I read that one of the outdoor terraces now house the spider monkeys, which is a good decision I think. Maybe after the renovation of the Jubileumcomplex the spider monkeys are moving to the spectacled bear exibit which makes space available for the guenons. But I've little hope the guenons will survive the long-term renovation of the Jubileum complex.
Still can't think of any good reason why they added barbary macaques instead of colobus monkeys in Planckendael. It was a perfect solution to clear space in the Antwerp Monkeyhouse.
I also read somewhere that the spider monkeys now have access to one of the outdoor monkey grottos as well as two indoor rooms, while the mandrills have access to the other outdoor grotto and the two other indoor rooms on that side of the small monkey house. I did not however see any spider monkeys outside and both outdoor grottoes, if I remember well, were still signed for the mandrills.
And while I agree that the spider monkeys getting outdoor access, I personally would like for the mandrills to be transferred out in favor of the Hamlyn's guenons.
With regards to the Barbary macaques, personally I do not understand the negative opinions some people have towards that project at Planckendael. Barbary macaques aren't uncommon, agreed, but they are a threatened species and there is a good conservation story to tell by keeping them. I also really like the Moroccan pavilion built at Planckendael. Concerning the colobus, if they do ever choose to house those at Planckendael, there is still space left where they could construct a nice exhibit for them. Or they could even adapt the lemur exhibit to house colobus.
Additionally I want to add that I saw no butterflies or chrysalis in the winter garden on in the hatching case in the winter garden, but there was some ripe fruit out so there must be some around. Maybe they cancelled or delayed some shipments during the closure?
Gorillas will kill monkeys in mixed exhibits with no example needed! I particularly dislike the risk to rare species like Hamlyn's when these mixings are attempted, I believe this was the same species used with Gorillas in Valencia- I don't know if it is still continued there.
Is gorillas killing smaller monkeys at all common? I personally have never seen any negative interactions between gorillas and smaller monkeys. Presumably the structure and size of enclosures could make a difference - and the exhibit at Antwerp might not be ideal for a mix, regardless of Amahoro and her upbringing.
And of course losing any individual of a rare species is much more of a blow to that species' future in zoological collections than it would be for common species. But fatal aggression is of course very much unwanted regardless of circumstances.
I've seen this example referenced a few times now, both here and on Laafsekikkers, but I've never actually seen any proof, or read any specifics (when?) of the species being kept together in the first place? Is this actually a thing that happened, and if so does anybody have any idea when it did? I'd assume an event like this would have been recorded properly somewhere...
There are pictures in the historical archive ('Beeldbank') showing mostly young chimps and gorillas house together - a practice that I believe was not uncommon with apes handraised by humans. One of the history books published by the zoo also says that the famous gorilla Gust was at some point housed with a female chimpanzee. I have however not yet seen any real proof of Amahoro being housed together with chimps. All I could find about Amahoro and chimpanzees is that she at some point showed a lot of interest in a male chimpanzee (Arnold) in another exhibit whom she had visual contact with.
@Pertinax: While I'm agree with what you wrote about the risk to rare species, I ask myself if "Gorillas WILL kill monkeys" is the right term. This has something certain in it and contradict to many zoos that still keep gorillas together with smaller monkeys like colobuses, guegnons, mangabeys, patas monkeys and antilopes (succesfully?). Is it probably more a question about the size/structure of the enclosure, an individual problem of some gorillas (ast mentioned) or do some species fit simply better because they are faster and/or more arboral as other and can escape from gorillas easier?
The exhibit at Antwerp doesn't have a massive amount of structure, or at least not as much as I've seen in some other gorilla exhibits. The exhibit is very much made for gorillas and might not suit smaller monkeys or a gorilla/small monkey mix that well if it were an option.
