ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2013

They are northern helmeted curassows, quite endangered I believe, both males. Handsome birds!
 
volvox said:
Just a couple of changes... there are now vicunas – three, I think, though one could have been hiding – settling into the old rhea enclosure, that is opposite BUGS, forming the grassy roof of the craft centre. A new wooden shelter has been built for them. It's been empty for years so it'll be nice to have something to draw people up there (the anteaters being on the whole too idle to come outside).

Also, the amphitheatre where Animals in Action has been held for years was irreparably damaged in the storm – it looks very sad, torn and broken in the middle there, and roped off for safety. Nobody was hurt! – animal or human. Another location will have to be found till the tent is rebuilt, but nothing's been decided yet.

There are two new birds, curassows, in the rainforest, causing havoc as they are running around getting used to their surroundings, but I daresay they will settle down soon.

I think that's it for now!
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I know what they like would like to be doing this time next year but do you know of any plans they have over the next three or four months?
 
Can't think of a anything offhand. And generally I stick to reporting things that have already happened rather than possible plans for the future – more reliable!
 
Having said that – the above – there's a new video about Kumbuka on the ZSL website:
– and the keeper sounds really positive towards the end, about K becoming a father next year, no reason why not, he says! So fingers crossed.

Another new addition to the rainforest – two or three red-legged tortoises, so it's looking a bit more lively in there now (the tortoises are surprisingly active).
 
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@Pertinax, to me it also sound like potentially … (as next step ..) and that the keeper is underlining that they are a set family unit now (which they had not been before) and that all the cues … (like probably in mating / dominating all the females in his group) are right. Let us see what happens … next! :)
 
There is also a Sulawesi crested macaque baby

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Rajang21 said:
Something else I found out (don't know if anyone was aware), but the lions are getting the Tiger Territory treatment, as well as the other species round the big cat terraces likely to get a refurbishment too. The old tiger enclosure is likely to form part of it once the hippos move to Into Africa. 2016 is the expected completion date I was told.
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Check from this post (page 22) onwards for a some opinions. First official news about it, hope they do a good job :)
 
Rajang21 said:
First official news about it, hope they do a good job :)
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ZSL throw a lot of money at these high profile species new enclosures nowadays and recent changes have all been good. So I am sure it will be of similar high standard, though I would have been happy to see the existing enclosure extended/redone completely- for perhaps rather less than a complete new(?) build will cost.
 
I imagine it will incorporate a good deal of exisiting infrastructure as the recent gorilla and tiger developments, for example, did.
 
Shirokuma said:
I imagine it will incorporate a good deal of exisiting infrastructure as the recent gorilla and tiger developments, for example, did.
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I hadn't taken that into account. In which case maybe the existing indoor dens, perhaps altered or enlarged, will still be used perhaps?
 
In other words those of us who had hoped that some perfectly functional carnivore exhibits might be adapted for smaller species, with the Lions moved to the Mappin Terraces, can expect to be disappointed. Again.
 
IanRRobinson said:
In other words those of us who had hoped that some perfectly functional carnivore exhibits might be adapted for smaller species, with the Lions moved to the Mappin Terraces, can expect to be disappointed. Again.
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It certainly looks like we will! And instead of an increaae in species, there is potentially a further decrease!
 
Was there anything in the most recent 'Masterplan' about the Mappins? They have the potential to be used by a variety of species, and to me the rather sparse Outback exhibit is a bit of a waste of space.
 
IanRRobinson said:
In other words those of us who had hoped that some perfectly functional carnivore exhibits might be adapted for smaller species, with the Lions moved to the Mappin Terraces, can expect to be disappointed. Again.
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...and meanwhile, those of us who have been rather impressed by the recent developments, and who applaud the zoo's realisation that expansive housing for charismatic mega-vertebrates is necessary and is rewarded with increased visitation, and who also like the way that older structures have been incorporated into new things, and who see the Lion Terraces as a rather damp, unlovely corner of the zoo, can expect to be delighted. Again.

(Even if, in my case, I would be even more delighted if there were supporting exhibits of some kind, as there are with the gorillas, if not with the tigers).
 
sooty mangabey said:
...and meanwhile, those of us who have been rather impressed by the recent developments, and who applaud the zoo's realisation that expansive housing for charismatic mega-vertebrates is necessary and is rewarded with increased visitation, and who also like the way that older structures have been incorporated into new things, and who see the Lion Terraces as a rather damp, unlovely corner of the zoo, can expect to be delighted. Again.

(Even if, in my case, I would be even more delighted if there were supporting exhibits of some kind, as there are with the gorillas, if not with the tigers).
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sooty, you know perfectly well that ZSL has turned its back on the policy adopted after the closure crisis, when the mantra was that existing buildings would be adapted wherever possible, and further developments would be as cheaply done as possible.

I am cross and frustrated that resources that could be used to develop the vast underused space at Whipsnade are, once again, being used for a frothy new exhibit at London. London's Lions are surely nowhere near as much need of an upgrade to their accommodation as Whipsnade's Common Hippos.

Much as I enjoy your posts and applaud your originality of thought, you employ a different standard to London compared to other European zoos. Developments that inexorably lead to a further decrease in species diversity are really not what London Zoo needs, surely?
 
ZSL....

What would be really nice would be an Asian Lion themed exhibit with other species from the same geographical area in nearby enclosures.
 
FBBird said:
What would be really nice would be an Asian Lion themed exhibit with other species from the same geographical area in nearby enclosures.
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I somehow suspect that is what is intended in the redevelopment of their digs. Any drawings been published yet?
 
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