This is often the crux of the debate - the naturalistic elements are more for the humans' benefit than the animals (they don't care what it looks like!) and attempts to make exhibit look pretty can lead to exhibits that don't actually work for the animals that well, such as Gorilla Kingdom (certainly when it first opened).
If you where a gorilla, would you rather be behind metal bars or walking on grass among rocks and trees with large wooden climbing frames surrounded my natural barriers such as rivers or lakes. I know which one I would rather. In africa they live in forest surrounded by rivers and rocks and trees. They dont have a dirty great bird cage to live in.
If you where a gorilla, would you rather be behind metal bars or walking on grass among rocks and trees with large wooden climbing frames surrounded my natural barriers such as rivers or lakes. I know which one I would rather. In africa they live in forest surrounded by rivers and rocks and trees. They dont have a dirty great bird cage to live in.
I don't think gorillas think in those terms, to be honest. At Port Lympne, where the animals have grassy paddocks (admittedly not the best laid-out) and caged exhibits, they seem to spend more time in the cages, from my experience.
At Port Lympne, where the animals have grassy paddocks (admittedly not the best laid-out) and caged exhibits, they seem to spend more time in the cages, from my experience.
You're right, Maguari, they don't think like that...Open gorilla enclosures just look attractive to people, with all that open space for the animals to 'enjoy'. But from frequent visits to Port Lympne, I would estimate all the Gorillas with free access to the 3 different open enclosures there spend about 95% of their time in the covered cages.
Bristol's male 'Jock' mainly only uses 'Gorilla Island' at the public feeding times, he has been logged as spending something like 95% + of his time inside. (The females spend rather more time outside, particularly Salome, but she prefers to keep well away from the male.)
Twycross/Paignton- under normal conditions, more time seems to be spent indoors, with shorter forays outside. Blackpool my guess would be a similar situation- when they are not shut out onto the island.
London Zoo-under normal circumstances, in summer weather the Gorillas are more often seen to be outside-because they are shut outside.
Given the choice between a Cage style or lavish open enclosure, I would opt for the cage everytime as providing overall the better environment for the Gorillas- an open enclosure as well, as at Port Lympne is an optional luxury they will not use a great deal.
Chessington were originally going to build a completely new open complex in the new animal area, but opted instead for an 'extension' to the existing cage-probably decided from a cost angle, but given the location/success of their existing enclosure I think its a sensible decision.
this enclosure is used for kumbas group and it links onto the inside play den and a couple of smaller sleeping dens. damisi's group has the main enclosure and the new 'green' house with a few of the original dens.
