No need, it wasn’t a dig. I was just making note!
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter aquilla1
- Start date
No need, it wasn’t a dig. I was just making note!
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
Yes actually, some. Do you work with giraffes and zebras?
Cotswolds (pretty new) one is small and from what I remember just hard-standing. They look as though they should have access to the fields behind, but they appear to be just grazing for cows. Larger than London, though.
I'm not sure that giraffes are included in the minimum space requirements like elephants.
But, as ZSL and its attendant organisations were one of the main pushers behind the new legislation, it will be interesting to see if they are treated more leniently than others. The system allows this, and of course there will always be the argument above that it is fine because London know what they are doing as they have always done it that way.
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DCzootripper
Well-Known Member
I found it very amusing that when I visited yesterday they had installed an electric fence for the 2 capybaras, but there wasn't one for the much more dangerous pygmy hippo.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I am quite saddened to hear that the giraffes have attacked the zebras. ZSL have spent two years gradually introducing the two species (and the ostrich) and struggling to make it work. The fact that they have managed to keep them mixed for several months straight was a huge achievement, and indeed just last month, several keepers were enthusiastically talking about how well the mix has progressed in recent times, after some moments where it seemed destined to fail.
This is quite bizarre. Giraffe / zebra mixes are probably up there with the most widespread mixed-species combos at zoos, and in the rare instances where there is an attack it is most often, as @TeaLovingDave rightly notes, the zebras being the aggressors. I do also struggle to see how it is, by any means, ZSL's fault though. They were very cautious in implementing the mix (spending close to two years doing it now) in spite of it being a widespread practice, and have taken the immediate measures to prevent it happening again by separating the species.
I don't really have any knowledge or experience of animal husbandry or what causes aggression, but I can't help but wonder if the small size of the paddock (reducing the space for the zebras to evade the giraffes or vice versa) is indeed a factor, as @Samuel Carter suggests? Does anyone know if this could be plausible? Personally, I don't want London to go out of giraffes, nor do I think they should. Combining the zebra and giraffe enclosures is a good way to expand the space, but perhaps continuing to keep both species in there plus ostriches isn't. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep the paddocks combined, but only hold giraffes in there (i.e. going out of zebras). As popular as they are, the giraffes are definitely the more beloved of the two among visitors and the one bringing more people to the zoo.
On a side-note, Cotswold's isn't hard-standing. Rather on the contrary, it is completely covered in grass as the photo below by @gulogulogulo demonstrates. It is 3,800 sqm to London's 2,000 sqm (when combined with the zebra paddock, that is; it's roughly 1,400 sqm otherwise).
This is quite bizarre. Giraffe / zebra mixes are probably up there with the most widespread mixed-species combos at zoos, and in the rare instances where there is an attack it is most often, as @TeaLovingDave rightly notes, the zebras being the aggressors. I do also struggle to see how it is, by any means, ZSL's fault though. They were very cautious in implementing the mix (spending close to two years doing it now) in spite of it being a widespread practice, and have taken the immediate measures to prevent it happening again by separating the species.
I don't really have any knowledge or experience of animal husbandry or what causes aggression, but I can't help but wonder if the small size of the paddock (reducing the space for the zebras to evade the giraffes or vice versa) is indeed a factor, as @Samuel Carter suggests? Does anyone know if this could be plausible? Personally, I don't want London to go out of giraffes, nor do I think they should. Combining the zebra and giraffe enclosures is a good way to expand the space, but perhaps continuing to keep both species in there plus ostriches isn't. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep the paddocks combined, but only hold giraffes in there (i.e. going out of zebras). As popular as they are, the giraffes are definitely the more beloved of the two among visitors and the one bringing more people to the zoo.
On a side-note, Cotswold's isn't hard-standing. Rather on the contrary, it is completely covered in grass as the photo below by @gulogulogulo demonstrates. It is 3,800 sqm to London's 2,000 sqm (when combined with the zebra paddock, that is; it's roughly 1,400 sqm otherwise).
