London Zoo

That was last Thursday.

Not the best of zoos I've visited. I prefer open zoos - and zoos in the tropics. The animals in the London Zoo look quite miserable. It occupies 15ha, barely one-eighth the size of the surrounding Regent's Park, and about half the size of the Singapore Zoological Gardens. But it's the world's first scientific zoo - and I do recognise and appreciate the work they've done - and are doing - for animal conservation around the world.

It was some talk on the history of the Zoo and the work of its parent institution, the Zoological Society of London (it was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1826 - there was mention of Singapore in there! :P). After that we had a little demo in the BUGS section about the Polynesian tree snail (Partula spp.) breeding and conservation programme.

Xi, admittedly an Applied Ecologist at heart, tagged along. So did Dr Collin's children, who despite their extremely young ages are already ecologists-in-the-making! It was free time in the arvo ("Zoo Time!!!" on the timetable). I didn't really feel excited with zoo photography. It's different... you know... the feeling... of shooting captive animals. Then again, waterbird-shooting in the parks in London doesn't quite have its appeal either - they're too tame. Side note: I don't really like geese - they chase after you once they see a plastic bag in your hand and make you stumble over their feet. And make you feel bad. I really like the tiny ducks - the teals and such, and the many un-IDed hybrids and alien species. They're so cute.


Snailman giving demo on... snails

Malayan Tapir - I waited ridiculously long in its stinky pen just for the 'perfect' moment to take this pic!

Squirrel monkey

Finally, a decent gull-in-flight photo

Grey heron reflection in water

posted by Husky @ 12/18/2005 11:52:00 PM  |