Ugly, isn't it? Hardly what our American friends would like to see- no planted vegetation or natural cover although I do see a couple of little hotwired patches.. I never figured out why they didn't build these enclosures (at least partially) in the woods instead.
Or why they don`t put tons of poles and ropes in it and plant shrubs and trees to provide climbing and hiding opportunities for the gorillas. The exhibit in London is a good example that even when there are no mature trees, a lot can be done with poles/ropes.
I wouldn't mind the weird climbing things if the gorillas ever actually seemed to use them!
They're not that often out in the paddock from what I've seen and when they are they just seem to mooch about on the ground. They only seem to climb in the Pavilion cages that are attached.
They had never had any experience with anything other than covered cages when they built these(by popular demand from visitors if I remember rightly). It soon proved its not just open space Gorillas want.
Very occassionally you see a Gorilla climb on a piece of equipment but its a rare event. They do sometimes use them as cover to sit under too.
Somehow the Gorillas can tell the time- they know exactly when the public feedings are at 12 & 3(or thats when it used to be). Usually they start to appear outside a few minutes beforehand, and then drift back in again when its all finished.
Or why they don`t put tons of poles and ropes in it and plant shrubs and trees to provide climbing and hiding opportunities for the gorillas. The exhibit in London is a good example that even when there are no mature trees, a lot can be done with poles/ropes.
I don't think they'd use these 'open to the sky' areas much more than they do now- which is hardly at all! Apart from the public feedings, they just prefer to stay in the covered cages(which are in the woodland incidentally) which they can access 24/7.
I agree completely. They have planted (and protected) a few clumps of bamboo and pampas grass, but it won't make too much difference.
On the other hand, they are doing the weed control a bit differently and yesterday two of the males in this southern enclosure came out at about 2.40 pm and 2.50 pm (a bit before the scatterfeed which was just after 3 pm) and they each spent 10 minutes selecting and eating various weeds quite happily. Likewise a third male descended into the haha after the nuts etc had all gone and returned several minutes later with a large clump of rosebay willowherb, which he ate with great enjoyment. This should be encouraged in my view,
You will probably have seen those five biggest males for the last time now...
Did you notice what males were in the Northern enclosure? - there is still Ujiji but the 3 others have gone now(Oumbie to Twycross. Djumbah and BuBu to Hungary) However 3/4 young males more recently transferred from Kifu's group at Howletts may have replaced them in here now.
That's right: Ujiji was alone (I think) in the tall cage, and 4 younger males were looking very relaxed in the adjoining long cage behind the De Brazza's holding area. I presume they came out for their scatter feed just after the big guys had theirs, but I was watching the Bonz & Co.
