If commercialisation is a Faustian bargain, ZSL "sold its soul" in 1847. Can we at least wait and see whether the zoo has learnt from its mistakes?
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2018
- Thread starter Panthera1981
- Start date
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
Yes, of course - and I would genuinely love it if London got this right. But I just don't think the marketing spin augers very well - music, lanterns (!), alcohol, and a nudge nudge wink wink focus on sex.
I always enjoy your posts, but the use of reductio ad absurdum here is a little bit excessive! There's commercialism, and then there's commercialism. Amneville's Tiger Show, and Zurich's Masaola Hall, are both designed to bring in visitors - but there is a difference to the way in which it is done!
....I think it's because the London events are wholly targeted as party events, with the hedonistic desire for a good time the driving force behind those who attend. I love the idea of late opening in zoos, with special events, and nice food, and a nice bar in which to purchase interesting alcoholic beverages. But the London events seem to be a Magaluf-in-Camden thing....
The Edinburgh event definitely didn’t have that feel to it at all. It seemed much more focused on the animals to me, tied in with learning and discovery opportunities. I’m with you though, there is something so lovely about wandering around the zoo ‘after hours’, enjoying some inspired keeper talks, some interesting food and some special drinks, getting to enjoy the quiet of the zoo being less busy, getting to see some animal behaviours that you may not usually have the chance to, and if you’re a massive ming like me, getting your face painted just for the fun of it!
Photos on the Facebook page for the ZSL London Mangabey page indicate that Achimoto has become a mum for the third time. Nothing about this on the official ZSL page yet.
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robert everett
Well-Known Member
I had a conversation with ZSLs chief of education last week and you would all be surprised as to the amount of work ZSL does because of London zoo, and lets not forget it is the 2nd most popular zoo in the UK.
They could let it run to grass and weeds and call it a wildlife area.
Also known as the "Edinburgh Zoo Cat Row" method
I think we were all thinking it
!last time I walked round London zoo I could see many better ways of spending that money than a revamp of the snowdon. ...and colobus? in a walk through? wow
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
With very finite funds, and pretty much infinite demands on those funds, there’s always going to be “better” ways of spending money. Is this renovation of the Snowdon Aviary the best plan? Personally I’ll be sorry to lose an aviary, but there’s no doubt that for many years the Snowdon has been a very poor exhibit. Something has to be done.
I’m not sure why the idea of a Colobus walk-through inspires incredulity. It’s been done with apparent success at Munster, and walk-through exhibits are massively popular in the UK.
You are no doubt aware of the issues London had even managing squirrel monkeys let alone something many times larger and with much greater biting power.
Sumatran tigers Karis and Achilles will shortly be leaving for other collections. Karis is being transferred to Heidelburg Zoo in the next few weeks.
I heard least the male anyway has died as he had numerous health issues
That's a real shame about the Asiatic Lions, the blood-line in the UK and Europe is very narrow, so is the female still alive?
On another point, any news on what is going to happen to the old aviaries on the north bank?
Will they be keeping any of the current occupants of the Snowdon? Hopefully the Waldropps and odds and sods will be kept, who would want to take on a hundred odd Sacred Ibis, which are listed as an invasive species and of no conservation interest at all, although still fascinating to see the nests...
On another point, any news on what is going to happen to the old aviaries on the north bank?
Will they be keeping any of the current occupants of the Snowdon? Hopefully the Waldropps and odds and sods will be kept, who would want to take on a hundred odd Sacred Ibis, which are listed as an invasive species and of no conservation interest at all, although still fascinating to see the nests...
those three females are implanted apparently