However, there is a much greater danger of a visitor climbing over the capybara fence to try and stroke them!I found it very amusing that when I visited yesterday they had installed an electric fence for the 2 capybaras, but there wasn't one for the much more dangerous pygmy hippo.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
I am quite saddened to hear that the giraffes have attacked the zebras. ZSL have spent two years gradually introducing the two species (and the ostrich) and struggling to make it work. The fact that they have managed to keep them mixed for several months straight was a huge achievement, and indeed just last month, several keepers were enthusiastically talking about how well the mix has progressed in recent times, after some moments where it seemed destined to fail.
This is quite bizarre. Giraffe / zebra mixes are probably up there with the most widespread mixed-species combos at zoos, and in the rare instances where there is an attack it is most often, as @TeaLovingDave rightly notes, the zebras being the aggressors. I do also struggle to see how it is, by any means, ZSL's fault though. They were very cautious in implementing the mix (spending close to two years doing it now) in spite of it being a widespread practice, and have taken the immediate measures to prevent it happening again by separating the species.
I don't really have any knowledge or experience of animal husbandry or what causes aggression, but I can't help but wonder if the small size of the paddock (reducing the space for the zebras to evade the giraffes or vice versa) is indeed a factor, as @Samuel Carter suggests? Does anyone know if this could be plausible? Personally, I don't want London to go out of giraffes, nor do I think they should. Combining the zebra and giraffe enclosures is a good way to expand the space, but perhaps continuing to keep both species in there plus ostriches isn't. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep the paddocks combined, but only hold giraffes in there (i.e. going out of zebras). As popular as they are, the giraffes are definitely the more beloved of the two among visitors and the one bringing more people to the zoo.
On a side-note, Cotswold's isn't hard-standing. Rather on the contrary, it is completely covered in grass as the photo below by @gulogulogulo demonstrates. It is 3,800 sqm to London's 2,000 sqm (when combined with the zebra paddock, that is; it's roughly 1,400 sqm otherwise).
However, there is a much greater danger of a visitor climbing over the capybara fence to try and stroke them!
I wonder if, as someone else also mentioned above, the introduction of Wilfred has brought a new dynamic to the group. Though the mix has been worked on and done for a long time at London, Whipsnade don't mix their giraffes with other animals. A newish young male who hasn't been out with zebras before might need even more work before they all settle down again.
Wilfred was certainly an active and playful giraffe, always mucking about with the others, indeed he was always 'one to watch'. Not only is he finding his new herd place but getting into the mix too. Although he's been there a little while now it probably takes some time for settling in and although he is due to move again as part of the breeding programme he's a young bull all the same. Not sure what the impact is of seasons on giraffe behaviour, but certainly if it was horses, Nuru or Molly being in season might produce some additionally aggressive behaviour in an accompanying male. I would guess there was some contraception going on so at least Nuru and Wilfred cannot breed though.
DCzootripper
Well-Known Member
On a side I did actually find that the capybara enclosure (temporary), was quite good, and I was wondering if London zoo should keep them permanently. Obviously not in that enclosure, but maybe somewhere like by the dung beetle statue next to tiny giants. I mean, did they not until quite recently in fact keep anteaters there anyway, so anyway just a thought.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Funnily enough, we were having the exact same thoughts earlier in this thread. It would be a perfect place, with the squirrel monkeys and (soon to arrive) White-nosed Coatis next door, as well as the potential to bring back anteaters and vicuñas, it could create a little South American zone. They are clearly hugely successful among visitors as shown by their perceived merchandising potential and the fact that audiences could recognise them without needing a sign. I do like the species and would like to see them at London, regardless of my gripes towards their future at Whipsnade.
Burribro
Member
Maybe the fairest thing would be to share the footage with the zoo and ask the question?
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Tetradactyla
Active Member
Some excellent theories here. Hormonal aggression could certainly explain this kind of unusual behaviour - and, as many have noted, it is unusual for a giraffe to be the aggressor in an interspecies conflict (although there are several videos on YouTube of very young giraffes chasing birds across their paddocks - something that looks like exuberant play, but also involves a fair amount of kicking and stamping!
)Very curious as to the sexes of London Zoo’s zebra - does anybody have any info on this?
