ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025

[Mugcake]

I’m a little surprised actually that they never considered putting giant otters in the Sealion Pond, as they’re smaller than the prior inhabitants and would have been a decent replacement.

I suspect the reason it never happened was because of the Asian Small-Clawed Otters at the other end of the zoo, who ticked off the otter quota well without needing anywhere near as much space. The pond was also very useful for accommodating the Pygmy Hippos during Summer, as well as for holding Sea Lions again during their brief return in 2012.

If it wasn’t for the unsuitability of the concrete, the Penguin Pool would stand a chance at being a decent otter enclosure, although if that would work for Giant Otters is a bit of an uncertainty. Doing it up like they did for the Chinese Alligators in 2004 might work out, but I doubt the penguin dens are big enough to house them (or indeed to fit into).

If the zoo ever decides to hold a species of beaver again, I could see them replacing the otters in their current enclosure. Under those circumstances they might consider housing the giant ones, although I think the Capybara House is noteworthy enough that it’ll stay as such for a good number of decades.

 

[Kalaw]

The pond was also very useful for accommodating the Pygmy Hippos during Summer

Off-topic but back when the Pygmy Hipppos used this ex-sea lion pool as their summer residence, where exactly were their winter quarters? I'd always assumed it was across the path in the Cassons, but looking at maps from the time there were camels in there (I can't for the life of me remember anything living that side of the Cassons before the tapir). And what was the purpose of having two separate enclosures for different times of year?

 

[Mugcake]

Off-topic but back when the Pygmy Hipppos used this ex-sea lion pool as their summer residence, where exactly were their winter quarters? I'd always assumed it was across the path in the Cassons, but looking at maps from the time there were camels in there (I can't for the life of me remember anything living that side of the Cassons before the tapir). And what was the purpose of having two separate enclosures for different times of year?

Yeah they replaced the camels on the Elephant Side, around the time they would have been changing the paddock over into something other than sand/dirt.

It’s before the major revamp for the tapir and (now) Babirusa, but they still did some work to change it up for them. The main benefit was that the elephant enclosure had a few pools in it, and was larger overall, with the added indoor space benefiting them during the colder months.

From what I remember, the Sealion Pond didn’t really have an indoor section, or at least not one large enough to accommodate two Pygmy Hippos for extended periods. The sea lions would have spent almost all of their time outdoors from what I can tell, given the pond was built 120 years ago.

I do remember the hippos in both environments, and it was interesting to watch them indoors at the Cassons, particularly when they’d bathe/swim in the elephant pool. I still really miss when you could go in there and just explore the space, it was such an expansive building despite the restricted enclosure sizes.

But to sum it up, they just couldn’t house hippos in perpetually cold waters during the winter months. The elephant pool indoors is specifically heated to help stop an elephant’s skin drying and cracking in the winter, which you can hear about in this old newsreel:

 

[Daubentoniidae]

There is or was a place in Brazil that apparently mixed giant otters with capybara, as well as tapirs and spider monkeys, but the current recommendation is that they are far too aggressive to mix with other species.

If another species were to be mixed into the new capybara enclosure (which, as an aside, looks fabulous), I would be tempted to choose the lowland paca. The enclosure would need almost no changes, save for providing a retreat area for it to rest in, and they are visually distinct so they wouldn't just immediately be mistaken for a baby capybara. They have also been mixed in several zoos with capybara, including this rather great image from a former display at Amazon World Zoo Park in the Isle of Wight.

I remember seeing the paca there which was a great addition to that zoo. They would also be great in Rainforest/Nightlife for London.

 

[Maguari]

Off-topic but back when the Pygmy Hipppos used this ex-sea lion pool as their summer residence, where exactly were their winter quarters? I'd always assumed it was across the path in the Cassons, but looking at maps from the time there were camels in there (I can't for the life of me remember anything living that side of the Cassons before the tapir). And what was the purpose of having two separate enclosures for different times of year?

I might be misremembering but I think they used the end of the Stork and Ostrich House over the summer (same area as the tigers use now).

 

[Mugcake]

I might be misremembering but I think they used the end of the Stork and Ostrich House over the summer (same area as the tigers use now).

