ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2013

I think the bearded pigs are one of the most crowd-pleasing species at RP in that they are always active, they are sizeable, live in a big group and are incredibly charismatic. They are a good show animal and it is a great pity that there are no long term plans for them and tragic that there is so little interest in them from other UK collections that ZSL has had to take that drastic measure. That said, they too (just like the tapir and anoa) are overshadowed by the domineering Casson Pavillion. They play a very important part in the collection at RP but the way they are displayed is massively to their disadvantage. Any thing that is housed there needs to
a) be able to make full use of the height of the building and b) be bodily big enough to be reasonably viewable from a distance or live in a colony that is sizeable enough to be easily viewable.

Whereas the pigs, although a good exhibit in themselves, are still very distant from the visitors, the new pens for the tapirs and anoa potentially allow the visitor to get much closer. Glass viewing pannels form part of the enclosing wall. Its just a shame that the retiring nature of these two species means that (unless there is some plan to condition the animals to favour proximity to these vantage points) visitors will not get a really good view of these either.

Banteng would be really nice and something I would love to see there. But realistically it is never going to be a contender.

The dog dens are presently off show. I don't know if there are any plans to allow viewing of them but I very much doubt it.
 
I would love the inside to converted similar to Rotterdams elephant house! Gibbons, binturong and hornbills could be kept in large tall exhibits with smaller species such as giant squirrels, tree shrews, reptiles, amphibians in smaller exhibits!
 
Al said:
I would love the inside to converted similar to Rotterdams elephant house! Gibbons, binturong and hornbills could be kept in large tall exhibits with smaller species such as giant squirrels, tree shrews, reptiles, amphibians in smaller exhibits!
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Its only the old stalls themselves that have got any height in the Casson: the public area has a very low ceiling. If I remember correctly, visitors can get up to tree height in Rotterdam's. The concept of zoogeographical species groupings could be emulated and the emersive experience replicated with, as I've already said, a little ingenuity.

I love fantasizing - though accept I have no right to feel frustrated that those responsible for designing such spaces do not share the same fantasies as me!
 
Paradoxurus said:
Its only the old stalls themselves that have got any height in the Casson: the public area has a very low ceiling. If I remember correctly, visitors can get up to tree height in Rotterdam's. The concept of zoogeographical species groupings could be emulated and the emersive experience replicated with, as I've already said, a little ingenuity.

I love fantasizing - though accept I have no right to feel frustrated that those responsible for designing such spaces do not share the same fantasies as me!
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You've got me fantasising about emersive elements - would that mean finding a way of propelling visitors out of the building? I have this beautiful vision of people escaping from the building through transparent tubes emerging from those green copper-clad towers.

Alan
 
Casson Pavilion

Paradoxurus said:
That said, I still think that the Casson Pavillion is still falling short. It needs something that is going to use the height of the building.
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They were hoping a few years back that they might have some money left over after Tiger Territory to develop it. Whether they now don't, now have priorities elsewhere or (I think less likely) are planning what to do I don't know.

They would eventually like the crested macaques there.

Paradoxurus said:
It is interesting to note that the old dog cages are still attached to the rear of the former sealion tiered seating.
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That is in the Tiger Territory plans as an off-show enclosure (for tigers) I don't expect that has changed I just don't imagine that is a priority at the moment as they probably have enough off-show space for their current needs.
 
Casson Pavilion

stulch said:
...or (I think less likely) are planning what to do I don't know.
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Although it will be interesting to know what their next development plans are. The tapirs could have possibly put some plans on hold so they could be reassessing a few things.
 
As i've said earlier, i'm not sure what internal alterations would be permitted for the Casson, under the listed status to allow for sun bears or orangs, but clearly given most of the elephant wall has been demoliished, the outside isn't affected by it.
If glass fronting of the old rhino stall areas were permitted, the outside area could easily be adapted.
Just a thought, but given that the bearded pigs appear to be being phased out & there are no immediate plans for the Mappins, why not move them there. This could allow for their area to be adapted for sun bears. Then in the future, move the lions to the mappins, bears to the current lion enclosure and bring in orangs to the Casson. Probably that's all too simple though, i know.
 
I don't think the tapirs are holding up any plans especially, other than the inevitable relocation of the hippos to the Cotton Terraces which, IMHO won't be a particularly satisfactory improvement unless they were brave enough to create some kind of corridored access to a grass paddock in the way Whipsnade has done with theirs.

I actually think people will start to see the Casson Pavilion in a better light once the vegetation matures in the tapir enclosure. I think such monoliths can only be appreciated within the context of conservation theatre and ZSL's urban oasis branding of the London site as lost artefacts hidden in amongst the lush foliage.

I'm not sure why it is being suggested on here that the bearded pigs are being phased out? They've been a non-breeding group of 3.6 located in the Casson ever since the initial litter of piglets was born on the Cotton Terraces.

If we're going to talk about possibilities for this side of the Casson though, why not move the bearded pigs to Animal Adventure, so there is scope for finally one day getting the gibbons out of that forgotten Sobell cage? Surely long overdue.