Spot is a male, he is a Chapman's Zebra, Kabibi and Kianga are the females, They are Burchell's Zebra
Not sure how London ended up with two subspecies, but it’s generally accepted that common are the least aggressive.
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
Surely they are not deliberately trying to produce hybrids?
Are these animals sterilised or beyond reproductive age?
They’ve been together for years, the males were gelded I’m sure!
There is a wealth of information available on this site if people are prepared to search. If you look in the 2014 thread thread you see some discussion about the holding of zebra. So looks like London probably/possibly took in two zebra from a closed zoo (Blackbrook).
I found it very amusing that when I visited yesterday they had installed an electric fence for the 2 capybaras, but there wasn't one for the much more dangerous pygmy hippo.
I think the position of the "extra " fence inside serves two purposes to distance them from the public and to minimize risk of the outer fence being climbed.
There is electric fence in both enclosures between the hippo outdoor pools and the outer fencing. It is just a little higher in the enclosure that the capybara are currently occupying.
Is this a new species for the zoo?
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I visited today. Temperature was pleasant, but due to what seemed to be four or five different schools each bringing every year group on a trip, the crowds were the most absurd they've ever been, and a filming crew which meant various portions of the zoo were sectioned off at different points of the day combined with this to make for some horrific congestion at times.
The less intense heat meant that the Darwin's Frog room wasn't curtained off as it was last time thankfully, so they are 'onshow' again, though the sunlight-blocking shutters are still in place. After a lot of patience, I could spot a single frog in one of the various vivariums at the back of the room, which is more luck than I had in close to twenty visits of having Congo Caecilians in there. They are tiny, but strikingly coloured and a really interesting shape. What caught my eye was that each vivarium had laminated photos on it of the frogs' bellies with some sort of text underneath that I couldn't read from the distance; perhaps individuals of this species can be identified by their belly patterns? The more that I think about it, the more I think that this might just be the most exciting UK zoo import of the 2020s so far. Not only is it a huge rarity, but the move is solely happening to create a sustainable captive population for reintroduction, which is a fantastic sign of commitment to conservation, and proof that some zoos are willing to go out of their way to import new species for the European scene from abroad if there is a conservation motive.
Minor news in Blackburn Pavilion regarding the Collared Trogons: no longer are there two males in the smaller walkthrough and two females in one of the smaller aviaries in the main lobby, but now, one of the males has been paired with one of the females in the walkthrough; let's hope for chicks! I also saw the other female in the larger walkthrough, a new addition to the enclosure, and a welcome one, as the eye-level branches here allowed me to get closer to her than I ever could to the males in the other enclosure. I have no idea where the second male is; it would make sense for him to also be paired with a female in the large walkthrough, but I couldn't see him and the species was still signed in one of the lobby aviaries.
In 'Tiny Giants,' I saw the new Deathwatch Beetles mentioned by @DesertRhino150 upthread, but what I don't believe has been mentioned was the other details about the enclosure. Their larvae live in timber and eat it, so the zoo has taken timber from the HMS Victory so that they can research their reproduction and develop ways to detect colonies of them inhabiting wood. The zoo is collaborating with the Royal Navy to do this. I found this type of research fascinating. There was also some rather random models of various ships next to it. I don't see what they add to the exhibit, but they did make me question their existence which is what prompted me to read the sign about the research project looking for an answer, so I guess they worked!
In SLoRA, I saw a Luristan Newt larvae. Since ranting about how amazing Prague was for managing to design a giant salamander enclosure where they're actually active unlike at London, I haven't failed to see them at London once.
Today was also my first time in a few visits entering the Clore, and a lot has changed. I couldn't see the bokies in the new enclosure in the Lemur House, but the pair in the old one were as active as I've ever known them to be. Great views of the mouse lemurs, but no sign of the triplets. The gentle lemurs were the highlight. I could see the baby, and its just as adorable as it looked in the photos - a genuine contender for being the cutest baby animal I've ever seen. I could also see all of the adults, all moving about and some actually leaping. Granted I've only seen them once since the move, but transferring them from the Lemur House where only the indoors was onshow to the old spider monkey enclosure seems to have been a masterstroke. Finally getting to see this species (which at all zoos, not just London, seems so lazy) active and playful in an attractive setting was so special. They were more entertaining today than in 20 visits of them in the old enclosure.
