ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025

[Tim May]

Yes, the giraffe house would be familiar, as it has existed since the 1830s. If I'm not mistaken, it's actually the oldest zoo building in the world which still holds the same animal it was originally built for, although there have been intervals in between where it has held other species.

Indeed, Decimus Burton’s Giraffe House has housed giraffes almost continuously since 1837 although there was a short period (1892 – 1895) when London Zoo had no giraffes, so their paddock was used for ostriches. There are postcards from the late Victorian era depicting ostriches outside the Giraffe House.

 

[ZooNews2024]

Noticed that the giraffe and zebra had been separated when I passed the zoo yesterday. Giraffe have half their original enclosure and the zebra have access to the remaining two thirds of the total space.

I presume this means there have been issues with the species mixing, but has anyone heard any other reasons for this?

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A colleague of mine attended one of the zoo evening events for 'adults' recently, and has footage of the giraffes relentlessly and continuously chasing zebra(s).
None were ever caught, so it was difficult to assess the motive - though the whole thing and the comments made to me, looked rather damming for ZSL.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

A colleague of mine attended one of the zoo evening events for 'adults' recently, and has footage of the giraffes relentlessly and continuously chasing zebra(s).
None were ever caught, so it was difficult to assess the motive - though the whole thing and the comments made to me, looked rather damming for ZSL.

Generally in cases like this, one hears the zebra has been the aggressor - so it's interesting to hear that it's been the other way around this time!

 

[equidae]

Generally in cases like this, one hears the zebra has been the aggressor - so it's interesting to hear that it's been the other way around this time!

That’s historically been the case with these very zebra, and even last year they weren’t being particularly friendly to the giraffe.

I wonder if the introduction of a young male (Wilfred) is the cause of the change in dynamics.

 

[FBBird]

A colleague of mine attended one of the zoo evening events for 'adults' recently, and has footage of the giraffes relentlessly and continuously chasing zebra(s).
None were ever caught, so it was difficult to assess the motive - though the whole thing and the comments made to me, looked rather damming for ZSL.

It’s likely the Zoo have their eye on the situation; ZSL isn’t exactly a beginner with giraffes…

 

[cerperal]

None were ever caught, so it was difficult to assess the motive - though the whole thing and the comments made to me, looked rather damming for ZSL.

What a strange thing to comment. The zoo are obviously aware and given the partitioning have taken steps to prevent it occurring while presumably investigation, as well as being by your own admission entirely open about the situation.

As @FBBird has said, ZSL have held both species long enough that they know what they're doing. And the fact it took them so long to even attempt the mix goes to show they certainly calculated any risk.

Can't help but feel if it was any other collection this would be seen very differently to simply being "damning"...

 

[ZooNews2024]

Generally in cases like this, one hears the zebra has been the aggressor - so it's interesting to hear that it's been the other way around this time!

Yes, absolutely. It was relentless in the (short'ish) clip I was shown, with two giraffe persuing a zebra, round and round the brush-piles which had been placed in the paddock for the very purpose of breaking up a straight-line chase. The zebra was working really quite hard to out-run them and on occasion lost its foot-hold and ended up on its side, regaining its footing just in time. I have to say given the amount of flailing of their front legs by both giraffes, it did look deliberate and aggressive - but as I say, if was a quite short-clip and hard to put into context.

 

[ZooNews2024]

What a strange thing to comment. The zoo are obviously aware and given the partitioning have taken steps to prevent it occurring while presumably investigation, as well as being by your own admission entirely open about the situation.

As @FBBird has said, ZSL have held both species long enough that they know what they're doing. And the fact it took them so long to even attempt the mix goes to show they certainly calculated any risk.

Can't help but feel if it was any other collection this would be seen very differently to simply being "damning"...

I didnt 'admit the zoo was open about the situation' - I made no such remark at all.
All I did was to report what I thought was an interesting comment and clip, taken by a non-animal visitor, who showed it to me asking if it was normal behaviour for giraffes.
And - I dont see why it was a 'strange thing to comment' at all. Quite the opposite, as the visitor who filmed it had/has as I say, no special animal knowledge, and the clip indeed showed what looked like an attempt by the giraffes to attack the zebra, in what appeared to her to be a very small space.
It was the main thing she remembered and commented on, from the evening event.

 

[cerperal]

And - I dont see why it was a 'strange thing to comment' at all. Quite the opposite, as the visitor who filmed it had/has as I say, no special animal knowledge, and the clip indeed showed what looked like an attempt by the giraffes to attack the zebra, in what appeared to her to be a very small space.