Ah ok. I’m probably mixing up my memories from both time periods, tbh they do all gel together after a while

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Does anyone mix Giant Otters with anything else? I think they are a fabulous species myself and would be a great addition to either ZSL location.

South Lakes briefly mixed their Giant Otters with Lowland Paca and (I think) Azaras Agouti in the early 2010s; neither survived long at all.

 

[FBBird]

South Lakes briefly mixed their Giant Otters with Lowland Paca and (I think) Azaras Agouti in the early 2010s; neither survived long at all.

That’s a typical daft South Lakes mix imho

 

[Velas]

There is or was a place in Brazil that apparently mixed giant otters with capybara, as well as tapirs and spider monkeys, but the current recommendation is that they are far too aggressive to mix with other species.

If another species were to be mixed into the new capybara enclosure (which, as an aside, looks fabulous), I would be tempted to choose the lowland paca. The enclosure would need almost no changes, save for providing a retreat area for it to rest in, and they are visually distinct so they wouldn't just immediately be mistaken for a baby capybara. They have also been mixed in several zoos with capybara, including this rather great image from a former display at Amazon World Zoo Park in the Isle of Wight.

This brazilian zoo in question has alredy closed its doors for quite some time by now, and I'm not aware of any positive and/or negative histories towards this mix of species. I personally wouldn't trust Giant otters with anything living on the same ground level as them. They might not try to eat the capys, but they are a very territorial species, and even Jaguars will run away from them if they're protecting their territory.

The zoo did a great job with this capybara enclousure in my opinion, and I personally believe that they can do some nice and interesting mixes with them. Tapirs might be out of question, but others south american species can surely work out. Giant anteaters, Maned wolves or Southern screamers would be a perfect fit in my opinion, and if they add another species to this, it can become a very interesting Cerrado or Pantanal mix. Even caimans could work out, but I don't believe that they would be very fit for London's climate

 

[Mugcake]

The zoo did a great job with this capybara enclousure in my opinion, and I personally believe that they can do some nice and interesting mixes with them. Tapirs might be out of question, but others south american species can surely work out. Giant anteaters or Southern screamers would be a perfect fit in my opinion, and if they add another species to this, it can become a very interesting Cerrado or Pantanal mix. Even caimans could work out, but I don't believe that they would be very fit for London's climate

Sadly I doubt the zoo will be holding a Giant Anteater again anytime soon. They had a whole enclosure dedicated to it once, but it apparently didn’t do well, even with regular walks outside with keepers.

They can also be quite dangerous, with the capacity to kill even Jaguars. I don’t think it would do too well in a wet enclosure like the capy’s, especially considering the space is probably no greater than the old enclosure (maybe even less?)

I’m not too sure on caimans either, unless they genuinely won’t conflict in any way with their neighbours. There is also the issue of guest safety, as they’re not gonna be able to run the capybara encounters unless the space is safe for people to traverse.

It would be nice to see them mixed with something else, I’m just not sure it would be a great idea unless they’re as manageable as the capys are.

 

[Velas]

Sadly I doubt the zoo will be holding a Giant Anteater again anytime soon. They had a whole enclosure dedicated to it once, but it apparently didn’t do well, even with regular walks outside with keepers.

They can also be quite dangerous, with the capacity to kill even Jaguars. I don’t think it would do too well in a wet enclosure like the capy’s, especially considering the space is probably no greater than the old enclosure (maybe even less?)

I’m not too sure on caimans either, unless they genuinely won’t conflict in any way with their neighbours. There is also the issue of guest safety, as they’re not gonna be able to run the capybara encounters unless the space is safe for people to traverse.

It would be nice to see them mixed with something else, I’m just not sure it would be a great idea unless they’re as manageable as the capys are.

Somewhat off-topic, but I found really curious that some people on this site find anteaters to be dangerous. Their claws can indeed cause some serious damage, but they're not even close of being dangerous to non-predatory animals. My local zoo, and a number of other ones in Brazil and in other countries as well mix them without any issues.

The water wouldn't be a problem for them, as they're quite good swimmers and inhabit wetlands such as the Pantanal. If London didn't have any succes with them, maybe it was something with these particular individuals or the zoo's climate and/or exhibit wasn't suited for them at the time. But with heated and separated areas, I believe the zoo can acomplish this mix without issues (the capy encounter with visitors might be impacted tho). In order to not clog this thread, I can answer anyone's questions on the anteaters on mixed exhibits thread.