Downstairs, this was my first visit since the Harvest Mice and Belanger's Treeshrew arrived. No luck with the latter, but great views of the former. I get that they're common, but I would wager that the mice were a very clever addition from ZSL. A bit of a banker, one that can't fail in terms of guaranteeing good sightings given how typically elusive animals are in nocturnal houses, and I thought their enclosure was really nicely designed with long thin grasses that put their famous ability to miraculously balance on slender vegetation on full display. Does anybody know what is the current situation with the slender lorises? They weren't signed in either of their enclosures (as reported upthread, their main one is now signed as only having Senegal Bushbabies), although in fairness they haven't been signed in the MGJR enclosure near the entrance for a little while now and I've still managed to spot them. The zoo had 2.2 in January, so it's not as though they were dwindling.
The westernmost of the hunting dog enclosures (which the Warthog has been given access to) is now signed for Warthogs, perhaps indicating that this is permanent and the zoo won't be acquiring more hunting dogs - or at the very least, if they do, there will be few enough that a separation enclosure isn't needed. Zebras and giraffes were still separated, sadly, and bizarrely enough no sign of the ostriches in either paddock nor the indoor areas. Interestingly (but quite sensibly), Amara (female Pygmy Hippo) now has access to both pools in the Hippo House, but only the land area of the new extension. This makes sense as the Capybaras inhabiting the other enclosure are unlikely to use the pool as much, but will need an indoor land area of some sort. Again, the capys were popular; I don't want to speculate too much, but I would be absolutely stunned if London don't look to permanently acquire the species once the existing pair have moved on to Whipsnade. The Okapi House stables (for all species in there) looked really nice to me; perhaps I just haven't noticed it before, but it looked as though they've perhaps been done up recently, with a lot more branches, thick natural substrate and decoration in the visitor area.
I was looking forward to reporting on a new species, the Great Green Macaw, but @tennisfan has beaten me to it. I think they're a lovely addition. I've always liked the Macaw Aviaries due to just how colourful and noisy these birds are, but its felt wasted to me on just three species. I know four isn't much more than three, but it's a little more interesting. Now they just need to take the Prague Rakos' route and find geographically appropriate smaller birds to mix with the larger parrots. For two visits running now, I've managed to see the Small Indian Mongooses after so many failures, and one was using the outdoor area. Sadly, the other was still easily startled, and I doubt that the little barrier to stop visitors getting too close to the glass will ever be removed. Cassons still closed.
I'm not sure if this has been confirmed, but I'm getting a nasty feeling that 'Meet the Neighbours' might be lost to the gorilla enclosure extension. All the species once kept there have moved out (Red-crested Turacos and Lilac-breasted Rollers to Bird Safari, Von der Decken's Hornbills to Blackburn Pavilion). I know the aviary wasn't too interesting design-wise, but using birds to decorate the visitor areas surrounding mammal exhibits for geographical theming is something I love. It's part of the reason why I fell in love with Prague so much. The fact that, en route to the gorillas, you'd pass through this little bamboo forest with trails covered in educational features, and then a sign inviting you to 'meet the neighbours' before you saw the birds that gorillas live with in the wild, was just such a delight to me on all my childhood visits to Gorilla Kingdom. It's a personal thing as no species will be lost and the aviary isn't exactly amazing, but I'd be sad all the same. Can anyone shed some light on this?
To round off, I would just like to say that I'm loving the fact that it's impossible for me to go a few months between visits without seeing something that wasn't there the last time.
