Land of the Lions is an enclosure for London Zoo's Asiatic lions. The enclosure is 2,500 square metres in size, and designed to resemble the Gir Forest National Park in India. The exhibit, also home to a troop of Hanuman langurs and a band of dwarf mongoose, demonstrates how the lions' natural habitat overlaps with the local urban environments.
The Lifewatch Centre is a single storey flat roofed building erected at the Zoo's shop at the south end of what was formerly a rose garden. It had been converted to serve as an information centre and first aid station. Built 1962, extended 1968. Converted 1989-90. Demolished in 2003.
London Zoo opened to Fellows of the Zoological Society of London, and to the public with a written order from a Fellow and payment of 1 shilling in 1828. The royal animal collection from the Tower of London was presented in 1831. In 1847 the public were admitted to London Zoo for the first time without an order from a Fellow. After the eruption of the Second World War, London Zoo was closed multiple times for over a week at a time starting 11:00am on 3rd September 1939, when all zoological places were closed by order of the government. On 27th September 1940, high explosive bombs damaged the Rodent house, the Civet house, the gardener's office, the propagating sheds, the North Gate and the Zebra house. In January 1941, the Camel house was hit, and the aquarium could not open until May 1943 due to extensive bombings.