 

[Panthera1981]

Does anyone mix Giant Otters with anything else? I think they are a fabulous species myself and would be a great addition to either ZSL location.

I believe London had serious plans for Giant otter many years ago to replace the Giant anteater. However, various factors led to this falling through and management decided to build a Crazy Golf course instead!

Also, on the subject of capybara, it was inevitable…ZSL are now selling capybara-themed Xmas jumpers (in a variety of fetching colours!)

 

[Lafone]

I believe London had serious plans for Giant otter many years ago to replace the Giant anteater. However, various factors led to this falling through and management decided to build a Crazy Golf course instead!

Also, on the subject of capybara, it was inevitable…ZSL are now selling capybara-themed Xmas jumpers (in a variety of fetching colours!)

Crazy! Literally. Would be nice if they came in at some point.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

At least they're using the space they're in again for animals, but would still have preferred a more unique species, possibly rarer to go there. As for the crazy golf thing I just hope that space gets used properly in the future as there's still quite a lot of space there since they once had vicuna, rhea and anteaters there.

 

[Mugcake]

I believe London had serious plans for Giant otter many years ago to replace the Giant anteater. However, various factors led to this falling through and management decided to build a Crazy Golf course instead!

Is the Crazy Golf course on the Anteater Lawn? I hadn’t heard of one at the zoo, and whenever I’ve gone near that lawn the only thing by it is that small garden ._.

As for the crazy golf thing I just hope that space gets used properly in the future as there's still quite a lot of space there since they once had vicuna, rhea and anteaters there.

Whenabouts did they have Rhea? I do remember the Vicuña briefly being kept there, but the only Rhea I recall seeing in London were being kept on Hampstead Heath.

Actually I had no idea that Hampstead Heath has a zoo in its own right, although it sounds a lot larger nowadays than when I last visited. It’s called Golders Hill Park Zoo and is a free zoo within the heath if anyone wants to read up further, mostly native species with a couple exceptions like lemurs and wallabies.

 

[Daubentoniidae]

The crazy golf replaced where the anteaters were, though I never actually saw it (why would I go to a part of the zoo without animals ) but is now a garden space but still underused.

The rhea were mixed in the outdoor area for the anteaters back in 2007ish I think. I have some old photos in the gallery of them being in together.

 

[cerperal]

Sadly I doubt the zoo will be holding a Giant Anteater again anytime soon. They had a whole enclosure dedicated to it once, but it apparently didn’t do well, even with regular walks outside with keepers.

Not sure where you heard that from, the decision to go out of anteaters was a decidedly financial one in a late-2010s attempt to recoup some of their costs with more entertainment areas for guests - one that tremendously backfired given both Covid and the fact your average zoo visitor wants to see animals and not astroturf.

I believe London had serious plans for Giant otter many years ago to replace the Giant anteater. However, various factors led to this falling through and management decided to build a Crazy Golf course instead!

Unfortunately it was nothing more than an idea floated by lower-level staff (translation: keepers, so the ones that should actually be listened to) and never taken seriously, at least in recent times - I can't speak for any pre-2015 plans. It became evident that then-management were dead set on some form of entertainment zone from the start

Indeed, there is plenty of space up there and a fraction of it is used for the current garden (the rest is still maintained, though - unlike the North Bank). Maybe we'll see it redeveloped in the coming years, once the zoo leadership stabilises again. I'd love to see a species like maned wolf up there if the anteater never returns.

Somewhat off-topic, but I found really curious that some people on this site find anteaters to be dangerous. Their claws can indeed cause some serious damage, but they're not even close of being dangerous to non-predatory animals. My local zoo, and a number of other ones in Brazil and in other countries as well mix them without any issues.

The water wouldn't be a problem for them, as they're quite good swimmers and inhabit wetlands such as the Pantanal. If London didn't have any succes with them, maybe it was something with these particular individuals or the zoo's climate and/or exhibit wasn't suited for them at the time. But with heated and separated areas, I believe the zoo can acomplish this mix without issues (the capy encounter with visitors might be impacted tho). In order to not clog this thread, I can answer anyone's questions on the anteaters on mixed exhibits thread.

