Looking forward to watching this 2 part documentary featuring how the staff at London and Whipsnade Zoo coped during the initial lockdown. Although the programme features the two ZSL zoos, every UK zoo would have faced similar problems.
Just wanted to reiterate my thanks to @pipaluk, @oflory, @Tau and many others on here for their support - it does mean a lot. Unfortunately, the results of the election have come through and, perhaps unsurprisingly, I have not made Council this year. I am still considering standing again next year and would encourage all Fellows on here to do the same. My chances were always small but if more people interested in the zoos were to stand, the odds of Council becoming at least a little more zoo-oriented shorten considerably.
The difficult time that ZSL is facing due to pandemic surely means that the ZSL Council need to look at visitor numbers at the zoo. Without visitors ZSL conservation work would more or less cease and without visitors how can they afford to feed the animals at London & Whipsnade
I'm sorry you were unsuccessful this year. In my experience, candidates are rarely voted onto the ZSL Council on their first attempt so don't be discouraged. I would urge you try again next year; you are more likely to be successful on your second attempt as your name will already be familiar to Fellows. As a former ZSL Council member myself, I wish you luck in next year's election.
Thanks, Tim. I always knew it was unlikely that I'd be elected but it was still, of course, quite a disappointment to find out officially. Your message and advice is a lovely reassurance and I'm really grateful for it.
I agree entirely with @Tim May, you must not give up, even if it takes 2,3 or 4 attempts, I'm sure your passion for the zoos will get you elected sometime in the future.
What a pity! I have to reiterate what @Tim May and @pipaluk have said and urge you to reapply next year. ZSL needs people with a vision for the zoos, not just the charity, conservation and science side. Good luck next time! Please do stick around Zoochat as well!
Thanks oflory and pipaluk! On another note, some really lovely news just in: 'Oni' the okapi gave birth to a female calf on Sunday, whom keepers have christened 'Ede'.
Hello, Gavialis I'm sorry you didn't get on the Zoo Council. Any organisation should benefit from people who have different mindsets. I've worked with various people who only 'accept' new ideas if they confirm what they are thinking, rather than considering that may be different ways to improve things, rather than the ideas that fail continually.
Couple of observations from recent visits. The African Hunting Dogs now have access to their full area again. Nightlife is open.
If you are refering to the small ground floor dark area to the right of the gentle lemurs that is not open. Nightlife is the section downstairs in the Clore.
Super visit today. Saw the white-tailed antsangy, which was excellent. Not officially on show, but quite active in the old jumping rat enclosure opposite the ayeayes. Two new additions to the bird walk through too, collared hill partridge and Goldie's lorikeet. Also saw the giant salamander for the first time.
I too saw the antsangy! glad that London have chosen to go with them, though they’re a lot smaller than I was expecting!
What happened to that salamander they obtained "professor Wu" ? I've found articles written about its arrival at the zoo but then everything goes quiet. Did it die ?