giant pandas for London? » London Zoo

ashley-h · 25-10-2008

I think they'd use the Mappins, seeing as the emu/wallaby exhibit is only temporary.

Marwell Dalek · 25-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marwell Dalek

Oh, fantastic if this works out! I always thought the Mappin Terraces would make a great enclosure, with a wooden viewing bridge going along the old, disused path that's at the foot of the 'mountains'.

Yeah, AH has the right idea too.

ashley-h · 25-10-2008

Ah didn't see you had said that.
I've said for ages that Pandas could use the Mappins, maybe with Takin or something on the mountains.

Marwell Dalek · 25-10-2008

Not sure if they consider the mountains suitable, but if they are able to make adjustments there I think Bharal, Tahr or Markhor could work nicely. Perhaps even mixing Red Pandas & Golden Monkeys with the giant pandas.

ashley-h · 25-10-2008

Don't know if the zoo would pay for Golden monkeys though, the public wouldn't really flock to see them as they don't know what they are.

Marwell Dalek · 25-10-2008

I know that, I mean it would add to the ambience and educational value of the exhibit. Not to mention the Mappin Cafe would probably become a shop stocked full of panda merchandise.

ashley-h · 25-10-2008

Yeah it would I guess. Imagine the queues though, and the dissapoinment if they turned out like the Sloth bears!

Marwell Dalek · 25-10-2008

There would be PANDAmonium!

zooman · 25-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashley-h

Don't know if the zoo would pay for Golden monkeys though, the public wouldn't really flock to see them as they don't know what they are.

Zoos pay for golden monkeys as well???

zooman · 25-10-2008

[quote=Pertinax;79263]I disagree here as I think the EEP try to be fair across the board. In London's case they have been allocated a proven breeding female(Effie) from Berlin and a prime young female(Mjuku) from Chessington in the hope that both will breed. Females to add to new groups are not available in large number so establishing this small group is all that ZSL could hope for at this stage.QUOTE]

Okay Pertinax, as usual you have allot more knowledge on the gorillas history than l. Just personally when l know of the story of Sydney zoo reciving there full grown socially adapted group. I figure ZSL could have recieved the same treatment.

zooman · 25-10-2008

[quote=CZJimmy;79234]I'm sorry, but i really don't agree with these points.

As Glyn pointed out, ZSL is still one of the major front runners in in-situ conservation which means that they deserve some major respect in the zoo world.[quote=CZJimmy;79234]

This may well be the case. It would seem the sacrafice the animals at ZSL make to be the "post card" for there wild family is great.

[quote=CZJimmy;79234]
It may have got left behind in 20 years ago in exhibit standard, but the developments so far in the 21st century means they regaining some of their reputation. [quote=CZJimmy;79234]

The new exhibits that l saw at ZSL were appaling including Clore Rainforest Lookout. Would be intersted to hear what exhibits you are refering too?

[quote=CZJimmy;79234]
London Zoo has realised that it is a city zoo now and therefore have changed the species list accordingly.[quote=CZJimmy;79234]

Will the ZSL ever be forgiven for building the Elephant and Rhino house! Why have they not knoked this down. Please dont tell me its heritage listed!!!

[quote=CZJimmy;79234]
About ZSL going back to 'putting on a show', what do you base this on? ZSL is focussing largely on conservation efforts (which Gorilla Kingdom is superb at)[quote=CZJimmy;79234]

Bringing in the "The Pandas" is precisely putting on a show! It was obviously only outside pressure on ZSL that made the changes to Gorilla Kingdom happen. So if it does become a productive exhibit is ZSL really responsible for this? My real point is. If ZSL is so dam good why was Gorilla Kingdom so bad when first opened????? I really feel for the keepers as l am sure they are aware of what the gorillas would require for enrichment. It would seem that Gorilla Kingdom itself was designed and approved by people who had no idea. This is what ZSL must take responsability for surely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CZJimmy

Gorilla Kingdom was originally a disappointment, but has improved considerably and ZSL really doesn't deserve some of the criticism it can get on here....

I do feel for you CZJimmy as l have no emotional connection with ZSL. Butt if someone was looking at the faults of my home zoo l would respond!!!

Tigerlemurguy · 25-10-2008

i doubt the zoo would risk putting anything in with the pandas, have pandas ever been mixed in captivity?

Pertinax · 25-10-2008

[quote=zooman;79467]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pertinax

Just personally when l know of the story of Sydney zoo reciving there full grown socially adapted group. I figure ZSL could have recieved the same treatment.

That was indeed a one-off!(worldwide) in that Taronga wanted Gorillas and at the same time Apenheul wanted to move out one whole group. As I'm sure you know it was a financial deal and TAronga paid out a lot of money for them.

IF London were on good terms with Aspinalls then similarly, maybe they could have been provided with a small ready-made group, but they aren't. So they have had to get whatever animals they can via the EEP.

The irony is that when London last bred Gorillas- about twenty years ago, they produced two female mother- reared offspring but they didn't consolidate their group at that stage with positive management(i.e. keeping female offspring > enlarge enclosure > bring in unrelated male) and sent the two daughters away to Belfast instead. That short-sighted approach left them in a poor situation for years after.

*MARK* · 25-10-2008