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Get closer to the wild and wonderful this summer!
Tuesday 29 April 2008
Did you know hummingbirds can fly backwards? Or that Western Lowland Gorillas live in a family group led by a dominant male known as a ‘silverback’?
© ZSL - DS
For more fascinating animal facts, bring the family along to ZSL London Zoo and get up close and personal to the weird and wonderful creatures on display this summer.
Take a flight to the Zoo’s brand new Blackburn Pavilion and stroll through the tropical birdhouse, enjoying the sights and sounds of the forest sky. Meet the only hummingbirds on display in the UK and be taken astonishingly close to free-flying exotic birds including toucans and lovebirds. Make sure you are at the front of the Pavilion on the hour to experience the grand cuckoo clock demonstration, which stops Zoo visitors in their tracks.
© ZSLWith more than 650 species of animal in 36 acres of green space, and a range of exhibits and children’s activities, the only thing to worry about is fitting everything into one day! With every penny going back to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the animal conversation charity that runs the Zoo, it’s one of the greenest days out London has to offer.
Swing in to the African rainforest habitat of the Western Lowland Gorillas in the Gorilla Kingdom exhibit, where you can see our gorillas Bobby, Effie, Zaire and Mjukuu enjoying the forest surrounds of their kingdom. Learn about gorillas, the forests they inhabit and the animals they share their kingdom with including the colobus monkeys, white-naped mangeby monkeys, Diana monkeys, a nile monitor lizard and an array of native African birds.
Experience the Clore Rainforest Lookout where you can wander around the tropical rainforest biome with the tamarins, marmosets, birds and agoutis that roam freely within. Step Into Africa and observe the elegance and grace of the giraffes from the new viewing platform, taking in the African-like surroundings from a giraffe’s viewpoint. Try and catch a glimpse of the shy and unusual Okapi, as well as the warthog, African hunting dogs, zebras and red river hogs.
It will feel like summer when you enter the tropical oasis of Butterfly Paradise. Admire the beautiful free-flying butterflies as they flutter around the butterfly house. Don’t forget to waddle down to the Zoo’s favourites Pekish Penguins at 2pm or 4.30pm during summer where you can watch these hungry seabirds splash around their pool and gobble down fish in one go.
The whole family will love the Animals in Action shows at 11.45am and 2.15pm daily where you can watch some of the Zoo’s flying, leaping and climbing animals show off their natural skills. At 4pm catch the amazing predatory bird show on the display lawn - getting up close and personal to these amazing birds of prey. Weekend and school holiday activities in the Zoo’s activity den like brass rubbing, badge-making and stained window designs are guaranteed to keep children entertained.So get out of the house and get closer to nature at ZSL London Zoo this summer.
