London Zoo

[nat_84]

I went to London Zoo with my boyfriend over the weekend and it was rubbish.. to be frank.

No elephants and no gorillas..!!?? They're my fave!Penguins have been moved from that cool little circle area!

used to go a lot as a kid and i remember it being fantastic.

Anyone else been there recently?

[Dawnio06]

I not been but i have been to a few other zoos with my little boy and none of them seemed as good as when i was a child

[electricblue]

We were planning to go this summer,what do u mean NO gorrillas OR elephants???????
You joking???

[nat_84]

yes seriously!

Gorillas are coming back to the zoo in 2007! They're in the process of building their new 'home' at London Zoo.

Elephants i don't think are ever coming back... it said they're in another park now.... i'll have a look through the guide to see if it mentions where they've gone.

[electricblue]

Last time(actually think it was the 1st time)i went there i was 18,that was *gulp*20 years ago,i remember it being really big and unique,so we were going to take the kids this summer,now,,,,,,maybe not!!!!!!!!!!

[nat_84]

Well it is still a beautiful day out in the summer and i'm sure kids will love it.

They had a BBQ on and that...

But just aslong as your kids dont specifically want to see Elephants and Gorillas...

Also, in the heat the animals tend to hide away under the shade a lot of the time.

[patsyann]

I dont know where you all live but if you want to give your children the most wonderful fun day out with very close up safe contact with the animals take them to Monkey World ape rescue centre near Wareham in Dorset.Google will give you all the details.There are huge picnic sites and you can leave your food in your car until ready and they will stamp your hand so that you can go out to fetch it instead of carrying heavy bags all day or there are good cafes for food and drink.There are also lots of free electric buggies for anyone with a handicap but it is advisable to pre book at this time of the year.We are retired and visit often preferably out of school holiday time.It is a fantastic place and the apes welfare comes top of the list.Knocks spots off any zoo.

[heathfield]

There was a TV programme last night with 'Whispering Dan Cruikshank' going on about Modernist architecture.

Two of the buildings he featured were the London Zoo's gorilla enclosure and the Penguin Pool. Hailed by many when they were built as being the epitome of modern design, there was an immediate problem. The gorillas made it obvious that they didn't like their abode, and the Penguin Pool was a suntrap that, in weather like this week's, turned it into a virtual oven for the poor penguins.
The elephants and rhino were moved to new quarters at Whipsnade in 2001, where they're reportedly much happier.

[nat_84]

Thats actually really interesting and it does all make sense....i can understand how the penguin pool must've got really hot during summer. But it took them a while to figure it out because they had been there for a good few years!