The less intense heat meant that the Darwin's Frog room wasn't curtained off as it was last time thankfully, so they are 'onshow' again, though the sunlight-blocking shutters are still in place. After a lot of patience, I could spot a single frog in one of the various vivariums at the back of the room, which is more luck than I had in close to twenty visits of having Congo Caecilians in there. They are tiny, but strikingly coloured and a really interesting shape. What caught my eye was that each vivarium had laminated photos on it of the frogs' bellies with some sort of text underneath that I couldn't read from the distance; perhaps individuals of this species can be identified by their belly patterns? The more that I think about it, the more I think that this might just be the most exciting UK zoo import of the 2020s so far. Not only is it a huge rarity, but the move is solely happening to create a sustainable captive population for reintroduction, which is a fantastic sign of commitment to conservation, and proof that some zoos are willing to go out of their way to import new species for the European scene from abroad if there is a conservation motive.
Minor news in Blackburn Pavilion regarding the Collared Trogons: no longer are there two males in the smaller walkthrough and two females in one of the smaller aviaries in the main lobby, but now, one of the males has been paired with one of the females in the walkthrough; let's hope for chicks! I also saw the other female in the larger walkthrough, a new addition to the enclosure, and a welcome one, as the eye-level branches here allowed me to get closer to her than I ever could to the males in the other enclosure. I have no idea where the second male is; it would make sense for him to also be paired with a female in the large walkthrough, but I couldn't see him and the species was still signed in one of the lobby aviaries.
In 'Tiny Giants,' I saw the new Deathwatch Beetles mentioned by @DesertRhino150 upthread, but what I don't believe has been mentioned was the other details about the enclosure. Their larvae live in timber and eat it, so the zoo has taken timber from the HMS Victory so that they can research their reproduction and develop ways to detect colonies of them inhabiting wood. The zoo is collaborating with the Royal Navy to do this. I found this type of research fascinating. There was also some rather random models of various ships next to it. I don't see what they add to the exhibit, but they did make me question their existence which is what prompted me to read the sign about the research project looking for an answer, so I guess they worked!
In SLoRA, I saw a Luristan Newt larvae. Since ranting about how amazing Prague was for managing to design a giant salamander enclosure where they're actually active unlike at London, I haven't failed to see them at London once.
Today was also my first time in a few visits entering the Clore, and a lot has changed. I couldn't see the bokies in the new enclosure in the Lemur House, but the pair in the old one were as active as I've ever known them to be. Great views of the mouse lemurs, but no sign of the triplets. The gentle lemurs were the highlight. I could see the baby, and its just as adorable as it looked in the photos - a genuine contender for being the cutest baby animal I've ever seen. I could also see all of the adults, all moving about and some actually leaping. Granted I've only seen them once since the move, but transferring them from the Lemur House where only the indoors was onshow to the old spider monkey enclosure seems to have been a masterstroke. Finally getting to see this species (which at all zoos, not just London, seems so lazy) active and playful in an attractive setting was so special. They were more entertaining today than in 20 visits of them in the old enclosure.Downstairs, this was my first visit since the Harvest Mice and Belanger's Treeshrew arrived. No luck with the latter, but great views of the former. I get that they're common, but I would wager that the mice were a very clever addition from ZSL. A bit of a banker, one that can't fail in terms of guaranteeing good sightings given how typically elusive animals are in nocturnal houses, and I thought their enclosure was really nicely designed with long thin grasses that put their famous ability to miraculously balance on slender vegetation on full display. Does anybody know what is the current situation with the slender lorises? They weren't signed in either of their enclosures (as reported upthread, their main one is now signed as only having Senegal Bushbabies), although in fairness they haven't been signed in the MGJR enclosure near the entrance for a little while now and I've still managed to spot them. The zoo had 2.2 in January, so it's not as though they were dwindling.
The westernmost of the hunting dog enclosures (which the Warthog has been given access to) is now signed for Warthogs, perhaps indicating that this is permanent and the zoo won't be acquiring more hunting dogs - or at the very least, if they do, there will be few enough that a separation enclosure isn't needed. Zebras and giraffes were still separated, sadly, and bizarrely enough no sign of the ostriches in either paddock nor the indoor areas. Interestingly (but quite sensibly), Amara (female Pygmy Hippo) now has access to both pools in the Hippo House, but only the land area of the new extension. This makes sense as the Capybaras inhabiting the other enclosure are unlikely to use the pool as much, but will need an indoor land area of some sort. Again, the capys were popular; I don't want to speculate too much, but I would be absolutely stunned if London don't look to permanently acquire the species once the existing pair have moved on to Whipsnade. The Okapi House stables (for all species in there) looked really nice to me; perhaps I just haven't noticed it before, but it looked as though they've perhaps been done up recently, with a lot more branches, thick natural substrate and decoration in the visitor area.
