ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2022

Lafone said:
What whole zoos would be closed by the legislation? Can’t say I agree with it and frankly I detest the government itself but with the exception of walkthroughs there’s nothing in it that suggests the U.K. government intends to close all zoos.
Click to expand...

Who said ALL, I certainly didnt....
Have you read the proposals...?
I certainly dont have time or space here to detail all 174 pages for you, so would suggest that you do so carefully. Just a couple of points which are required which I can remember off the top of my head. How can Trentham Monkey Forest (for example) operate if ALL public contact, supervised and unsupervised, with macaques is banned? How many zoos (of all sizes) will be able to achieve the requirement to have 50% of their annual running costs in reserve at all times in case of future closures?
 
Zoo2022 said:
The proposals are that ALL contact with category 1 animals will be prohibited even escorted, protected, feeding by the public from outside the enclosure, but through the wire, bars or mesh. No dispensation for protection is mentioned.
Click to expand...
Let's be clear. Protected walk-through allows no direct contact with the animals so viewing by visitors within the enclosure should not be impacted by the proposed legislation. It is no different than viewing lions across a water moat; no bars but no means of direct contact if barriers are not crossed. Considering that legislation exists covering the keeping of dangerous wild animals, zoo standards and myriad safety laws, it does beg the question why further legislation is considered necessary.
 
You said whole zoos. But never mind I can see you’re not in favour of discussion so I won’t bother with one.

.
 
zooboy said:
Let's be clear. Protected walk-through allows no direct contact with the animals so viewing by visitors within the enclosure should not be impacted by the proposed legislation. It is no different than viewing lions across a water moat; no bars but no means of direct contact if barriers are not crossed. Considering that legislation exists covering the keeping of dangerous wild animals, zoo standards and myriad safety laws, it does beg the question why further legislation is considered necessary.
Click to expand...

You may be right - but at the moment, in the document we are being asked to comment on, there is no dispensation for and thus no definition of what a 'protected' walk-through is.

This is not further legislation in the form of an Act or Bill, but is 'simply' an update of the zoo standards you refer to, albeit a very thorough, and very long document - however ambiguous and poorly detailed it might be in parts.
 
Tim May said:
The Zoological Society of London, though, doesn't own the Regent's Park site so comparisons between London Zoo and Bristol Zoo, together with suggestions that London Zoo might adopt a "Bristol-type scenario" are not really valid.
Click to expand...
I am aware that the LZS doesn’t own the site my comparison was in the fact London zoo could disappear from the city like Bristol is. I have been visiting for over 50 years and its decline has shocked me I have often wondered as to why it has become just a mere shadow of itself, while I am not saying that the site will finally end up in the hands of developers but knowing the the land has massive value and money talks I would not rule it out entirely. Laws can be changed rules can be changed when there’s enough will and money behind it
 
Zorro said:
I am aware that the LZS doesn’t own the site my comparison was in the fact London zoo could disappear from the city like Bristol is. I have been visiting for over 50 years and its decline has shocked me I have often wondered as to why it has become just a mere shadow of itself, while I am not saying that the site will finally end up in the hands of developers but knowing the the land has massive value and money talks I would not rule it out entirely. Laws can be changed rules can be changed when there’s enough will and money behind it
Click to expand...

It might have declined from a zoonerd point of view but the past decade or so has seen almost continual development and new exhibits. There is no indication of irreversible decline leading to closure, none whatsoever.
 
Shirokuma said:
On the subject of walk-throughs, I am not especially concerned by this legislation (I don’t know of it’s a risk status or likelihood of becoming law) and am rather wary of having larger monkeys in walk-through enclosures.
Click to expand...
I believe it will be- or would have been-, a 'covered' walk through so people don't actually have direct contact with the Colobus monkeys? Very possibly not even through the mesh either if that was out of reach of the actual walkway- which I presume (I'm guessing here) is the existing concrete one in the aviary. But new legislation may affect this whole exhibit...
 
Last edited:
Zoo2022 said:
How can you keep calling it a walk-through, when ALL public contact with Category 1 animals (including, hand-feeding through the wire) is to be banned by the Government?
Click to expand...
Because people would still 'walk through' the aviary with the Colobus (hopefully) overhead or around them. Its a marketing ploy.
 
LucasRyan said:
I do agree especially with the current group. Although next generations born within the walk through will likely be more bold and adventurous, from growing up in that environment rather than a traditional enclosure, as seen before with other primate walk through.
Click to expand...
Prevailing weather conditions and behavioural activity budgets will still govern their behaviour though- they do not like wind/draughts, and spend a lot of time resting/sleeping. That won't change with any young born in there, they will still behave in a similar fashion accordingly.
 
Last edited:
Shirokuma said:
It might have declined from a zoonerd point of view but the past decade or so has seen almost continual development and new exhibits. There is no indication of irreversible decline leading to closure, none whatsoever.
Click to expand...

I’d agree - I can’t see what incentive they’d have to shut it and or move emphasis to Whipsnade - the land isn’t their asset and it makes a large amount of money and is a significant tourist attraction (as capital city zoos tend to be). Quite apart from zoo fans or even regular visitors, people go to london zoo as part of a london trip - generating income beyond the reach of lots of other places.

While some of the collection direction in both locations has been a bit hit and miss over the last few years (to say the least in some cases) it’s never felt near the end.
 
Regent said:
One would hope that London will get a few more female macaques so that when the proposed move takes place, it’s a settled troop
Click to expand...

Just thought that relatively soon Gorilla Kingdom at London will lose both macaques and colobus. Could be an opportunity to refresh the exhibits which are looking slightly tired and bring in some new West African species.
 
oflory said:
Just thought that relatively soon Gorilla Kingdom at London will lose both macaques and colobus. Could be an opportunity to refresh the exhibits which are looking slightly tired and bring in some new West African species.
Click to expand...
The colobus will move shortly to their new home, Monkey Valley so that they can settle in before the public get a chance to walk through. The 2 female macaques will move to vacant colobus area and there is a thought that the Diana monkeys will move into vacant macaque area. However, I’m not sure who will go into the vacant Diana monkey area
 
Zorro said:
A nice number how close to completion would it be atm
Click to expand...
Work is still going on at Monkey Valley, no official completion date. However, when colobus move into new environment they will be given 3 months to get use to the new surroundings
 
Regent said:
Work is still going on at Monkey Valley, no official completion date. However, when colobus move into new environment they will be given 3 months to get use to the new surroundings
Click to expand...
Thank you. Any idea if any other species might be added
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top