Article about the young Aye-aye :
Rare Baby Aye-aye Not So Spooky
Rare Baby Aye-aye Not So Spooky
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2016
- Thread starter Tim Brown
- Start date
ZSL have appointed Foster and Partners (of the Gherkin fame!) to oversee the Snowdon project. Estimated completion is 2019.
Given, I understand, the Snowden Aviary has to retain it's essential form and, I presume, these people know little of animal husbandry I'm struggling to understand what Foster & Partners can bring to the table? Yes, I know a "name" adds a veneer of kudos but apart from that I'm scratching my head here.
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
Given, I understand, the Snowden Aviary has to retain it's essential form and, I presume, these people know little of animal husbandry I'm struggling to understand what Foster & Partners can bring to the table? Yes, I know a "name" adds a veneer of kudos but apart from that I'm scratching my head here.
A guess, rather than anything based on genuine knowledge, but as a listed building of particular architectural merit, I would think that any alterations would need a more specialist approach than that which might be provided by a more "mainstream" architectural practice.
Fair point, that would "fit".
I fear that you may be correct! A missed opportunity IMO
I think apologies are now due from several people who questioned the accuracy of Panthera1981's info, and there were several if you look back!! I didn't doubt his info for a second, I'm sure he's more informed than you!
I think it was less that and more people wanted to know where he had got the info from and didn't get an answer!
I had my suspicions for a very long time, as Tany (the male) was the only animal onshow for quite a while...though I didn't know it had been confirmed until I finally found out the news had been mentioned in the DG update!
Not necessarily. Having just visited Whipsnade I have seen where they are currently living (from a distance mind you) and this would be far better! Also easier to get ahold of than new individuals. I do think it will be a breeding pair that replaces them once they are gone though.
Hence my earlier suggestion to build them a half decent enclosure at Whipsnade, an expensive new enclosure at London really should be for a proper pair, sorry to seem difficult, I know you would love to see the previous two back for sentimental reasons
You are quite right, but why not do the reverse and build a really good enclosure at Whipsnade for a breeding pair? They could even create two islands/enclosures next door to one another and put the François' langurs in the other one!
Are the langurs still at Whipsnade,? If they did what you suggest, I think that would just make Whipsnade even more of a better zoo for mammals than London, than it already is! I just think it makes sense to spend more money on an enclosure for a breeding pair at London , as previously suggested, the current father & son could easily both live another 10 years plus
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FunkyGibbon
Well-Known Member
Given, I understand, the Snowden Aviary has to retain it's essential form and, I presume, these people know little of animal husbandry I'm struggling to understand what Foster & Partners can bring to the table? Yes, I know a "name" adds a veneer of kudos but apart from that I'm scratching my head here.
Foster & Partners were the firm responsible for the new Elephant House at Copenhagen. It looks beautiful and seems quite functional as well.
London is a good example of the dangers of trying to add architectural merit. As Gerald Durrell put it: "An architect is the most dangerous animal you can let loose in a zoo". However given that the Snowmen Aviary is already listed the potential for future problems is massively reduced.
I'm broadly supportive of London's direction. Given that it will never go back to a comprehensive collection of large mammals I think trying to achieve a smaller number of visually spectacular, high quality exhibits is a good plan. And in a city with so many tourists probably a lucrative one. I know most people don't share my enjoyment of Land of Lions, but I'm convinced that if the whole site was executed in that style, including lots of the dead space that exists currently, then visitor numbers would go through the roof.
The langurs are still at Whipsnade if I'm correct.
I do agree with you, but for the moment I think the zoos want the gibbons to be moved out of the construction site their current area has become and back to London. Yes they may live for another ten years, but having them in there will be good beta testing to see if they can breed them in the future.
Article about Londons Sumatran tiger cubs :
“Are These My Stripes or Yours?”
“Are These My Stripes or Yours?”
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
Durrell is, of course, a hero - on a personal level, he's up there with Bruce Springsteen and Robert Prosinecki - but this line of his has always really annoyed me! An architect who isn't given a good brief, who isn't supported and guided, is indeed dangerous in a zoo (or a hospital, or a school, or any other specialist building). But when this does happen, I'm not sure it is the architect who should be blamed. This anti-design, anti-architecture thing, this desire for function over form, leaves us, ultimately, with Colchester Zoo and its like - fine from an animal husbandry point of view, mostly, but containing nothing that would be remembered as in any way elevating, elegant or transcendent. And good, or great, architecture does not need to be expensive, statement architecture - the expensive stuff is often very poor, while some of the most excellent zoo buildings and enclosures are simple and straightforward (but nonetheless, well designed for all that).
New Veterinary officer at London Zoo :
Virginia zoo vet takes job at London zoo
Virginia zoo vet takes job at London zoo
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
are there baby painted dogs? facebook video appears to suggest this.
That is likely to be the one year olds so probably video footage from a few months back.
African hunting dog pups make debut at ZSL London Zoo
From looking at facebook I can see a promotional video for the ZSL membership showing clips of young animals growing up throughout the past year.
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