eing used for so many animals up until quite recently like that.

It was great yeah, I still think the camels are the best they’ve had there since the elephants. They were essentially as tall (counting the humps) but had nowhere near the same mass or space requirements, alongside being domestic animals that were more accustomed to being kept in a pen/paddock.

Still don’t entirely understand why they removed them from there, their new paddock is good but doesn’t showcase them in as cool a way as the Cassons :T

 

[MOG2012]

In the Tiny Giants Exhibit, I believe there is a defunct monkey enclosure right. Would a group of coconut crabs be suitable in it to fill in missing space as they could take advantage of the vertical space

 

[Mugcake]

In the Tiny Giants Exhibit, I believe there is a defunct monkey enclosure right. Would a group of coconut crabs be suitable in it to fill in missing space as they could take advantage of the vertical space

The weirdest thing is, I actually talked about this yesterday:

Additionally, got a photo of the long since disused monkey enclosure. Apparently the building’s focus is almost totally on invertebrates now (aside from fish), so it’s unlikely this will be occupied again:

I’d even considered coconut crabs as an idea, just hadn’t said anything as I didn’t think it was feasible. The main reason is that these crabs need both land to walk on and water to keep their gills wet. They don’t need a pool as they can’t actively breathe in water, but they need to moisten their faux lungs in order to continue extracting oxygen from air.

I’m just not sure there’s enough room at the bottom for land, water, and a fake tree for them to climb. It’s a narrow enclosure meant primarily for arboreal animals, and as they’re only really semi-arboreal I don’t foresee them being the best fit.

I believe the monkey one also has a booth at the bottom half for the Deathwatch beetles, so that would need to be taken out, with the enclosure possible expanded slightly into the walkway to give the crabs some extra room.