Peoples' suggestions for the Mappins seem to refer to the potential space, without noticing there are 'mountains' as a backdrop. It would make Asiatic lion, sun bear or bearded pig exhibits look ridiculous to me (I'm not defending the previous incarnations either). The zoo is clearly sitting on this site until there's money to do something significant with it.
 
johnstoni. said:
I don't think the tapirs are holding up any plans especially, other than the inevitable relocation of the hippos to the Cotton Terraces which, IMHO won't be a particularly satisfactory improvement unless they were brave enough to create some kind of corridored access to a grass paddock in the way Whipsnade has done with theirs.

I actually think people will start to see the Casson Pavilion in a better light once the vegetation matures in the tapir enclosure. I think such monoliths can only be appreciated within the context of conservation theatre and ZSL's urban oasis branding of the London site as lost artefacts hidden in amongst the lush foliage.

I'm not sure why it is being suggested on here that the bearded pigs are being phased out? They've been a non-breeding group of 3.6 located in the Casson ever since the initial litter of piglets was born on the Cotton Terraces.

If we're going to talk about possibilities for this side of the Casson though, why not move the bearded pigs to Animal Adventure, so there is scope for finally one day getting the gibbons out of that forgotten Sobell cage? Surely long overdue.

Peoples' suggestions for the Mappins seem to refer to the potential space, without noticing there are 'mountains' as a backdrop. It would make Asiatic lion, sun bear or bearded pig exhibits look ridiculous to me (I'm not defending the previous incarnations either). The zoo is clearly sitting on this site until there's money to do something significant with it.
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It has been suggested several times on here that there is no breeding potential for the pigs, but i wouldn't say a move to animal adventure would be a bad suggestion.
Gibbon enclosure not great, but they only have 2 currently and i would suggest canal banks would make more sense for them. I would say the Casson needs something bigger than gibbons really

As for the species people have suggested for the mappins, i don't think any would be worse than the current display! They don't really fit in with the back drop either.
 
johnstoni. said:
I don't think the tapirs are holding up any plans especially, other than the inevitable relocation of the hippos to the Cotton Terraces which, IMHO won't be a particularly satisfactory improvement unless they were brave enough to create some kind of corridored access to a grass paddock in the way Whipsnade has done with theirs.
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It might not hold up things especially but that was the sequence I was talking about.

i.e.

Wait until they can move the female tapir and offspring to the Casson.

Adapt Into Africa for the pigmy hippos (which was on the balance sheet).

Move the pigmy hippos to Into Africa.

Decide what to do with the cat terraces and the Casson (depending on money available and situation around that time).

Like I said it will be interesting to see what their next project is (and how long each step takes).

johnstoni. said:
I actually think people will start to see the Casson Pavilion in a better light once the vegetation matures in the tapir enclosure. I think such monoliths can only be appreciated within the context of conservation theatre and ZSL's urban oasis branding of the London site as lost artefacts hidden in amongst the lush foliage.
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I think the outside of it already looks a lot better where they've took away the black metal barriers!
 
I went today, just to see the tigers really. I wasn't there for very long but I did notice that the Casson was closed. A new guidebook is available.
 
When the weathers warmer ill go up to london on the train - that way you can get 2 for the price of one on admission. They spent 1.5 million on this exhibit covering half an acre so my god im expecting something out of this world!

The bearded pigs are non breading stock but the IUCN lists them as vulnerable, and theyre form sumatra so would fit in well with the tiger territory and malayan tapirs next door.

The gibbons are hybrid so whether they get more once they're dead remains to be seen, but the could potentially be in the casson with the malayan tapirs to make use of the height.

Personally, I think that the old elephant area is big enough that the crested macaques and anoa could be there together, with bairusa in one former rhino stall and bearded pigs in the other.

Im really intrigued to know what happens with the mappins tho - if goat hills are refurbished as per the old master plan, what species would be suitable? I wondered if dhole would be a good candidate for the main exhibit but they would probably terrify the goats in the enclosure above them so maybe the mappins can't be used for carnivores.
 
I visited today for the first time in many months. I was actually quite impressed with Tiger Territory - I liked how it completely remodelled that area of the zoo (from a visitor's perspective), and it was themed quite nicely.

I liked the Swinhoe's striped squirrels at the entrance to the Clore too.
 
The tigers are already taking quite an interest in the bearded pigs. Might not be a good thing to move them any nearer! :)
 
Went to the zoo with the family yesterday for Easter. Was in the right place at the right time to see Kumbuka arrival from Paignton Zoo. Never got to see him, but there in Gorilla Kingdom finally!

Also in Gorilla Kingdom, another Baby Colobus Monkey was born in the few days.
 
LucasRyan said:
Went to the zoo with the family yesterday for Easter. Was in the right place at the right time to see Kumbuka arrival from Paignton Zoo. Never got to see him, but there in Gorilla Kingdom finally!
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So I assume off-show at Gorilla Kingdom?
 
LucasRyan said:
Went to the zoo with the family yesterday for Easter. Was in the right place at the right time to see Kumbuka arrival from Paignton Zoo. Never got to see him, but there in Gorilla Kingdom finally!
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I can't stop thinking about what he's going through at the moment even though I know he has a familiar face with him and is being well looked after. Silly isn't it :o
 
Gigit said:
I can't stop thinking about what he's going through at the moment even though I know he has a familiar face with him and is being well looked after. Silly isn't it :o
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No I wouldn't say it was silly at all, it just proves that you care about the animals
 
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