London Zoo’s residents were treated to a "flipping" extraordinary performance this morning as musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) took to the penguin enclosure to celebrate a monumental milestone. The colony of Humboldt penguins formed a captivated, tuxedoed crowd as the LPO’s brass and percussion players performed William Walton’s Fanfare to mark the 200th anniversary of international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London).
The choice of music carries significant weight; Walton’s Fanfare was originally composed specifically for ZSL’s 150th anniversary. Today’s performance served as a rehearsal for a major public revival—the piece will be performed for the first time in 50 years at the upcoming After Dark: Carnival of Animals concert at the Southbank Centre on April 15.
ZSL officially reaches its 200th anniversary on April 29. From opening the world’s first scientific zoo in Regent’s Park in 1828 to its modern-day role as a global leader in conservation science, the society has spent two centuries bridging the gap between people and wildlife.
The penguin serenade was just a preview of the main event. On April 15, the LPO will take over the Queen Elizabeth Hall for a special late-night performance. Following a rendition of Saint-Saëns’s The Carnival of the Animals, the "After Dark" program will open with Walton’s stately fanfare. The musicians will then lead audiences on a "sonic safari" through Chris Hazell’s The Cats Suite, before concluding the bicentennial celebrations with Goff Richards’s Homage to the Noble Grape.
The collaboration highlights the shared cultural heritage of London’s iconic institutions. As ZSL enters its third century, it continues to pioneer global conservation science and inspire curiosity about the natural world.
"This milestone represents two centuries of pioneering science and inspiring connections," a ZSL spokesperson noted. "From the Institute of Zoology to our global conservation efforts, ZSL’s legacy is one of innovation and optimism."
Find out more about ZSL’s 200-year legacy at www.zsl.org/zsl200.
Photo credit: Zoological Society of London Johnny Green
