Unless I'm missing something, these enclosures must be the most anachronistic in any UK zoo. I really can't think of anything I would want to keep in them. A classic example of a 'barless' exhibit that would be better WITH bars [at least an animal can climb on them]. A moat is at best useless, and at worst dangerous, to Orangs. Having said that, some of the world's finest Orang exhibits have moats, but they also have imaginative living space, which this isn't. Excuse my intemperate rant.
As a 12 year old I saw the Chessington Ape House, which took this as its model.
I paused for some time after typing that sentence, because even after 37 years how anyone not on drugs could gain inspiration from this awful building I do not know.
I also saw the late male Western Gorilla "Bonzo" here in 1987. Again, it's not a memory that I cherish.
And in turn, this one took the 1940/50's 'Great Apes' Building at the Bronx Zoo, as its model. Each one got progressively smaller though, Chessington's whole building could probably fit into one of the outdoor 'yards' in the Bronx version (which totally disappeared some years ago under their Congo Gorilla Forest.)
If Dudley Zoo could get rid of/stop exhibiting animals in this one building (never mind renovating it), I think it would do their reputation a lot of good- this single exhibit still colours the general impression of Dudley.
If Dudley Zoo could get rid of/stop exhibiting animals in this one building (never mind renovating it), I think it would do their reputation a lot of good- this single exhibit still colours the general impression of Dudley.[/QUOTE]
As you know it's my local zoo and I love it, over the past few years things have got lots better, but you know what I agree with you 100% about this awful eyesore, I just hope one day it will be gone.
The living quarters do look slightly better now, however that cant take away what is around the other side of the enclosure.
Simply just awful, the zoo knows it and in the past haven't been in any position to do anything about it, hope this situation will chance soon.
@chizlit: Why hasn't the zoo been in any position to do anything about this abomination? The apes could have quite easily been sent to other zoos, and then a sign could have been constructed that basically apologizes for the conditions of the exhibit. This set of enclosures has been discussed numerous times on ZooChat and to think that apes are still present is mind-boggling.
I can only offer the much used excuse of lack of money.
I've no idea why they've kept the orangs or if they've tried to move them on, but they have bred from them which I guess is the only plus point.
There is now a serious shortage of orang accommodation in Britain and Ireland. I've yet to see Monkey World, but most of the other UK/Irish holders of orang-utans aren't geared up for more than two or three adults.
Too many zoos have jumped onto the gorilla bandwagon, IMHO.
