The Tower of London has some strange animal connections. To begin with, there are the famous tower ravens…
Even in World War Two, when the Germans were bombing London, there were always at least a few ravens kept on the Tower grounds. This is because there is a legend that when the last raven leaves the Tower, the soul of Great Britain will go with it.
It also turns out that for many years, the Kings and Queens of England used the Tower grounds not only to keep human prisoners, but animal ones too.
Back in the day, the royal families of Europe would try to outdo one another with their royal menageries.
To commemorate these weird times, the Tower now has life-sized wire statues of some of the animals that were once kept there.
It is just a tad unnerving.
But the ravens are awesome. They are not at all scared of people. They are also huge and their beaks are sort of intimidating.
When you wander around the Tower grounds, keep an eye out for these magnificent birds.
The add to the mystique of the place.
They fit in with the décor so to speak.
I spotted that one using his beak to dig little holes in the grass to shove bits of lunch meat from a sandwich that he had scrounged into. Then he would tear up some more grass and use it to plug the hole. These birds are actually very smart, in case you didn’t know.
Pouring My Art Out 
Very Game of Thrones
oh yeah
I have a thing for ravens – very smart birds, and there’s a nobility about them. When you seem them in the wild, you know that they own where ever they land, not you.
Had one try to grab my lunch once in the lake district. Not so noble.
They are good at what they do
There’s a jewel kiosk in the Tower where they house the Royal Jewels? Cute.
They have mastered the tourism thing
The size of the ravens’ beaks explains why the guards need the assault rifles.
And the cannons…
Great post… TTOL is one of my most favourite places to visit. How long is the wire menagerie in place?
I think I remember it from ten years ago, but my memory isn’t what it once was.