Entirely in agreement, but equally I don't believe tapir or capybara to be particularly dangerous either - incidents with all 3 generally arise from human incompetence or mother and young circumstances in captivity, and similar in the wild. They're mixed well in the UK and continental Europe and keepers are generally very hands-on with them. I distinctly remember having someone on here try to convince me that while sharks are utterly safe, anteaters are the xenarthran equivalent of special forces and utterly lethal...As for climate, I think that problem is overstated too - they do quite fine in Europe with our fairly chilly winters and the London exhibit was rather sheltered from the extremes too. I've seen them in midwinter at both Longleat and Berlin and both times they were very active and going about their business.

 

[Mugcake]

Not sure where you heard that from, the decision to go out of anteaters was a decidedly financial one in a late-2010s attempt to recoup some of their costs with more entertainment areas for guests - one that tremendously backfired given both Covid and the fact your average zoo visitor wants to see animals and not astroturf.

Oh, well that kinda makes more sense I guess. I’d heard that Giant Anteaters in particular tend to have a problem with space requirements, where they can sometimes become stressed from what is otherwise adequate space (kinda like how an elephant cannot thrive in a space that a giraffe would do fine in).

Could be a misnomer though, either way I’m surprised they’d give it up if they didn’t have to. They purpose-built that enclosure primarily for the anteater, with a viewing platform to reduce stress from visitor interactions, and it was genuinely one of the most popular animals in the zoo (and for paleo nerds like myself, they’re kinda the closest thing you can still get to a ground sloth).

I don’t think the zoo should go back to the pre-reformation approach of having as many species as possible in the space the zoo provides, but I definitely think it’s been a shame for that space to go unused the past six years.

Indeed, there is plenty of space up there and a fraction of it is used for the current garden (the rest is still maintained, though - unlike the North Bank). Maybe we'll see it redeveloped in the coming years, once the zoo leadership stabilises again. I'd love to see a species like maned wolf up there if the anteater never returns.

I really hope so too, it would help draw attention back to that corner of the zoo (which hasn’t been helped by the closing of the Blackburn end of the monkey walkthrough, which would normally bring visitors from the other side directly into the Tiny Giants area).

I think a really good idea for it (which I’ve floated here before) would be as a mixed-species Australian exhibit, with wombats on the ground and koalas in either a replanted eucalyptus tree or on climbing structures.

Would make even better use of the raised walkway for watching them climb, with the den windows being used to see the wombats up close. Koalas are also super popular animals that would definitely help revenue, although I’m not sure how near the closest zoo population is to import from?

 

[cerperal]

Would make even better use of the raised walkway for watching them climb, with the den windows being used to see the wombats up close. Koalas are also super popular animals that would definitely help revenue, although I’m not sure how near the closest zoo population is to import from?

Theoretically, Longleat will move their young on in the next few years. Those being Southern koalas would require further import from SEA, Japan or Australia, all of which are possible. The Northern koala is far more prevalent in Europe so that would be an easier solution. However, I don't think that area would be suitable - a large house would be needed, and the entire section is built on top of the (buried) building used for school groups, not to mention the terrain being very uneven. I can, however, definitely see them in the Roundhouse - certainly a species of that distinction deserves to be in there.

and for paleo nerds like myself, they’re kinda the closest thing you can still get to a ground sloth

Are Leander and Marilyn not good enough for you?! They're a single branch of the family tree away from Glossotherium, especially when he decides to crawl about on the floor

 

[Mugcake]

I can, however, definitely see them in the Roundhouse - certainly a species of that distinction deserves to be in there.

Actually I think they were kept in the Roundhouse as recently as the 90s, certainly in the 80s. I’m not really sure why they’ve never returned there, but personally I would prefer them adding them to the Mappins as there’s room there for a climbing structure and some form of housing to be built.

Are Leander and Marilyn not good enough for you?! They're a single branch of the family tree away from Glossotherium, especially when he decides to crawl about on the floor

Well kinda, they’re really quite different to ground sloths in their overall habits though. The Giant Anteater with its semi-bipedal posturing and larger size is more reminiscent of ground sloths overall, in the sense it’s a big ground-dwelling xenarthran :0