United Kingdom London Zoo 1980s recreation in Planet Zoo

In my 1979 map of London Zoo there is a large green space adjacent to the old Wolf Wood marked ‘Broadwalk Paddocks’. The green space is still there in my 1983 & 1991 maps but is no longer labelled. Does anyone know if this was an actual enclosure at some point and, if so, what was kept there and was it viewable by the visitors? Any info would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

That might have been what we’re also called the Park Paddocks. This ‘extra’ area was lent to the Zoo by Regents Park on condition that the animals there were in view from outside the Zoo as well as inside. Animals I remember seeing there over the years include Timor Deer, Barnacle Geese and White Storks.

 

Interesting, thanks! Sounds like it is the same area as the one I’m looking at would have been visible from the park just like the Woolf wood.

 

Indeed the zoo was allowed to use the strip of land occupied by the Park Paddocks on condition that the animals housed there were visible, not only to zoo visitors, but also to the general public in the park.

However the name Park Paddocks was applied to the row of enclosures along the zoo's southern boundary with Regent's Park, near the Children's Zoo; it was not an alternative name for the Broadwalk Paddocks.

 

Thanks @Tim May do you know anything else about what was kept in the Broadwalk Paddocks?

 

In addition to the Timor deer, already mentioned by "FBBird", I recall muntjac being kept there.

 

I remember duikers being kept there

 

Thank you both. I’m currently finishing a recreation of the zoo in the 80s in Planet Zoo (a zoo simulator) and this was the one enclosure I couldn’t find anything about!

 

I definitely remember seeing Pudu in those paddocks in the 80s

 

Thanks Pipaluk!

 

Thank you everyone for your help! Here is the finished recreation

 

Wow !

Incredible detail !

I've never been into video games but I'm really impressed with your attention to detail and creativity in making this.

Also the game itself has amazing graphics.

 

Thanks! Yeh I’ve never played any zoo games before as they were very cartoony but I am slightly obsessed with planet zoo!

 

i downloaded your zoo and play it it acsolutely fabulous and spot on . i tried to create london from the eighties but mine is rubbish compaired to yours . only issue although i understand its not easy was the main gardens you lost the triangle shape

 

Thanks Wibbs! Yeh I didn’t even try to build it at that weird angle. Tbh I’d only had the game a month when I started and it seemed like it would be too hard. If I was to start over I’d definitely try and capture that shape.

 

This is excellent. the only thing (apart from the Snowdon, which would have been impossible to replicate) that doesn't look right is this - what is it?

 

Thanks Pacu! That is my nemesis! The old Insect House. My research turned up precisely one picture of it (on the inside). I made the building based on a floor plan I found from the head of insects at the zoo back then but had no idea of what it looked like externally.

If Planet Zoo ever gets flying birds I will be rebuilding the Snowdon as well!

 

Ah, it wasn't like that at all, it was more like a railway signal box or cottage with a wooden end, you went up steps to get in and walked on what was in effect the first floor. It was very narrow with plants growing up the outside. There was a window into the downstairs breeding area at the front. I'll see if I can find any pictures for you.

 

That would be amazing! Thanks!

 

Here's a photo of the old insect house, from 2002.