Tuesday, 12 July 2011

"...I thought I'd take the opportunity to go down, and see how everyone is down at the City Zoo..."

I took a trip to London Zoo last week, my first for, oh, at least five years, maybe more. And, oh, how it's changed.

Part of the reason for going was to see the new Penguin Beach (and last year's Rainforest exhibit), but I hadn't realised just how much had been altered or removed. Gone is the old Parrot House (only the door arch remains) and the old Bug World, to be replaced by newer glass and steel constructions, or the hot and humid 'blowup' Butterfly Paradise.

Many of the enclosures have undergone a makeover, the Reptile House exhibit in particular now boasts 'themed' enclosures (a Texas barn for the rattlesnakes, an African mud hut for the puff adder) and there's a fantastic new enclosure for the Komodos. They clearly have spent a ton of money on it, and with the plans for a five-fold increase in the space allocated to the tiger enclosure, they plan to do much, much more.

I searched in vain for some of my favourite landmarks and statues, such as the one of Guy the gorilla, and the lioness/man battle, but they were nowhere to be found, removed and replaced by newer, more 'ecofriendly' ones and I felt their loss. Others are of the opinion that the Zoo is better off without them, but they were always favourites from childhood, though no use now in attempting to get my bearings, given the changes!

Highlight of the day was undoubtedly the Harris Hawk that decided to go AWOL from the Amphitheatre show, ignoring the handlers trying to lure it back, and making several unsuccessful passes at the Zoo's feral pigeon population before nailing one right in front of a group of visiting schoolchildren on an educational visit...

Images (not the best, given the limitations of the iPhone inbuilt camera, and the lack of photographic skill of its wielder!) are here:
All in all, a very enjoyable (if expensive!) day out. I don't, however, recommend the food. Take a picnic.
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10 comments:

  1. patently12 July 2011 at 14:52

    Well, at least that was certainly educational for the schoolchildren.

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  2. Robert Edwards12 July 2011 at 15:05

    Well, birds will be birds...

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  3. Captain Haddock12 July 2011 at 17:32

    The standard of catering at London Zoo has always been over-priced & crap ..

    I remember taking my kids there back in the 80's & thinking that the "residents" were better fed than the paying public ..

    But, as my, then missus pointed out .. We had a choice about being there .. they didn't .. which was a fair comment .. ;)

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  4. lilith12 July 2011 at 20:59

    Extraordinary moth!

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  5. blueknight12 July 2011 at 22:51

    No elephants but otherwise Marwell is not bad, - or wasn't

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  6. JuliaM13 July 2011 at 07:41

    "Well, at least that was certainly educational for the schoolchildren."

    :D

    "The standard of catering at London Zoo has always been over-priced & crap .."

    Apparently, if you go for the 'Zoo Late' events (every Friday in June and July) where it stays open to 10:00pm, it's much better, as they bring in all the food concessions from the Brixton Carnival, etc.

    It got a write-up in the 'Metro' for the quality of the food at these.

    "Extraordinary moth!"

    They were amazing, hard to believe they were real, and not models.

    "No elephants but otherwise Marwell is not bad, - or wasn't"

    I've only been to Marwell a couple of times, but yes, it's excellent. Howletts and Port Lympne are good as well.

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  7. Captain Haddock13 July 2011 at 09:51

    " ... as they bring in all the food concessions from the Brixton Carnival, etc" ...

    That'll be home-distilled alcohol direct from the Shebeen .. and fresh Marijuana cakes then ?

    With a dazzling display of synchronised "Steaming" .. and a Raffle, in which the winner gets the opportunity to be mugged on the way home ..

    Errm .. Thanks, but no thanks ..

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  8. Pavlov's Cat13 July 2011 at 10:23

    Guy the Gorilla Statue still there, but moved from outside the gorilla enclosure to near the Exit in Barclay Court

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  9. JuliaM13 July 2011 at 14:27

    "Guy the Gorilla Statue still there, but moved from outside the gorilla enclosure to near the Exit in Barclay Court"

    Ah! Strange we missed it, we exited there (unusually, as we went by coach not Tube as on all other occasions).

    Oh, well. There's always next time.

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  10. Lynne14 July 2011 at 08:47

    I haven't visited a zoo in years. Thanks for reminding what a great day out that can be.


    WV mutsho. Do you think WV is trying to tell me something?

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