Best Gibbon enclosure in the Benelux

[felis silvestris]

This is just a bit of fun to judge the general consensus on the best enclosure for Lynxes in the Benelux. I have added a few photos from the gallery to make it easier for members to compare the different exhibits. If anyone wants to make an argument for a particular enclosure, please feel free to do so. Also, I would encourage people to list the enclosures in order of what they think is best.

If you want to vote for Monde Sauvage, Pakawi, either Beekse Bergen enclosure, Mondo Verde, Dierenrijk, Pairi Daiza

BTW, I said about me not making them this week because of holiday- I’m going to make these in my free time in the Netherlands.

Monde Sauvage (Lar)



Pakawi (Lar)





Zonnegloed (Lar)





Emmen (Lar)



Beekse Bergen (Lar)



Beekse Bergen (Northern White-Cheeked)



Mondo Verde (Lar)



AZ Leeuwarden

 

[felis silvestris]

Ouwehands (Lar)



Planckendael (Northern White-Cheeked)





Apenheul (Northern White-Cheeked)



Dierenrijk (Northern White-Cheeked)



Pairi Daiza (Red Cheeked)





Pairi Daiza (Siamang)



Artis (Red Cheeked)

 

[felis silvestris]

Burgers (Red Cheeked)





Burgers (Siamang)



Blankendaell (Red Cheeked)





Bouillon (Siamang)



Amersfoort (Siamang)



Photo credits to @Tiger @KevinB @KevinL @vogelcommando @snowleopard @Toddy @korhoen @MennoPebesma @Mr Gharial (very new photo )

 

[MennoPebesma]

Beekse Bergen no longer has Northern white-cheeked gibbons.

 

[felis silvestris]

If you also want to vote for Pairi Daiza (Siamang), Artis, Blankendaell, Bouillon please tell me what you’re voting for.

 

[Perseus6]

So in generals some thoughts before you take a vote. For Gibbons, you need an outside enclosure that has plenty of large and high climbing structures, due to them being extremely arboreal. You also want vegetation to provide shade, and not just have a barren island. Ideally for a welfare standpoint you would not use islands but use netting, due to them not being able to swim and are prone to drown, having an island would also add the issue of having to bridge the moat which is often done using small planks. While they are hesitant to cross on floor level. Crossing on height is better but still creates a choke. The thing most of these enclosures fail in is an passable inside enclosure. Since due to the weather in Europe gibbons spent most of the year or a significant amount of time inside. Again having multiple rooms, soft substrates not just concrete and all the stuff you need for a great ape enclosure (Even tho they are lesser apes).

Alright so for me this one is hard to rank. I think the top 3 is easy: with Planckendael's new enclosure being the best. The pictures don't do it justice. The only gibbon left is Paquita, she has access to 3-4 outside islands, 2 inside rooms with the smallest one shown in the picture as well as more off show enclosures inside. Large trees with the sky walk surround the islands providing some shade. Number 2 and 3 are burgers with their Red cheecked being the best followed by their siamang enclosure.
The mid section that follows the top 3 falls off hard, they are all comparable and if people are passionate the ranking could swap. All have different issues, whether it is size, climbing structures, vegetation or shade. Most however have one big issue in general being, a small inside enclosure.
Amersfoort, Pairi Daiza Siamang, Pairi Daiza Red cheeked,
Beekse Bergen, AZ leeuwarden, Emmen, Mondo Verde, Dierenrijk, Zonnegloed.
The bottom ones are also pretty interchangeable at the top however the bottom 3 are set.
Ouwehands, Artis, Monde Sauvage, Blanckendaell, Pakawi and Bouillon.
All of these enclosures have plenty of issues.
So these are my thoughts, I would love to read yours.

 

[lintworm]

So in generals some thoughts before you take a vote. For Gibbons, you need an outside enclosure that has plenty of large and high climbing structures, due to them being extremely arboreal. You also want vegetation to provide shade, and not just have a barren island. Ideally for a welfare standpoint you would not use islands but use netting, due to them not being able to swim and are prone to drown, having an island would also add the issue of having to bridge the moat which is often done using small planks. While they are hesitant to cross on floor level. Crossing on height is better but still creates a choke. The thing most of these enclosures fail in is an passable inside enclosure. Since due to the weather in Europe gibbons spent most of the year or a significant amount of time inside. Again having multiple rooms, soft substrates not just concrete and all the stuff you need for a great ape enclosure (Even tho they are lesser apes).

So you ideally wouldn't want a moat or an enclosure with little vegetation and you choose the one that has both (at least outdoors) .

If only the outdoor enclosure would be considered, I would go for Apenheul with their large island full of fully-grown trees, but their indoor enclosure is absolutely tiny.

For me it is the Burgers' Zoo red-cheeked gibbon exhibit. It is spacious and provides a lot of climbing opportunities, but it is also very good from a visitor standpoint. As you are on a higher pathway and the enclosure isn't moated you get up close views of active gibbons. Together with Apenheul this seems the only enclosure where the gibbons can brachiate long distances at full speed, which they often do. The indoor enclosure at Burgers' is also fine with natural daylight and depending on capacity up to 5 separate enclosures.

 

[Perseus6]

So you ideally wouldn't want a moat or an enclosure with little vegetation and you choose the one that has both (at least outdoors) .

If only the outdoor enclosure would be considered, I would go for Apenheul with their large island full of fully-grown trees, but their indoor enclosure is absolutely tiny.

For me it is the Burgers' Zoo red-cheeked gibbon exhibit. It is spacious and provides a lot of climbing opportunities, but it is also very good from a visitor standpoint. As you are on a higher pathway and the enclosure isn't moated you get up close views of active gibbons. Together with Apenheul this seems the only enclosure where the gibbons can brachiate long distances at full speed, which they often do. The indoor enclosure at Burgers' is also fine with natural daylight and depending on capacity up to 5 separate enclosures.

You're right, however I'm hoping the plants will grow on the islands at Planckendael, but the surrounding trees already provide some shade. I do agree that the best outdoor exhibit is Apenheul, for me it was an island that showed it's possible to incorporate live trees in larger primate enclosure. But the indoor facilities knock it down for me. However Apenheul has amazing outdoor enclosures and is limited by zoning laws so they have to build smaller inside enclosure as I'm sure most are aware of.
I do think Burgers Red cheecked enclosure is one of the best. So if people vote for it that's great. I think we sometimes forget our own biases towards are more visited or local zoos. As I said the top 3 are close and the bottom 3 are also close. So It might still be right that objectively Burgers Zoo has the best enclosure. But I'm certain Planckendael would objectively still take second place.
Paquita at Planckendael often shows extended moves of brachiation. In the first year since the enclosure opened she was the only one outside(or with her late mate Paultje) and she often put up quite a show. And I still vote for Planckendael even tho it might be hypocritical .

 

[felis silvestris]

Score update. Burgers are far ahead with most of the vote, Planckendael are a fair distance behind. I visited Burgers a couple days ago, and this enclosure is really good (I’m making a review I’ll post soon on it )

 

[felis silvestris]

Poll closed. Congratulations to Burgers for having the best Gibbon enclosure in the Benelux. The large cage with plenty of foliage, height and high quality indoor area gave it a win. A mention to Planckendael who did well to come second with a good enclosure.

Burgers: 63.2%
Planckendael: 26.3%
Amersfoort: 5.3%
Emmen: 5.3%