Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Visiting today, thought I’d ask if anyone had any questions?
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter aquilla1
- Start date
If you get chance could you ask if giraffes Nuru & Wilfred have got new homes lined up yet?
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Yesterday, I had a nice day out at London, despite the weather being rather temperamental earlier in the day. The zoo seemed rather empty for the duration of the day, as unsurprisingly the crowds had been put off by the weather. The rather damp conditions meant that the Darwin's Frog room was viewable, with (as @Kalaw found on their visit) some sunlight-blocking shutters in place. After several trips backwards and forwards throughout the day, I managed to spot a couple of frogs rather unclearly. However, on my last trip towards the Komodo’s, one of the individuals in a vivarium at the back of the room began to clearly wander around amongst damp, green foliage. Once again, @Kalaw is correct in thinking that the underparts of each individual have a pattern unique to each individual.
In the Blackburn Pavilion, I saw the male Collared Trogon enjoying a shower and later the unpaired female in the smaller section of the walkthrough. I’m unsure of the location of the second male, as the species was no longer signed in one of the lobby aviaries. As mentioned previously, there are now two female Mountain Peacock-pheasants in the larger walkthrough, and a further 2 more females in the Wrinkled Hornbill aviary (presumably the other pair are elsewhere?). On the sunbird side of things, there are still 1.1 Scarlet-chested in the larger walkthrough (beyond breeding age, yet still very spritely) and 0.2 Splendids in the smaller walkthrough, seen and confirmed. Also, a new Blacksmith Lapwing has arrived, and the pair were together in one of the outside aviaries.
In Rainforest Life, one of the female LT-T Sloths was off-show for a routine vet check and the Tamandua signs had been removed. The Zebras and Giraffes were still separated, however the Ostriches are currently just off-show and can move between the Okapi House and an area behind the main paddock, with the male being just visible strutting along the fence line. From the way that keepers talked about it, there aren’t any current plans on moving Nuru and Wilfred in the near future.
Cassons was still closed, and some scaffolding was to the left of the public entrance. Khaleesi had a transport crate in her enclosure, but disappointingly this was just a training exercise.
In the Blackburn Pavilion, I saw the male Collared Trogon enjoying a shower and later the unpaired female in the smaller section of the walkthrough. I’m unsure of the location of the second male, as the species was no longer signed in one of the lobby aviaries. As mentioned previously, there are now two female Mountain Peacock-pheasants in the larger walkthrough, and a further 2 more females in the Wrinkled Hornbill aviary (presumably the other pair are elsewhere?). On the sunbird side of things, there are still 1.1 Scarlet-chested in the larger walkthrough (beyond breeding age, yet still very spritely) and 0.2 Splendids in the smaller walkthrough, seen and confirmed. Also, a new Blacksmith Lapwing has arrived, and the pair were together in one of the outside aviaries.
In Rainforest Life, one of the female LT-T Sloths was off-show for a routine vet check and the Tamandua signs had been removed. The Zebras and Giraffes were still separated, however the Ostriches are currently just off-show and can move between the Okapi House and an area behind the main paddock, with the male being just visible strutting along the fence line. From the way that keepers talked about it, there aren’t any current plans on moving Nuru and Wilfred in the near future.
Cassons was still closed, and some scaffolding was to the left of the public entrance. Khaleesi had a transport crate in her enclosure, but disappointingly this was just a training exercise.
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Just a question, but are Tracheloptychus petersi still held behind the rhinoceros ratsnake tank in SLoRA? Yesterday the ratsnake’s tank was rather steamed up, so I had no luck seeing if they were there or not.
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
Seems it hasn’t been mentioned that there’s a pair now, in one of the side aviaries of the main walkthrough.Good news for pigeon fansPink-headed fruit-dove are a nice species, hopefully there's more than one.
Typhlonectes
Well-Known Member
Yes as of a few weeks ago in the bottom left arid enclosure
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Some good news, work has started proper on the Gorilla expansion. Unfortunately, In With The Neighbours is now confirmed to be a casualty with construction work starting there.
We finally have a straight answer regarding the Africa paddock too. The zebras kept going in the giraffe house, and the giraffes chased them out. Wilfred however continued chasing them outside. Once the zebras were separated, he moved onto chasing the ostriches. Apparently the other giraffes aren't a problem
We finally have a straight answer regarding the Africa paddock too. The zebras kept going in the giraffe house, and the giraffes chased them out. Wilfred however continued chasing them outside. Once the zebras were separated, he moved onto chasing the ostriches. Apparently the other giraffes aren't a problem
Charles
Well-Known Member
What is in with the neighbours?
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Sorry - it's the small walk-through aviary that used to be connected to Gorilla Kingdom. Nothing particularly special in terms of species but quite nice all the same
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I’m devastated to hear that ‘Meet the Neighbours’ will be gone, I always loved the place. Luckily no species will be lost with all the former ones having found new homes (either in Bird Safari or Blackburn) but it’s a loss of character and creativity nonetheless. It does make sense though - the whole bamboo trail leading up to the gorillas, as much as I’ve loved its educational features, did always feel as though it should be part of the enclosure and was the first logical place to demolish in the expansion. Fingers crossed one of the empty monkey rooms in the indoor portion can be converted into an aviary at one point, which if I’m not mistaken was once the case?
That makes sense regarding the giraffes, and hopefully means they will resume the mix once Wilfred has found a new home. I’ve always wondered how they train the giraffes to use the Giraffe House and the zebras to use their own stables so effectively - as it turns out they don’t.
Regarding the giraffes, If both Wilfred & Nuru find new breeding homes(as is the plan) will the plan just be to keep Molly on her own?
As a hybrid female at the age of 19yrs clearly wouldn't make sense to move her on but on the other hand doesn't seem fair to keep her alone.
As a hybrid female at the age of 19yrs clearly wouldn't make sense to move her on but on the other hand doesn't seem fair to keep her alone.
I understand that the birds in Meet the Neighbours aviary are having lots of chicks, for instance Madagascar Ibis have had 2 chicks. There are other birds who are in quarantine in the aviary
Great news about the Madagascar Crested Ibis chicks, what other birds are in with them, they used to keep Green Wood Hoopoes in there! Is this a first for them? If only they were Oriental Crested Ibis!!
With the multiple Peacock Pheasants around, I wonder if Zoos struggle to place what they’ve bred with other collections with problems and increased costs shipping to the continent, even with less common species?
With the multiple Peacock Pheasants around, I wonder if Zoos struggle to place what they’ve bred with other collections with problems and increased costs shipping to the continent, even with less common species?
Looks like the keepers are now rotating warthogs between their original enclosure and the first hunting dog enclosure.
equidae
Well-Known Member
A porcupette has been born to mother Hettie: London Zoo
