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Out and About: Zoo Day

OUT AND ABOUT: It’s National Zoo Day and as my grandfather was a lion tamer, with a tiger’s claw scar across his back, I feel it’s my duty to urge you all to get down to London Zoo this week end (or sometime soon). Zoos ...

OUT AND ABOUT: It’s National Zoo Day and as my grandfather was a lion tamer, with a tiger’s claw scar across his back, I feel it’s my duty to urge you all to get down to London Zoo this week end (or sometime soon). Zoos may court controversy but personally I think our North London one is world class and deserves our support for their passionate interest in the world’s diverse animal life.

lion

As a child most of us locals would have visited at least once and will have happy memories of our day out. The bronze statue of Guy the Gorilla always brings a smile to my face when I think of the one and only, original Guy.

guy the gorilla

The penguin pool was another great pleasure I looked forward to – I didn’t know this was partly due to the amazing architecture of Berthold Lubetkin (he of Highpoint, Highgate fame).

LubetkinPenguinPoolRIBA2435-41269px

Perhaps unusually for a child I wasn’t so keen on the obvious big beasts but really loved the aquariums and darkened rooms where the creatures of the night hung out.

london_zoo_aquarium

Obviously, given my background, I did enjoy the big cats and, from this month, for a limited period, anyone can spend the night with them in lodges in beautifully decorated lodges inspired by the welcoming charm of hotels in the lions’ native Gir Forest home in India. This would make an amazing special gift I think: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/gir-lion-lodge

zoo lion lodge

Whatever you’re doing this weekend I hope you enjoy it.

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