Salient Features of ZSL London Zoo
A visit to London cannot be considered to be complete if you have not visited the animal paradise at the ZSL Zoo, particularly if you are travelling with your kids. It is the oldest scientific zoo in the world having been established in 1828 and opened to the public in 1847. It boasts of having a collection of 698 species of animals, with 20,166 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the UK. Situated on the northern edge of Regent’s Park, it has the distinction of having opened the first Reptile House, first public Aquarium, first Insect House and the first Children’s Zoo. Its collection includes lions, tigers, zebras and a large range of other wild animals. The prominent sections of this animal paradise include the following.
Tiger Territory:
Opened in 2013 by HRH Duke of Edinburgh, this Sumatran tiger enclosure has 5 tigers including a male named Jae Jae, a female named Melati and their three cubs (two males named Budi and Naka, and a female named Cinta). It covers an area of 27,000 square feet and it also features authentic Indonesian plant life and a net canopy of 3mm steel cable supported by four metal poles.
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Land of the Lions:
Covering an area of 27,000 square feet and designed to replicate the Gir Forest National Park in India, this enclosure has recently been opened in 2016. It houses the Asian lions of the zoo along with a troop of Hanuman langurs and a band of dwarf mongoose.
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Reptile House:
Made famous by the wizarding film Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, this terrifying but attractive place exhibits a range of snakes, lizards, frogs and crocodiles, many of which have been procured from other parts of the world.
Butterfly Paradise:
Home to hundreds of species of butterflies that have been sourced from Africa, South East Asia, and Central and South America, this section also displays several different plant species that provide nectar and breeding areas for the insects. The main species displayed here include the clipper butterfly, blue morpho butterfly, atlas moth, zebra longwing, glasswing butterfly and postman butterfly. It also has a caterpillar hatchery and a pupa display cabinet.
Penguin Beach:
The Penguin beach at this zoo is the biggest penguin pool in the UK where a large colony of Humboldt penguins can be seen. The zoo also offers feeding demonstrations that leave the visitors completely spellbound as the guide narrates fascinating facts about the penguins.
Gorilla Kingdom:
This section is a moated island and holds a group of six western lowland gorillas that include a silver-back male named Kumbuka, three adult females named Zaire, Mjuuku and Effie, an infant female named Alika and an infant male.
