Young Animal Lovers discover new ZSL London Zoo Animal Adventure Exhibit

March 31, 2009 - PRLog -- Designed to get children as young as three inspired by wildlife, Animal Adventure is built on the same spot as the original children’s zoo, which opened in 1938 and was the first in the world, paving the way for zoos to encourage young children to engage with the animal world.

Youngsters from Gower School, Islington, who were consulted in the design process through brainstorms, storytelling and activity sessions last summer, were given special advance access to the exhibit, allowing them to meet a host of new animals along the way.

The future David Attenboroughs helped keepers with porcupine training, fed llamas and alpacas and got up close and personal with smelly skunks and curious coatis. The exhibit, which features secret child-only viewing areas including a bubble in the middle of an aardvark enclosure, will bring the children nose-to-nose with the magic of the animal kingdom.

Animal Adventure is the latest exhibit to illustrate the new face of the 180-year-old Zoo and aims to ‘bring down the bars’ so children are inspired to help protect animals and their habitats in the future.

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Editors Notes:

ZSL London Zoo’s world famous children’s zoo has undergone a radical redevelopment and will be unveiled as Animal Adventure to the public on the 3rd of April.

In consultation with dozens of children, some as young as four, designers at the Zoo came up with Animal Adventure, a £2.3m flagship children’s exhibit. The young David Attenboroughs of the future will get the chance to delve into four adventure zones which promise to offer a world of discovery for children.

Animal Adventure is part of ZSL London Zoo’s ongoing drive to ‘bring down the bars’ and will allow visitors to get closer to animals including secretive aardvarks, red pandas and curious coatis.

ZSL Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. The Society runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research at the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation overseas. For further information please visit http://www.zsl.org.

For more information on Animal Adventure, the new Children's Zoo at ZSL London zoo,  visit: http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/animal-adventure/

For more information on London Zoo, and about our activities for the East Holidays, visit: http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/

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About ZSL: Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. The Society runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research at the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation overseas.