Which Famous ZSL Animal Were You?
Answer these five questions to discover which famous ZSL animal matches your personality – are you a literary legend, a gentle giant, a dance craze creator or a conservation trailblazer?
1. What would your ideal legacy be?
2. What best describes your approach to life?
3. How would others describe your personality?
4. If you had a motto, what would it be?
5. What type of fame would suit you best?
Obaysch – The Hippo Superstar
You thrive in the spotlight and know how to make an entrance. You’re charismatic, unforgettable, and your arrival changes everything.
That was Obaysch, London Zoo’s first hippo, who moved to the Zoo in 1850 - the first seen in Europe since Roman times. His popularity sparked 'hippomania' in the UK, inspired a polka dance, and even Queen Victoria was a fan.
She compared his swimming style, which she admired, to a dolphin. Such grace.
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Jumbo – The Jumbo Legend
Steady, enormous, and unforgettable - that’s you, and you’re just like Jumbo, the world-famous London Zoo elephant.
Arriving in 1865, he grew into a mammoth sensation and even inspired Disney’s famous film, Dumbo.
Though later sold to an American circus (to public outcry), Jumbo's legacy lives on whenever we call anything large and magnificent “jumbo.”
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Winnie - The Literary Inspiration
You're a great friend, a philosophical soul, who enjoys the quieter joys of life. You have a gentle, enduring presence and the kind of story that inspires imagination - and so did Winnie, the Canadian black bear cub who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh.
Adored by zoo-goers, including a young Christopher Robin Milne, her connection with author A.A. Milne's young son led to one of the world’s most beloved stories. Yes, the original Winnie was a she.
And yes, she did enjoy honey. Do you?
Congo - The Artistic Chimp
Creative, expressive, and totally unique - that’s you, and that was Congo, the chimpanzee who painted hundreds of abstract works in the 1950s.
His art was shown at the ICA in London, drawing comparisons to Jackson Pollock - and was even collected by Picasso and Prince Phillip.
Congo proved humans aren't the only species capable of creativity and his art lives on in collections across the globe - three of Congo's paintings outsold Andy Warhol at a Bonhams auction in 2005.
Grab that paintbrush!
Guy – The Gentle Gorilla
Your strength doesn’t intimidate - it comforts.
Big-hearted, strong, and deeply kind - you’re Guy, London Zoo’s gentle gorilla, who arrived on Guy Fawkes Night in 1947 as a baby, holding a hot water bottle.
Known for carefully holding and examining birds that entered his enclosure and receiving hundreds of birthday cards each year from visitors, Guy was affectionately called a 'gentle giant' by his fans, many of who still talk about him today on visits to London Zoo.
His statue sits at the entrance - if you've visited, you've probably taken a photo with him.
Be more Guy, everyone.
You’re Brumas the Polar Bear – The Original Celebrity Cub
You were born to be a star – and you don’t mind drawing a crowd! Like Brumas, the first polar bear cub successfully born and reared at London Zoo, you have a knack for turning heads and stealing hearts.
Born in 1949, Brumas became an instant sensation – queues formed down the street to catch a glimpse of her, and she helped London Zoo smash visitor records with over 3 million guests in one year. She wasn’t just popular – she was beloved. Newspapers ran daily updates, children begged to visit, and the country embraced Brumas as a symbol of joy and resilience after the Second World War.
Despite being a female cub, most people assumed Brumas was male – but honestly, she was too famous for it to matter. Her name appeared in headlines, on souvenir postcards, on soaps and even inspired a spike in the popularity of polar bear toys.
If you love the limelight, have a warm heart under a cool exterior, and find yourself effortlessly adored wherever you go – you might just be Brumas.
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