I was looking forward to reporting on a new species, the Great Green Macaw, but @tennisfan has beaten me to it. I think they're a lovely addition. I've always liked the Macaw Aviaries due to just how colourful and noisy these birds are, but its felt wasted to me on just three species. I know four isn't much more than three, but it's a little more interesting. Now they just need to take the Prague Rakos' route and find geographically appropriate smaller birds to mix with the larger parrots. For two visits running now, I've managed to see the Small Indian Mongooses after so many failures, and one was using the outdoor area. Sadly, the other was still easily startled, and I doubt that the little barrier to stop visitors getting too close to the glass will ever be removed. Cassons still closed.
I'm not sure if this has been confirmed, but I'm getting a nasty feeling that 'Meet the Neighbours' might be lost to the gorilla enclosure extension. All the species once kept there have moved out (Red-crested Turacos and Lilac-breasted Rollers to Bird Safari, Von der Decken's Hornbills to Blackburn Pavilion). I know the aviary wasn't too interesting design-wise, but using birds to decorate the visitor areas surrounding mammal exhibits for geographical theming is something I love. It's part of the reason why I fell in love with Prague so much. The fact that, en route to the gorillas, you'd pass through this little bamboo forest with trails covered in educational features, and then a sign inviting you to 'meet the neighbours' before you saw the birds that gorillas live with in the wild, was just such a delight to me on all my childhood visits to Gorilla Kingdom. It's a personal thing as no species will be lost and the aviary isn't exactly amazing, but I'd be sad all the same. Can anyone shed some light on this?
To round off, I would just like to say that I'm loving the fact that it's impossible for me to go a few months between visits without seeing something that wasn't there the last time.
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Did you manage to see the Scarlet-chested Sunbirds?I visited today. Temperature was pleasant, but due to what seemed to be four or five different schools each bringing every year group on a trip, the crowds were the most absurd they've ever been, and a filming crew which meant various portions of the zoo were sectioned off at different points of the day combined with this to make for some horrific congestion at times.
The less intense heat meant that the Darwin's Frog room wasn't curtained off as it was last time thankfully, so they are 'onshow' again, though the sunlight-blocking shutters are still in place. After a lot of patience, I could spot a single frog in one of the various vivariums at the back of the room, which is more luck than I had in close to twenty visits of having Congo Caecilians in there. They are tiny, but strikingly coloured and a really interesting shape. What caught my eye was that each vivarium had laminated photos on it of the frogs' bellies with some sort of text underneath that I couldn't read from the distance; perhaps individuals of this species can be identified by their belly patterns? The more that I think about it, the more I think that this might just be the most exciting UK zoo import of the 2020s so far. Not only is it a huge rarity, but the move is solely happening to create a sustainable captive population for reintroduction, which is a fantastic sign of commitment to conservation, and proof that some zoos are willing to go out of their way to import new species for the European scene from abroad if there is a conservation motive.
Minor news in Blackburn Pavilion regarding the Collared Trogons: no longer are there two males in the smaller walkthrough and two females in one of the smaller aviaries in the main lobby, but now, one of the males has been paired with one of the females in the walkthrough; let's hope for chicks! I also saw the other female in the larger walkthrough, a new addition to the enclosure, and a welcome one, as the eye-level branches here allowed me to get closer to her than I ever could to the males in the other enclosure. I have no idea where the second male is; it would make sense for him to also be paired with a female in the large walkthrough, but I couldn't see him and the species was still signed in one of the lobby aviaries.
