Molly Dineen's The Ark on DVD

[Shirokuma]

I watched the first half of this today (feeling sorry for myself in bed with a cold) and it really is excellent.

I remember seeing it when I was younger but didn't know the zoo then like I do now. It actually makes quite difficult viewing sometimes, clearly such a dreadful time for the zoo and for so many people dedicated to it and its animals.

I strongly reccommend it to anyone who seeks to understand what kind of place the zoo is today and the difficulties it has gone through in the past.

 

[IanRRobinson]

If I remember rightly, Frank Wheeler sort of emerged as the 'star' of the programmes, with his candid and insightful comments on the Zoo's plight at the time.

I knew Frank( he was also nicknamed 'Lurch' though I never found out why!) during an earlier period at ZSL. He had a very comprehensive knowledge, entirely self taught, and was a very engaging character.

Frank was shown at the end of the film climbing the Goat Hills saying that the world would know that London Zoo was back when there were bears back on the Mappins.

And I think I know what he would say if he could see the Clore Pavilion as it is today.