ZSL London Zoo Mappins Closure in 1980s

Bwassa

Bwassa

Well-Known Member
When, exactly, did the Mappins close in the 1980s?
My first visit to London was in the summer of 1983. I was an excited 10 year-old, who was really looking forward to a Mappins experience. The guide book stated they had Polar, Asiatic Black, and American Black Bears, plus various goats and pigs, but it was the bears I most wanted to see.
I was heartbroken to find that the entrance to the steps for the Mappins was sealed off by high boards. Nothing could be seen of the exhibit, let alone the bears.
When did the zoo seal off the exhibit?
When were the bears and other animals transferred?
To which zoos did they go?

Can anybody help?
(I'll bet Tim May knows...;) )
 
I would be very surprised if you went in 1983 - the mappins were still very much open at that point and the bears didn't leave until 1985. Even then, the terraces were open for at least 1-2 years after the bears left, and held the various sheep and goat species, plus wild boars, collared peccaries, as well as a group of brown pelicans in the long pool at the bottom.
 
It was definitely 1983. I still have the guide book to prove it!
Perhaps they were working on something at the time which meant that the Mappins were temporarily closed to the public?
 
Checking the ZSL Annual Report for 1985-1986, the following bears were listed as being in the collection on 1st January 1985:-

2 Asiatic black bear
4 brown bear
1 American black bear
2 polar bear
1 sloth bear

This Annual Report states that “In preparation for the planned development of the Mappin Terraces, homes were found in other collections for all five species of bears........Barbary sheep, mouflon, markhor and chamois”.
 
Bwassa said:
It was definitely 1983. I still have the guide book to prove it!
Perhaps they were working on something at the time which meant that the Mappins were temporarily closed to the public?
Click to expand...

Don't be fooled by "©1983" in the guidebook - variations of this guide (there are at least four different versions) were sold right up until 1989.
 
I went onto the top part of the Mappins in September 1985, it was the first time I had seen markhor and bighorn sheep.
 
Thanks for the replies and info guys. OK, so the Mappins WERE open back in 1983. However, for whatever reason, on the day of my visit they weren't.
I am now officially even more gutted than I was back then :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top