Biota » London Zoo

Biota
09-07-2008

Thought someone should make a thread fo this!, is there any more news on this new attraction?

i asume the full list of species to be kept havent been released yet, but i know they are trying to house dugongs or manatees

and the artist impressions look quite amazing!

The Biota! experience - Biota! - ZSL

09-07-2008

I've just noticed the banner at the top of the Biota page (with the fish) has changed. It used to be a crocodile and a bit of small text said 'opening 2009'. This text has been removed.

I'm guessing then that construction hasn't started and now if there is no completion date, it doesn't look like construction will start anytime soon...

Perhaps a Wembley Stadium scenario/fiasco...

(of course I may be over-thinking things and ZSL may have just decided to wait a bit...)

09-07-2008

Where did u get this info from?

09-07-2008

I thought, Biota should be opend in 2010 ? But if is not yet under construction, I don't belive it will be opend so far...

Dugongs were great, but Manatees are more realistic.

09-07-2008

It seems the new date is 2011
UKs Biota super aquarium just three years away | Practical Fishkeeping magazine

09-07-2008

Sounds good. I look foward it. But I ask myself, why we could not have such "Super-Aquariums" in germany ? We have only a few Sealife here, but to call the Sealife Centres a "Super-Aquarium " is If I would call McDonald's a First class Restaurant...

Nevertheless, there are so many new and modern Large Aquariums in diffrent european countries, but not in germany, why ?

09-07-2008

Interesting that Biota will only have 10% of the total water of Georgia Aquarium, which of course has massive tanks with beluga whales and whale sharks. Nevertheless, Biota certainly will be added to the long, long list of London attractions.

09-07-2008

But I guess, the London Aquarium isn't very enthuasistic about Biota, right ? And as like as the other London attractions, Biota will take a high entree fee...

What about the old Zoo aquarium ? Is this now complete renovated ?

09-07-2008

From memory, the London Aquarium wasn't as good as you would expect for the primary aquatic collection in the capital city. I'd imagine that they lose most of their target audience to London Zoo anyway (admission fees are roughly the same and to a regular visitor, they can see fish at the zoo as well as other animals for the same price)

As for the zoo's aquarium, i think it may have been renovated a few years ago, but not too sure of this...

09-07-2008

london aquarium is terrible. if biota's proposed opening year is set at 2011 it is 5 years late by ZSL original target of 2006, but as long as its open by 2012 ill be happy.

10-07-2008

look at the artist impressions! in the amazon shot there is a manatee in a tank, i asume this is what they hope to build

what name are they actually calling it? biota or silvertownaquarium?

10-07-2008

ps: my london zoo guide book for 2006 (i think) says opening 2008, silvertown aquarium

10-07-2008

In terms of species and tanks, London Aquarium is probably on a par with the National Marine Aquarium and the National Sea Life Centre, but not quite as good as the Blue Planet Aquarium. I've not been to The Deep or Deep Sea World, but I believe they're supposed to be very good.

One thing I didn't like about the LA was the building, which, although an imaginative renovation, was claustrophobic and dark. Like you say though, it's not really the world-class aquarium attraction that London deserves.

Biota postponed
10-07-2008

Just found this London Evening Standard article from 23 June. It sounds like Biota! is a victim of the credit crunch - postponed for a year, with no new start date.

Full article here: Revealed: the biggest new homes crash in 70 years

10-07-2008

As I recall, the earlier name was Silvertown Aquarium. The current name is Biota! (their exclamation, not mine)