Battersea Park Children's Zoo

An Emu.

I find that the Children's zoos and City Farms offer a great alternative to the much larger London Zoo, and are often a lot cheaper to visit, especially with the cost of living crisis.

So it was that while walking from Westminster to Battersea, with Keilyn, we found ourselves at Battersea Park Children's Zoo. Having never visited this particular zoo, we decided to head inside and have a good look around.

Asian Short-Clawed Otters.

We saw parrots, Asian Short-Clawed Otters, Goats, Lizards, Spiders, Capuchin, Snakes, Donkeys, Cranes, Iguana, Frogs, Rats, Emu and so much more.

Thao Whipping Frog.

We failed to spot the Chameleon, but we did look for it for about twenty minutes.

Keilyn ready to board the helicopter.

Then there were the adventure playgrounds, which Keilyn loved, as it had a real helicopter, fire engine and tractor to clamber over and play in.

Keilyn driving a fire engine.

Considering its relatively small size, the zoo certainly contains a myriad of species in well built enclosures.

A Harvest Mouse.

Brief History

Following the Festival of Britain celebrations, in 1951, the forerunner to the zoo was born. 

However, the zoo was threatened with closure, in 2003, when Wandsworth Borough Council, who ran the zoo, couldn't afford to maintain it.

Cotton-top Tamarin.

Thankfully, the Heap family, Carol, Roger and Ed, came to the rescue. Carol and Roger had been volunteering at an Otter conservation trust, since the 1970s, and liked the idea of running a zoo exactly as they wanted to. They also wanted to make it child friendly, so that children could be educated about the animals that we share our planet with.

A Chinese Crocodile Lizard.

To see more of my photographs of some of the animals, click the link below.

Gallery

Fore more information, click the link below.

Battersea Park Children's Zoo