Best Gorilla Exhibit in UK???
- Thread starter emmajuk
- Start date
I think Paignton or Bristol is one of the best gorilla exhibits in UK. London is most expensive gorilla exhibit!
Twycross and Chessington are the worst gorilla exhibits I've ever seen.
Twycross and Chessington are the worst gorilla exhibits I've ever seen.
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Twycross on the whole was a pretty depressing visit for me. The Gorilla/chimp/bonobo enclosures all reminded me of Wentworth dentention centre in Prisoner cell block H. And the other primate enclosures were very low standard, infact they reminded me of the local RSPCA kennels.
Best Gorilla Exhibit in UK?
My understanding is that Twycross' primate enclosures illustrate a classic zoo dilemma, as follows.
You can build a state of the art exhibit that seems really good, and it becomes outdated and subject to criticism in a very few years, as zoo technology, animal husbandry and [dare I say?] fashion moves on. Today's wonder is tomorrow's eysore.
I can remember when it was OK to house Cheetahs in close proximity to Lions [nobody knew any different] and Gorillas had to be behind very thick bars. Fortunately today's Cheetahs & Gorillas now have much better lives.
However, many zoos must face the choice of funding replacement enclosures or struggling on with what they've got. Enrichment can help to close the gap, and I gather this was good [if not always 'natural' -- and I'm not talking tea adverts] when the Twycross founders were in charge.
My understanding is that Twycross' primate enclosures illustrate a classic zoo dilemma, as follows.
You can build a state of the art exhibit that seems really good, and it becomes outdated and subject to criticism in a very few years, as zoo technology, animal husbandry and [dare I say?] fashion moves on. Today's wonder is tomorrow's eysore.
I can remember when it was OK to house Cheetahs in close proximity to Lions [nobody knew any different] and Gorillas had to be behind very thick bars. Fortunately today's Cheetahs & Gorillas now have much better lives.
However, many zoos must face the choice of funding replacement enclosures or struggling on with what they've got. Enrichment can help to close the gap, and I gather this was good [if not always 'natural' -- and I'm not talking tea adverts] when the Twycross founders were in charge.
Which really begs the question, "why was Twycross' new Gorilla enclosure not really much different, in principle, to the ones built 20 odd years ago?". Similarly their newer Lion enclosure (now holding Hyenas) wasn't much bigger or different to the one they had in the '60's.
Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.
That said (in balance), slightly newer enclosures such as the "Bornean" aviary have grown on me and the Snow Leopard enclosure does impress the general public. Whether the money could have been better spent though, as always, remains a moot point.