hadrada
Well-Known Member
Lol..Its only drawings,ive been scribbling designs for ages but have never been pleased with the finished result
Gorilla Diet
- Thread starter hadrada
- Start date
Lol..Its only drawings,ive been scribbling designs for ages but have never been pleased with the finished result
hadrada
Well-Known Member
gorillaenclosure002.jpg picture by lumen027 - Photobucket
Ok, ive done the diet,now im working on the enclosure,ive done away with the "Cage"design,Its not totally finished as you can see and im still tinkering away with it, so feel free to suggest anything that improves it.
NOTE: The outside space is completed,its enclosed by rockwork & windows[3 in total],the western end [the brown shelter] and the boardwalk[public] to the left allows keepers to give talks from the roof of the shelter whilst giving scatter feeds to the gorillas in the afternoon.
There are 3 gated areas in the northern areas of the enclosure for keepers,one an entrance to the outside enclosure[primalary for machinery] and two off limit public gates.
The Southern area across from the path, beneath the trees im planning on putting Red-Capped Mangabeys & Black Duikers.
The inside areas i will update you on as its not finished but you may be able to tell the public areas [brown sandy colour] & the golden areas of the gorillas,white areas are keepers only.
Let me know what you think.
Ok, ive done the diet,now im working on the enclosure,ive done away with the "Cage"design,Its not totally finished as you can see and im still tinkering away with it, so feel free to suggest anything that improves it.
NOTE: The outside space is completed,its enclosed by rockwork & windows[3 in total],the western end [the brown shelter] and the boardwalk[public] to the left allows keepers to give talks from the roof of the shelter whilst giving scatter feeds to the gorillas in the afternoon.
There are 3 gated areas in the northern areas of the enclosure for keepers,one an entrance to the outside enclosure[primalary for machinery] and two off limit public gates.
The Southern area across from the path, beneath the trees im planning on putting Red-Capped Mangabeys & Black Duikers.
The inside areas i will update you on as its not finished but you may be able to tell the public areas [brown sandy colour] & the golden areas of the gorillas,white areas are keepers only.
Let me know what you think.
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Really good design, I wouldn't have Black Duikers though, the obvious choice would be Cephalophus natalensis [Red Duikers]. The enclosure is similar in still to Edinburgh's new Giant Panda enclosure, with a pool and glass windows right at the front of the viewing, as well as the climbing facilities.
I know some collections which have Gorillas, do give them treats with sugar in, which does seem to help there diet, I'd consider giving them some human type of drink, just once a week. [Longleat give Nico, there resident male Ribena].
Enrichment: Scatter feeds, the stick game (Give the Gorillas sticks and with a hole in the wall put some type of food, make them work for there food). Another interesting one, is TV, again Longleat have installed a television in the Gorilla house, at night I believe Nico watches Roar and Animal Park.
I know some collections which have Gorillas, do give them treats with sugar in, which does seem to help there diet, I'd consider giving them some human type of drink, just once a week. [Longleat give Nico, there resident male Ribena].
Enrichment: Scatter feeds, the stick game (Give the Gorillas sticks and with a hole in the wall put some type of food, make them work for there food). Another interesting one, is TV, again Longleat have installed a television in the Gorilla house, at night I believe Nico watches Roar and Animal Park.
hadrada
Well-Known Member
Really good design, I wouldn't have Black Duikers though, the obvious choice would be Cephalophus natalensis [Red Duikers]. The enclosure is similar in still to Edinburgh's new Giant Panda enclosure, with a pool and glass windows right at the front of the viewing, as well as the climbing facilities.
I know some collections which have Gorillas, do give them treats with sugar in, which does seem to help there diet, I'd consider giving them some human type of drink, just once a week. [Longleat give Nico, there resident male Ribena].
Enrichment: Scatter feeds, the stick game (Give the Gorillas sticks and with a hole in the wall put some type of food, make them work for there food). Another interesting one, is TV, again Longleat have installed a television in the Gorilla house, at night I believe Nico watches Roar and Animal Park.
Thanks for the reply Jordan.
Any reason why Red Duikers instead of Black?..curious.
They do get Ribena[albeit non-sugared],ive worked out a whole feeding schedule for the week[including enrichment]...should have posted it at the time but then i got into the enclosure design,which is typical of me.
NOOO!! TV!!...thats for bored gorillas
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply Jordan.
Any reason why Red Duikers instead of Black?..curious.
They do get Ribena[albeit non-sugared],ive worked out a whole feeding schedule for the week[including enrichment]...should have posted it at the time but then i got into the enclosure design,which is typical of me.
NOOO!! TV!!...thats for bored gorillas
Red Duikers are more common than Black Duikers plus there's not a lot in Europe (Must be one or two). I know it's not real but I like to think of it being realistic.
Another thing you could give them to supplement there diet, is Bamboo. I believe some of the Howletts groups are given Bamboo.
hadrada
Well-Known Member
Red Duikers are more common than Black Duikers plus there's not a lot in Europe (Must be one or two). I know it's not real but I like to think of it being realistic.
Another thing you could give them to supplement there diet, is Bamboo. I believe some of the Howletts groups are given Bamboo.
Ok Red Duikers makes sense.
Bamboo is planted throughout the enclosure..and supplied through scatter browse as well,i took the example from Duisburg where they planted so many bamboo plants that the gorillas eat them but they still thrive.
I've seen photos of that and wish more places would copy their example. There is so much of the stuff the Gorillas don't damage it and it makes the enclosure look natural and gives security etc plus they can eat a bit whenever they feel like it but the dense clumps still thrive.
The secret is heavy planting, not just a couple of little clumps they are likely to uproot in no time.
Best enrichment? A decent to Big-sized group- at least over six animals, with young of various ages. They will entertain themselves largely then.
hadrada
Well-Known Member
Well "my" group
consists of 8 individuals 4.4. in a 1.6 acre enclosure.Pertinax?..a Q that ive been always meaning to ask you...i despise hotwire[ive been to Zoo Atlanta]
... is it possible to protect trees with berberis or a similar thorny shrub.?
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Well "my" group
Pertinax?..a Q that ive been always meaning to ask you...i despise hotwire[ive been to Zoo Atlanta]
I dunno it seems like it'd keep the Gorillas away but your enclosure which is similar in a way to the Edinburgh Giant Panda one and in that enclosure it used to house Gorillas (I believe Sam Sam, Yinka and Momo?) they don't have a hotwire but concrete walls, I know Gorillas are more agile than Pandas but if you've got a way on how the Gorillas can't get out I'd like to see it.
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Well "my" group
Pertinax?..a Q that ive been always meaning to ask you...i despise hotwire[ive been to Zoo Atlanta]
When you say 4.4 do you mean adult males or young bachelors and an adult male? It'd never work, you'd often have to separate them and they'd be fighting for the females alot of the time to.
hadrada
Well-Known Member
One Silverback,three adult females[two breeding],one sub-adult male & three juveniles.
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
I don't know but I rather doubt it. I think it wouldn't put them off long term from reaching the live trees and killing them, usually by stripping off the bark.