The expansive London Zoo is without doubt one of the United Kingdom’s foremost zoological gardens. Having opened its doors to the public at large in 1847, the zoo today boasts of a vast collection of animals comprising of no less than 16,802 creatures belonging to 755 different species. The zoo is organized into a number of distinct areas, each providing a realistic natural environment for the respective animals, similar to their habitats in the wild.
As its name suggests, Into Africa is an enclosure which simulates the African continent, and is home to creatures like zebras, okapi, warthogs, African wild dogs and giraffes. The Gorilla Kingdom is an artificial island surrounded by a moat which is specially designed to house these large apes. Additionally near this attraction you will see separate enclosures for Colobus monkeys, Diana monkeys, white-cheeked gibbons and sooty mangabeys.
Rainforest Life is an indoor exhibit which houses animals from tropical jungles such as the golden-headed lion tamarins, red Titi monkeys, sunbittern, trumpeter birds and emperor tamarins. A special section is reserved for nocturnal creatures like slender lorises, Rodrigues fruit bats, Malagasy giant rats and armadillos.
The zoo’s Aquarium, which has the distinction of having been the world’s initial public aquarium, features a mesmerizing array of aquatic life including eels, sea fans, spiny starfish, copperband butterflyfish, clownfish, regal tangs and a selection of corals.
The Reptile House is a popular exhibit with itsinhabitants including Philippine crocodiles, Jamaican boas, black mambas, diamondback rattlesnakes, king cobras, iguanas, Yemen chameleons and more.
On the other hand, the Tiger Territory featuring rare Sumatran tigers is always a highlight. A specially designed authentically replicated habitat is provided for the zoo’s mighty komodo dragons. Meanwhile Giants of the Galapagos houses a colony of giant Galapagos tortoises, a rare attraction.
The zoo also features aviaries containing African birds like hornbills, superb starlings, Madagascar teals, blue-bellied rollers and Abdim’s storks. Another section, the Snowdon Aviary features sacred ibis, green peafowl, cattle egrets, little egrets, gray-headed gulls and northern bald ibis.
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