I assume both the Shaanxi Normal University working on sustainable usage and better captive management and the Hong Kong based Kadoorie Farm could be sources for new animals.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2016
- Thread starter Tim Brown
- Start date
The gibbons went to Whipsnade and along with the Francois Langurs, they are listed on the 1/1/16 inventory as still being there. Obviously they could have been moved on by now.
Are the females less active than before the changes were made? Maybe they are nervous because they are aware another strange Lion is nearby there but they don't 'know' him. Is that perhaps affecting their behaviour and why they stay in the one small area?
Lions spend much of their time resting and are inactive for about 20 hours a day. They are most active between dusk and dawn, when zoos are normally closed. They spend about 2 hours a day walking and 50 minutes eating. As captives are fed dead meat, lions do not need to spend time hunting.
Being inactive is usual for lions, whether in captivity or in the wild.
Being inactive is usual for lions, whether in captivity or in the wild.
Thanks, I assume that's off show as i didn't see them when i went recently..
volvox
Well-Known Member
I think the females are behaving exactly as they did before the enclosure was changed, including sleeping in the same corner. I have seen Bhanu... but just the once!
I wonder whether the new enclosure, because it's so "full on" and seems to promise such a lot, means that some visitors are even more disappointed when they have difficulty seeing the females – and most don't get a glimpse of the male at all.
I wonder whether the new enclosure, because it's so "full on" and seems to promise such a lot, means that some visitors are even more disappointed when they have difficulty seeing the females – and most don't get a glimpse of the male at all.
To be fair to them i'd sit in exactly the same place.. They are relatively hidden away in the back right corner, with a decent about of vegetation and a nice bit of turf.. The new extension is a pretty arid uninviting place, so if i didn't have to go there to catch some food i wouldn't bother!
The Lionesses seem pretty relaxed. Their preferred positions in the top right corner make a lot of sense offering shelter from wind , shade options, good visibility from high ground. They are happy enough to be on the high platform during their periods of activity. The enclosed covered area at the other extended area of the compound will I suspect be more utilised in the colder months. I think there are probably some heated rocks inside there. ingeniously when it rains the lionesses snuggle up under the ramp that leads to the high platform . When that happens it is really difficult to see them. I suspect the planners thought that they would use the covered areas in the extended areas which if used would give visitors a good view of a sleeping lion.
Keepers normally do either a scatter feed or an inspection feed at the hatch at some point during the day.
Keepers normally do either a scatter feed or an inspection feed at the hatch at some point during the day.
Yes they're offshow. The gibbons are offshow by the building near the bottom of the hippo/kudu and impala paddocks. Not sure where the langurs are there.
Also Bhanu is definitely still in the exhibit, as I saw him two visits ago.
Much appreciated. Has anyone ever seen one of the off show areas as i can't imagine they are overly large.. The ones at London behind TT are tiny..
You can just about glimpse the gibbons' enclosure at Whipsnade, it doesn't look big from what you can see, but then again there may be a much larger half out of view.
A case of a large brand new space that isn't -so far-being utilised very much. The Tigers didn't seem to have this problem but then they did move from a different part of the Zoo.
Any news about the Lion pair from India?
volvox
Well-Known Member
And the tiger enclosure is just that – a home for the tigers with all-round viewing points – none of the bells and whistles etc etc that so raise visitor expectations in LoL. And the tigers were from different zoos, not different parts of London zoo.
Nope, not a whisper about any further lions. Not on the volunteer radar, anyway.
Nope, not a whisper about any further lions. Not on the volunteer radar, anyway.
Also, in Tiger Territory, you are almost guaranteed to see Jae Jae on his rock, so if you don't see anything else, you feel less 'disappointed'. Tapirs are much more visible either inside or outside the Casson than they used to be and there are a couple of big, active camels before you go up the slope. Having just visited Land of the Lions for the first time, I didn't mind the whole street market / station thing as much as I expected and Bhanu's enclosure was good (obviously I didn't see him). But why on earth would the females bother going into their other section through that small gap? We saw them close up through a tiny viewing hole (most people didn't) but really, with the languars sitting on the group, going up to the top was just a crowded and unpleasant waste of time, with disgruntled visitors peering through little viewing holes to see nothing. I am interested in the architecture but it was really much more interesting working out what had been tiger dens, serval enclosure etc. I think they may as well close the upper section and feed the females in the other side (they'll probably just pick the food up and take it back but they could at least publicise the time so the visitors would see something). Looking ahead to the Colobus Walkthrough, I hope they are intending to put some smaller exhibits within the Snowdon as I expect the colobus will choose a high up, far away spot and stay there; I've never seen them very active. My bet would be they choose the place that little falcon always sits just by the exit.
I wish someone would just say what a terrible waste of £6m LoL is so I could agree with them!
A colleague of mine visited a few weeks ago & didn't realise it was a new exhibit, she thought it was terrible! I don't think a lot of people understand the ' immersion ' bit!! That is a non zoo person's opinion from someone who likes Colchester which so many love to hate!
Anyway, I've said it now, waste of money, doesn't work! Non Indian supporting acts, defend if you must?!
2 visits, it was as if the 3 females had been sleeping in that corner since my last visit on AGM day in June! I hate to sound smug but those of us who questioned the wisdom of this investment appear to be right so far!!
A colleague of mine visited a few weeks ago & didn't realise it was a new exhibit, she thought it was terrible! I don't think a lot of people understand the ' immersion ' bit!! That is a non zoo person's opinion from someone who likes Colchester which so many love to hate!
Anyway, I've said it now, waste of money, doesn't work! Non Indian supporting acts, defend if you must?!
2 visits, it was as if the 3 females had been sleeping in that corner since my last visit on AGM day in June! I hate to sound smug but those of us who questioned the wisdom of this investment appear to be right so far!!
I also believe it is a waste of £6m. I saw it being built and didn't think it was looking like a good idea but have reserved judgement until going. As I said, I had less of a problem with the street theme than I expected and the landscaping in one of the sections was interesting, even though the inhabitant sounds as though he is usually not visible. I liked the idea of going up to the top but it was pointless. I think Gorilla Island has become quite good, I like Tiger Territory and the last lot of work at the Clore has improved it to an extent but I think Land of the Lions was poorly designed and a boring exhibit and I am concerned the Snowdon might go the same way.
Glad someone agrees on LoL! To the successes I would add the penguin exhibit, though Humboldts plus a single rockhopper is pretty boring. Tree kangaroo needs to be onshow too!
Praise where it's due, I saw all but one sleeping female gorilla outside for some time the other morning which was the first time in several visits
Apart fro LoL I had an excellent day. Didn't see the tiger cubs and obviously would like to have seen the tree kangaroo; other than that, very very few no shows. I agree about the penguin enclosure, and this time saw it when there wasn't a talk and feed. They were much more interesting to watch just getting on with it.