The giant and beautiful animals are part of an interesting temporary exhibition at the zoo which gives visitors the opportunity to see creatures in an environment without barriers.

The tortoises are so huge that they have to be seen to be believed. One 70 year old tortoise on display who is named Dirk weighs 31 stone. Dirk is living with two female’s tortoises at the moment who are named Dolly and Dolores.

Ian Stephen who is the assistant curator of herpetology at ZSL said romance is in the air between Dirk and the two females. He said: “I think Dirk has taken quite a shine to Dolly in particular – they travelled here together and have been inseparable ever since.”

The zoo is can be reached easily by visitors staying at most of London’s hotels while holidaying. Visitors to the zoo will also get to see Butterfly Paradise and Gorilla Kingdom.

Thanks to www.laterooms.com for the above quotes, visit their website for more on this story.

London Zoo has long been a popular day out for families with children of all ages, and is even more so now with its newest attraction designed with children in mind.

Over the warm and sunny half-term holidays, the zoo’s Animal Adventure attraction was very busy, and is expected to maintain its popularity with children throughout the summer months.

The zoo’s newest attraction features aardvarks, not seen at the London Zoo for two decades, a family of red pandas – an endangered species – and four porcupines, including the popular spiky “princesses” fondly known as Blondie and Nancy.

Children have “nose-to-nose” viewing areas, where they can watch the cute meerkats and see prairie dogs racing around the enclosure. Regular keeper sessions are also a feature of the attraction – such as porcupine training.

Parents aren’t likely to be bored at this new attraction, as the younger family members move to explore the tree house, enjoy the water splash zone and make their way through tunnels taking them to secret points for viewing animals.

The new multi-million pound development was designed with children in mind, aiming to stimulate interest in animals, nature and the environment in youngsters of three years and above. It is a part of the Zoological Society of London’s commitment to involve children in the future protection of animals and their habitats.

Animal Adventure boasts its own café, where child-friendly snacks are available as is Rainforest Alliance coffee for the parents.

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www.zsl.org