In 'Tiny Giants,' I saw the new Deathwatch Beetles mentioned by @DesertRhino150 upthread, but what I don't believe has been mentioned was the other details about the enclosure. Their larvae live in timber and eat it, so the zoo has taken timber from the HMS Victory so that they can research their reproduction and develop ways to detect colonies of them inhabiting wood. The zoo is collaborating with the Royal Navy to do this. I found this type of research fascinating. There was also some rather random models of various ships next to it. I don't see what they add to the exhibit, but they did make me question their existence which is what prompted me to read the sign about the research project looking for an answer, so I guess they worked!
In SLoRA, I saw a Luristan Newt larvae. Since ranting about how amazing Prague was for managing to design a giant salamander enclosure where they're actually active unlike at London, I haven't failed to see them at London once.
Downstairs, this was my first visit since the Harvest Mice and Belanger's Treeshrew arrived. No luck with the latter, but great views of the former. I get that they're common, but I would wager that the mice were a very clever addition from ZSL. A bit of a banker, one that can't fail in terms of guaranteeing good sightings given how typically elusive animals are in nocturnal houses, and I thought their enclosure was really nicely designed with long thin grasses that put their famous ability to miraculously balance on slender vegetation on full display. Does anybody know what is the current situation with the slender lorises? They weren't signed in either of their enclosures (as reported upthread, their main one is now signed as only having Senegal Bushbabies), although in fairness they haven't been signed in the MGJR enclosure near the entrance for a little while now and I've still managed to spot them. The zoo had 2.2 in January, so it's not as though they were dwindling.
The westernmost of the hunting dog enclosures (which the Warthog has been given access to) is now signed for Warthogs, perhaps indicating that this is permanent and the zoo won't be acquiring more hunting dogs - or at the very least, if they do, there will be few enough that a separation enclosure isn't needed. Zebras and giraffes were still separated, sadly, and bizarrely enough no sign of the ostriches in either paddock nor the indoor areas. Interestingly (but quite sensibly), Amara (female Pygmy Hippo) now has access to both pools in the Hippo House, but only the land area of the new extension. This makes sense as the Capybaras inhabiting the other enclosure are unlikely to use the pool as much, but will need an indoor land area of some sort. Again, the capys were popular; I don't want to speculate too much, but I would be absolutely stunned if London don't look to permanently acquire the species once the existing pair have moved on to Whipsnade. The Okapi House stables (for all species in there) looked really nice to me; perhaps I just haven't noticed it before, but it looked as though they've perhaps been done up recently, with a lot more branches, thick natural substrate and decoration in the visitor area.
I was looking forward to reporting on a new species, the Great Green Macaw, but @tennisfan has beaten me to it. I think they're a lovely addition. I've always liked the Macaw Aviaries due to just how colourful and noisy these birds are, but its felt wasted to me on just three species. I know four isn't much more than three, but it's a little more interesting. Now they just need to take the Prague Rakos' route and find geographically appropriate smaller birds to mix with the larger parrots. For two visits running now, I've managed to see the Small Indian Mongooses after so many failures, and one was using the outdoor area. Sadly, the other was still easily startled, and I doubt that the little barrier to stop visitors getting too close to the glass will ever be removed. Cassons still closed.
I'm not sure if this has been confirmed, but I'm getting a nasty feeling that 'Meet the Neighbours' might be lost to the gorilla enclosure extension. All the species once kept there have moved out (Red-crested Turacos and Lilac-breasted Rollers to Bird Safari, Von der Decken's Hornbills to Blackburn Pavilion). I know the aviary wasn't too interesting design-wise, but using birds to decorate the visitor areas surrounding mammal exhibits for geographical theming is something I love. It's part of the reason why I fell in love with Prague so much. The fact that, en route to the gorillas, you'd pass through this little bamboo forest with trails covered in educational features, and then a sign inviting you to 'meet the neighbours' before you saw the birds that gorillas live with in the wild, was just such a delight to me on all my childhood visits to Gorilla Kingdom. It's a personal thing as no species will be lost and the aviary isn't exactly amazing, but I'd be sad all the same. Can anyone shed some light on this?
To round off, I would just like to say that I'm loving the fact that it's impossible for me to go a few months between visits without seeing something that wasn't there the last time.