ZSL London Zoo ZSL - Childrens Zoo Concept

JamesB

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
just recently got a email from zsl asking me to partcipate in a survey about the (to) be opened childrens zoo

here are some of the details:

2009 ZSL London Zoo will be opening a brand new exhibit in place of the Children's Zoo. It will be a fully immersive exhibit, aimed at 3-7 year olds, where visitors will walk through the habitats of animals. Bringing barriers down, the exhibit will allow visitors to feel they have entered the world of these animals and experience some of the challenges animals face in the environments in which they live.

The Children’s Zoo will be a learning-led experience, helping visitors to understand how animals differ and how they have adapted to their environment, and what they need to survive.

The exhibit will be divided into 5 distinct zones:

Treetop village
Root zone
Splash zone
Touch paddock
Events zone

TREETOP VILLAGE
Bright, colourful, fantasy shapes inspired by nature with a suspension bridge to take children through tall trees and colourful poles providing an immersive experience. Animals include Red Pandas, Coatis and Parakeets.

ROOT ZONE
Crawl through tunnel providing immersive experience of tunnelling through the ground. Animals include Yellow Mongoose and Prairie dogs.

Splash Zone
This zone will consist of a secret garden containing play elements as well as plants and features to encourage wildlife such as butterflies and birds.

Link: Naming Childrens Zoo
 
Tiger, I think you've posted the wrong link there...

Interesting development if true, but I still think there are other areas which need redeveloping ahead of the children's zoo.

From the descriptions though, it looks as though it will be a good Children's Zoo.

May I ask as to how you recieved the email? I'm signed up to the newsletter, but did not receive any survey.
 
I like the idea of a childrens zoo as opposed to a childrens farm. Sounds good, though I hope I won't look to stupid going round it to see the animals.
 
I like the idea of a childrens zoo as opposed to a childrens farm. Sounds good, though I hope I won't look to stupid going round it to see the animals.

good comment, i was think exactly the same :D
 
From the photos it looks like some of the original features are staying. I notice the penguin pool will become a fountain.
 
Those plans look pretty good for a children's zoo and the species list is a very wise choice considering it will be aimed at kids. I really don't like the look of the splash zone though...
 
From the photos it looks like some of the original features are staying. I notice the penguin pool will become a fountain.

I was just about to add the same thing!

Tiger, can you post the correct link? Was there a story in the e-newsletter? I'm just curious to find out more...
 
I was just about to add the same thing!

Tiger, can you post the correct link? Was there a story in the e-newsletter? I'm just curious to find out more...

no i dont think the link is going to work sorry, thats the link from the email and thats all i got sorry! i had a survery about cheetah rock last year too
 
if anyone would like me to send them the zsl email just pm me with your adress and il send asap!
 
Those plans look pretty good for a children's zoo and the species list is a very wise choice considering it will be aimed at kids. I really don't like the look of the splash zone though...

Looks very Chelsea Flower show...

I'm not sure why it is that zoos need to market a zone specifically for children, when it is quite obvious that children (and families) make up the bulk of their attendance. I can see the merits of a treetops zone and a root (surely there is a better name...) zone to showcase animals specific to those niches, but not sure why it needs to be dumbed down. By all means make it children friendly.
 
the names arent decided yet i asume but that must be the projects names

i forget to mention that some of the suggested names were: kids go wild, wild child, climburrowwallow and one other that i forgot, my favourite is wild child
 
Looks very Chelsea Flower show...

I'm not sure why it is that zoos need to market a zone specifically for children, when it is quite obvious that children (and families) make up the bulk of their attendance.

Couldn't agree more. As a father of four young children, we never go anywhere near the 'children's zoo' usually. Having said that, a simple enclosure for farm animals which can be stroked always goes down well - Emmen wins the prize here (although their's is nothing fancy). I wince at the thought of red pandas, yellow mongooses et al being turned into something which is for children (and, by implication, not for adults).
 
i suppose its ok if you have children but if you dont i suppose you might look a bit sucspicous if you know what i mean
 
Couldn't agree more. As a father of four young children, we never go anywhere near the 'children's zoo' usually. Having said that, a simple enclosure for farm animals which can be stroked always goes down well - Emmen wins the prize here (although their's is nothing fancy). I wince at the thought of red pandas, yellow mongooses et al being turned into something which is for children (and, by implication, not for adults).

Also while the mongoose might cope okay with loud hordes of children, I cannot see the red pandas doing well. Or otherwise they will be high up a tree out of sight.
 
yes defintley tetrapod! unless they are han raised ones, which is unlikely, does london currently keep red pandas?
 
Back
Top