Zookeepers capture children’s hearts in stories at bedtime!
Zookeepers at ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos have swapped brooms for books to launch virtual bedtime stories in a bid to keep their beloved animals in touch with their youngest fans during the nationwide lockdown.
The Tails from the Zoo are available to watch online on the zoos’ official Facebook pages each weekend until February 21 with a different animal-inspired story told from the two zoos’ most popular exhibits every Saturday and Sunday evening.
Featuring children’s classics such as The Tiger who came to Tea, told in the company of Sumatran tigers Asim and Gaysha, animals are at the heart of each storytelling session.
The literary line-up includes newer tales such as David Walliams’ The Slightly Annoying Elephant read from Whipsnade Zoo’s Centre for Elephant Care and Tom Fletcher’s There’s a Dragon in my Book, recited under the eye of Ganas the Komodo dragon at London Zoo.
The line-up of stories is
January 23 - Gorilla by Anthony Browne, read at Gorilla Kingdom, ZSL London Zoo
January 24 - The Slightly Annoying Elephant by David Walliams, read at Centre for Elephant Care, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
January 30 - The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, read at Partula Snail breeding room, ZSL London Zoo
January 31 - The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright, read at African Lions base, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
February 6 - The Tiger who came to Tea by Judith Kerr, read in Tiger Territory, ZSL London Zoo
February 7 - Thomas the Tank Engine Goes on Safari by Katrina Pallant, read at Whipsnade Railway, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
February 13 - There’s a Dragon in Your Book by Tom Fletcher, read at Attenborough Komodo Dragon House, ZSL London Zoo
February 14 - The Go Away Bird by Julia Donaldson, read at Flamingo Pool, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
February 20 - Oi Frog by Kes Gray and Jim Field, read at Reptile House, ZSL London Zoo
February 21 - Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers, read at Penguin Pool, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
Zookeeper Sam Aberdeen said: “We came up with the idea because lots of us have our own children who love to listen to our own tales from the zoo. It’s a tough time for the zoo at the moment – as it is for so many others – and this felt like a fun way to reach out to all the children we miss seeing here so much.
“We have loved doing it, and we hope children will enjoy hearing their favourite stories and seeing the real animals at the same time. And, of course, we hope it might spur people who can, to donate a little bit too to help secure the zoos’ future.”
ZSL’S director of engagement and fundraising James Wren added: “With our gates currently closed to the public, but life going on behind the scenes caring for our animals, the zookeepers have found a great way to bring our zoos to our youngest supporters, and hopefully give parents a little break at bedtime too!”
Tails from the Zoo will be shared via the zoos’ Facebook sites at 6 30pm