Whipsnade were free contact later than London; up until around a decade ago.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter aquilla1
- Start date
The cut off point seems to be 2017ish... as when the new Elephant House was opened in 2017 there was a ceremony with Elizabeth II who fed one of the elephants bananas, in a setting where the elephant was not enclosed and was guided by keepers.
The recently released ZSL Annual Report states that the expansion and improvements to Gorilla Kingdom will be completed in time for a 2026 reopening
Last edited by a moderator:
Only gorillas mentioned in the wording so most probably only going to include them and not another species.
Wasn't there talk of Black Mangabeys as a mixed exhibit? Maybe plan has been cancelled.
It may seem so.
Charles
Well-Known Member
I though seeing as they increased the number of Diana monkeys they’ve got that they were going to be instead of the black mangabeys
They also have the whitenaped Mangabeys if they wanted to use them, though Black mangabey seems to work well at e.g Gaia park in Netherlands.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Black mangabeys have always been the plan but last I heard off a keeper (just before works started, so a fortnight or so ago) it was still undecided but looking like the mangabeys have been dropped from the plans. Hopefully we'll get confirmation over the next few weeks as the works progress. It'll be a real shame if they have been dropped, they're a great mix and a lovely species, but ultimately if there's been issues with planning permission like the sign off delay suggests I'm glad they are prioritising the gorillas
The wording i believe is Expanding Gorrilla Kingdom
Work is underway on the expansion of London Zoo’s gorilla habitat, to make extra room for our growing family of western lowland gorillas. The new space,
which will be completed in 2026, will also help us inspire visitors with our conservation work.
So very much a top level summary .
Normally it would be the curator that would determine any new species arriving.
Work is underway on the expansion of London Zoo’s gorilla habitat, to make extra room for our growing family of western lowland gorillas. The new space,
which will be completed in 2026, will also help us inspire visitors with our conservation work.
So very much a top level summary .
Normally it would be the curator that would determine any new species arriving.
Hey that's me! Glad you enjoyed it!
You have a good eye! The tour was filmed in July & September 2004
There has always been an intention for another primate species in documentation accompanying the plans.
Provisions for monkey species.
To future proof the development alongside the ZSL Masterplan the new area should also support the housing of a large primate species such as Black Mangabeys, Lophocebus aterrimus, or Diana Monkeys, Cercopithecus diana.
Provisions for monkey species.
To future proof the development alongside the ZSL Masterplan the new area should also support the housing of a large primate species such as Black Mangabeys, Lophocebus aterrimus, or Diana Monkeys, Cercopithecus diana.
But now no mention of other species:
“to make extra room for our growing family of western lowland gorillas.”
Is that in the annual report or the planning documents @tennisfan is referring to?
I have got back from a trip to London Zoo today. These are the things I noticed:
- Looking over the Gorilla Kingdom enclosure, the former Diana monkey enclosure has been completely demolished now.
- In the Darwin's frog breeding room, a third rack of tanks has been added in the middle; they have not been furnished and do not have any frogs in them yet.
- Was good to see an African death's-head hawkmoth on display again in one of the tanks at the back of Butterfly Paradise.
- New species: In Tiny Giants, the former apple snail tank has been changed over into a marine display, with lots of rocks and a live mangrove sapling. The enclosure is now home to a group of red starfish, which are not signed and so I cannot identify exactly what species they are.
- In the Blackburn Pavilion, the former purple-naped lory aviary is home to a female Asian fairy-bluebird and three crested wood partridges.
- The spotted laughingthrush has moved from the main Blackburn walkthrough into the aviary for the Sumatran laughingthrush in the entrance room.
- Had an excellent time in the Clore rainforest, Night Life and Madagascar sections - I saw every single species there apart from the treeshrew. I definitely saw at least one of the new black-and-rufous sengis, which was very active and approaching the front of its display. Also, the sloth in the main walkthrough was threat displaying towards the saki monkeys - at times, it was shaking the entire tree that it was in.
- Additionally, is the three-banded armadillo still in the Clore? It is no longer signed on the main species board.
- There were a couple of large carry cases in with the capybaras, presumably so they can be trained to enter in preparation for moving them.
- The Zoo Town development in the old reptile house was very popular - it was fully booked by the time the gates were opened. Must be a good little extra money-spinner for the zoo.
cerperal
Well-Known Member
The treeshrew is meant to be leaving and potentially already has, not that anyone ever saw her when she was there anyway. Interesting about the sloth, it's usually the saki girls shaking the tree around Marilyn so it's strange to hear the opposite. Did you see whether it was her or Leander in the tree?
He was removed a few months ago, currently offshow. Over the winter, one of the armadillos is being added to Rainforest Life as the shows stop (and hopefully to deal with the mouse problem) but I think it's one of the big hairy
They've been crate training them before opening for a few weeks now, and the crates have been there for the past fortnight
Really interesting about the sloth behaviour. Also do you have any pictures of the new sengi and/or their enclosure?