ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2025

[Typhlonectes]

In addition to the aforementioned aracaris (of which the zoo is looking for a male for the long term), there are also at least two of the Helmeted water toads in the on show portion of the off show area behind the brook salamanders! Very cool to see them, have some passable pictures that I might post. Also the 'Small-webbed bell toads' (?) too. Was lovely seeing the sengis too, they appear to be attracting a fair bit of interest!

Are they Small-webbed Bell Toads or Oriental Fire-bellies?

 

[amur leopard]

Are they Small-webbed Bell Toads or Oriental Fire-bellies?

Good question - couldn’t see them today but will return to try and figure that out. The odd thing is that Oriental fire bellies were on show and signed correctly in the old reptile house, but then apparently these same animals were transferred to the former Congo caecilian spot under the small webbed name. It remains to be seen whether the ones in the off show area are actually small webbed - it seems odd that the zoo would make this error though…

 

[cerperal]

Next time I'm at Regent's Park I'll ask about the toads, the herp staff in SLoRA are always incredibly helpful and forthcoming with information. I won't be over there for a few weeks so if someone can ask earlier it would be much appreciated.

Given they've been fairly visible in the behind-the-scenes area several times over the past few months, now feels like a good time to mention more publically that the Zoo indeed holds a breeding group of Atewa slippery frogs
(Conraua sagyimase), as well as a breeding group of Afia Birago's puddle frogs (Phrynobatrachus afiabirago). Both are held behind the scenes for research purposes, to help with the in-situ breeding efforts. I've seen the former behind the ratsnake and was told about the latter (the joy of asking keepers!). The slippery frogs may go on show at some point but the puddle frogs are unlikely to. Regardless, extremely exciting that 2 species of such rarity are held and successfully breeding

 

[Typhlonectes]

Next time I'm at Regent's Park I'll ask about the toads, the herp staff in SLoRA are always incredibly helpful and forthcoming with information. I won't be over there for a few weeks so if someone can ask earlier it would be much appreciated.

Given they've been fairly visible in the behind-the-scenes area several times over the past few months, now feels like a good time to mention more publically that the Zoo indeed holds a breeding group of Atewa slippery frogs
(Conraua sagyimase), as well as a breeding group of Afia Birago's puddle frogs (Phrynobatrachus afiabirago). Both are held behind the scenes for research purposes, to help with the in-situ breeding efforts. I've seen the former behind the ratsnake and was told about the latter (the joy of asking keepers!). The slippery frogs may go on show at some point but the puddle frogs are unlikely to. Regardless, extremely exciting that 2 species of such rarity are held and successfully breeding

Great news

 

[Mugcake]

Had another trip to the zoo this week (my earlier post was about the trip last week), have some new updates

First thing’s first, finally got to see the capybara twins in their inside quarters, snapped a few photos:




They seem to enjoy drinking and stepping into their heated pool, although haven’t seen them swim in it yet (nor their outdoor one). They’re certainly drawing plenty of attention though, and the viewing opportunities/space is much better than their Cotton Terraces paddock.

Only thing that could be changed is the fact the Dragon House is exit-only at their end, and I can’t figure out why. The first time I went to the Capybara House (on the prior visit), I swear it opened at both ends, allowing you to enter from beside the capybaras.

Could be a hangover from the COVID system that’s still programmed in, but otherwise it’s a bit of an enigma. It’s not like the Lemur House where animals could potentially escape through the other end (or where the guest portion also needs heating), so I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets reversed down the line.

In other news, big changes down at the Nocturnal House! The first Galago enclosure (forget which particular species it held) has been marked as empty, with the lights turned off in all but the very first window (the one directly beside the jumping rat):




Happened to take some photos in the right-side enclosure the week prior, so these are possibly the last photos of them in that space:





Finally, the new Reptile House has a new paint job on the outside tank wall. I think this design was here before, so it’s possibly just a touchup:

 

[DCzootripper]

Had another trip to the zoo this week (my earlier post was about the trip last week), have some new updates

First thing’s first, finally got to see the capybara twins in their inside quarters, snapped a few photos:

View attachment 846382
View attachment 846384 View attachment 846383

They seem to enjoy drinking and stepping into their heated pool, although haven’t seen them swim in it yet (nor their outdoor one). They’re certainly drawing plenty of attention though, and the viewing opportunities/space is much better than their Cotton Terraces paddock.

Only thing that could be changed is the fact the Dragon House is exit-only at their end, and I can’t figure out why. The first time I went to the Capybara House (on the prior visit), I swear it opened at both ends, allowing you to enter from beside the capybaras.

Could be a hangover from the COVID system that’s still programmed in, but otherwise it’s a bit of an enigma. It’s not like the Lemur House where animals could potentially escape through the other end (or where the guest portion also needs heating), so I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets reversed down the line.

In other news, big changes down at the Nocturnal House! The first Galago enclosure (forget which particular species it held) has been marked as empty, with the lights turned off in all but the very first window (the one directly beside the jumping rat):

View attachment 846386
View attachment 846387

Happened to take some photos in the right-side enclosure the week prior, so these are possibly the last photos of them in that space:

View attachment 846388
View attachment 846389
View attachment 846390

Finally, the new Reptile House has a new paint job on the outside tank wall. I think this design was here before, so it’s possibly just a touchup:

View attachment 846391

I Believe they were senegal bushbabies.

 

[tennisfan]

The access from/to komodo house from the Cabybara exhibit side has been functioning on both sides on all my visits since the Cabybara have been on show there.

 

[Mugcake]

The access from/to komodo house from the Cabybara exhibit side has been functioning on both sides on all my visits since the Cabybara have been on show there.

Very strange that it wasn’t when I visited this week then. There was a family trying to go in and the door literally wouldn’t budge, even though I had exited from it just before.

Maybe the whole house was closed suddenly? I didn’t go around the other side to check, but it had staff in it minutes prior and was otherwise totally accessible.

I did ask some other staff who were walking down towards the capys, and they just told me it’s meant to be closed on that end