What your friend thinks about it is somewhat irrelevant given you claimed that you believed it to be "rather damning". The species are already separated, there have been no problems reported in the months since the mix until very recently, and regardless - the zebras have access to their indoor section of the house at all times, which would allow them to escape the giraffes if the need arose. It is to me, therefore, an incredible strange comment to make given the zoo has clearly taken all potential steps to not only prevent this occurring in the first place but to immediately alleviate the problem. You also admit that you couldn't assess a motive or put into context. So why immediately jump to quite openly suggesting criticism of the zoo?

Thank you for the information, but such cynicism of the zoo on such little seems entirely unnecessary to me.

 

[ZooNews2024]

The animals were not separated in the clip, which you are commenting on and replying to in complete ignorance as you have not seen it. The zebra was continually chased outside and made no attempt to 'escape the giraffes' by simply going inside, even if it could have.
Unlike you, I have seen it - and I thought it was interesting along with the opinions of a visitor, who I actually respect, even if you deem her irrelevant without even meeting her or knowing who she is.
Would you like me to suggest to her that she publishes the footage so everyone including the media can see it? That would perhaps be the fairest? I dont think she has (yet), but I am sure she will still have it.

 

[Cat-Man]

Thank you for the information, but such cynicism of the zoo on such little seems entirely unnecessary to me.

Certainly in this circumstance. I’m sure I’ve earned a reputation on this site for being harsh on ZSL but one thing you can’t criticise them for is either the standard of care, nor their commitment to the wellbeing of their animals.

 

[ZooNews2024]

It is to me, therefore, an incredible strange comment to make given the zoo has clearly taken all potential steps to not only prevent this occurring in the first place but to immediately alleviate the problem..

How bizarre, and what a strange and ridiculous thing to say.
How can the zoo have taken 'all potential steps to prevent this from occurring'.
They have NOT. The obvious step they could have taken and didnt, is to not mix the species in the first place - especially in such a tiny space.

 

[ZooNews2024]

Certainly in this circumstance. I’m sure I’ve earned a reputation on this site for being harsh on ZSL but one thing you can’t criticise them for is either the standard of care, nor their commitment to the wellbeing of their animals.

Perhaps the best thing IS for her to send it to the media, then you will all all be able to see it.
I'll give her the link to this thread and let her decide.

 

[rhinofan12]

I didnt 'admit the zoo was open about the situation' - I made no such remark at all.
All I did was to report what I thought was an interesting comment and clip, taken by a non-animal visitor, who showed it to me asking if it was normal behaviour for giraffes.
And - I dont see why it was a 'strange thing to comment' at all. Quite the opposite, as the visitor who filmed it had/has as I say, no special animal knowledge, and the clip indeed showed what looked like an attempt by the giraffes to attack the zebra, in what appeared to her to be a very small space.
It was the main thing she remembered and commented on, from the evening event.

I always find it weird people video such things, if I saw anything like that or an animal in distress last thing I would think of is to record it.

 

[ZooNews2024]

I always find it weird people video such things, if I saw anything like that or an animal in distress last thing I would think of is to record it.

As I said, she isn't an animal person and perhaps thought that they could have been 'playing'?
I think that was why she took the film, so that she could ask me - as she knew I was interested in animals.
People do seem to film EVERYTHING, these days.

 

[FBBird]

How bizarre, and what a strange and ridiculous thing to say.
How can the zoo have taken 'all potential steps to prevent this from occurring'.
They have NOT. The obvious step they could have taken and didnt, is to not mix the species in the first place - especially in such a tiny space.

They have been successfully mixed in the past. Do you have any practical experience of animal husbandry?

 

[Embu]

On a lighter note anyone know if Wilfred or Nuru(Reticulated giraffes) are any closer to being rehomed abroad?

 

[Samuel Carter]

Just a personal observation but I have always thought the giraffes outside enclosure is far to small even for just giraffes , So to even try to mix species in such a space seems strange. With the new zoo requirements being implemented I doubt that unless drastic changes are made , I don't think London zoo with have the land available for giraffe in the future.

 

[Cat-Man]

Just a personal observation but I have always thought the giraffes outside enclosure is far to small even for just giraffes , So to even try to mix species in such a space seems strange. With the new zoo requirements being implemented I doubt that unless drastic changes are made , I don't think London zoo with have the land available for giraffe in the future.

This has been long discussed on this forum. Is there a smaller giraffe enclosure in the country?

 

[Samuel Carter]

This has been long discussed on this forum. Is there a smaller giraffe enclosure in the country?

Sorry did not realise this I apologise