ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2024
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It is a bit grim at the moment - has been far better in the past. Nothing that a lick of paint and a bit of tlc wouldn't fix.
If we are talking about what we'd like to see in the Gorilla Kingdom monkey cages, I'd favour a troop of talapoins. I believe at least one of the indoor enclosures (maybe for the recent macaques) had a pool of water on the ground that would suit these semi-aquatic monkeys, they can live in large groups and they are a managed species that is apparently becoming more available in European zoos.
Also, maybe a more personal reason for my choice, I'd really enjoy having the largest and smallest of the African anthropoid primates kept in adjacent enclosures.
Also, maybe a more personal reason for my choice, I'd really enjoy having the largest and smallest of the African anthropoid primates kept in adjacent enclosures.
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Kalaw
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You are correct about the pool, and indeed it was in the macaque enclosure, although if memory serves it was drained on most days.
Perhaps I am exaggerating in my head, but every visit it just feels so grim and dilapidated, with the mangabey enclosure particularly bleak from memory. There is occasional straw and bark but it is insufficient, and I would hardly call it ‘deep.’ There is painting on the walls, but it is hardly very attractive - I suppose it is intended to represent a rainforest background but it just comes across as messy. Enjoy your visit tomorrow!
Alwaysevergreen
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Does anyone know if the Mongoose are on show yet?
They are on show, you will just need to wait and be lucky, as they are still very shy.
I think 0.2 went to Chester where they were mixed with Mandrills and African Crested Porcupines.
Keepers said that the Mandrills and Guenons regularly groomed each other, but neither monkey was ever seen grooming a porcupine.
I visited today and could see that the ostrich have been mixed with the giraffe by the white stains on the ground but there were none in the zebra enclosure, and from seeing where the ostrich were shut in behind the zebra, I couldn't work out their route to access the giraffe paddock. Any ideas?
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Not sure if this is still the case, but when the ostrich first arrived and where rotating with the zebra for access to the main paddock, the way that they ensured them more space was giving them access to the giraffe paddock when the giraffes were locked indoors for their outdoor area to be cleaned (presumably because it is safe for keepers to be in close contact with ostriches, but not indoors). I was informed that this occurred in the late morning, although I am not sure precisely when nor for how long. Not sure about routes, however, but I would assume the keepers just walk them through the zebra enclosure?
Nothing had changed there today, just maintenance, probably, although they have PTS the young female okapi, so it may be linked to that. The small back paddock on the other side of the giraffe house has been opened into the main paddock, so an extra tree is now accessible to the giraffe.
Gorilla enclosure looked great and they were acting like a connected family. I wonder if this was a reference to the left hand Diana monkey enclosure; right hand day side is great, left was tatty with peeling paint and concrete floor. It's just been opened up for more space though, so would expect some development soon.
Kalaw
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Ah, sorry for the misunderstanding - with my posts yesterday I was not referring to the indoor area for gorillas (which is brilliant) but the other primate exhibits within Gorilla Kingdom - from memory the mangabey one in particular was very poor, but perhaps the Diana Monkeys is as well.
I assimed that too but there was absolutely no evidence of ostrich dropping staining in the zebra side and the giraffe side was very stained. I struggle to think London would allow close contact with the ostriches, or that they would choose to just walk through the zebra enclosure to get to the giraffe enclosure - why would they bother? Could be that keepers with boards are walking them through but that would be at odds with other practice.
Ah, sorry for the misunderstanding - with my posts yesterday I was not referring to the indoor area for gorillas (which is brilliant) but the other primate exhibits within Gorilla Kingdom - from memory the mangabey one in particular was very poor, but perhaps the Diana Monkeys is as well.
Mangabey one is okay but the second Diana one wasn't good. One is empty for refurbishment.
Seems odd to allow close contact though and why would the ostrich both/know to walk through one paddock to get to another?
Keepers can easily train them to do this.
Tetradactyla
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When we were at London Zoo before Christmas, we watched the keeper putting up browse in the giraffe paddock with all four ostriches following along closely behind him. They seemed quite interested in the stepladder he was using, and he was having to shoo them away from it in order to get on and work. It was comical at the time, but still slightly nerve-wracking to watch - they’re not small birds, after all!
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