It has been discussed on the Forum before that this enclosure was originally built for visiting Giant Pandas- then they got the Gorilla group from Apenheul to fill it afterwards. When I saw it I thought it was rather too small for the group- my only real critisism, but I agree it doesn't come near the Chimp exhibit- which was purpose built for Chimps.
So this exhibit housed the Giant Pandas back in 1988? Thank you, Pertinax, this is news to me. True, I've seen much worse Gorilla exhibits, but it is still a very pleasant one. As you say, the only problem really is that it was not built originally for Gorillas.
While the pandas were housed in an enclosure on this site, the gorillas are NOT in that enclosure. The gorillas got a new enclosure built specifically for them.
While the pandas were housed in an enclosure on this site, the gorillas are NOT in that enclosure. The gorillas got a new enclosure built specifically for them.
When this was discussed before, there seemed to be some argument about whether it had Pandas before or was a new exhibit- maybe this is why? Is the rock wall etc from the original Panda enclosure or is it now completely different?
One way to enlarge it would be my favourite method for a number of exhibits in zoos-fill in the watermoat and have a glass wall instead.
The panda exhibit was demolished and a gorilla exhibit built on the same spot? And nothing remains of the panda exhibit? I remember seeing a documentary about the move of the ape group from the Netherlands to Australia many years ago.
I know the pandas were sent to Australia to commemorate Australia's Bicentennial in 1988 and I understand the pair was housed both in Sydney and Melbourne. I would assume that they started in Sydney and then went to Melbourne, but did they only stay 6 months or so in each zoo? Hix, do you remember when they left Australia?
And nothing remains of the panda exhibit? I remember seeing a documentary about the move of the ape group from the Netherlands to Australia many years ago.
I saw that too. It was both interesting and memorable as it was the largest group transport of Gorillas that had taken place over one of the longest distances and the group were either not tranquilised at all, or only lightly sedated. The crates were all kept together in transit so the group had continual contact. I remember when they are loading them onto the plane Kibabu's hand pokes out and he raps the top of his crate!
Another interesting thing was I believe Taronga bought/paid big money for the whole group from Apenheul, rather than an EEP ''transfer'
I can't recall what happened to the pandas after they left Taronga. But Toby the Tapir was placed in the exhibit after they had gone. Actually, I think ther exhibit was split in two and Toby had half, and something else was in the other half - maybe ostrich or cassowary? Or maybe I'm thinking of the cages on the site before pandas (this was a long time ago!).
I have a picture of Toby in his exhibit, but because I'm on holidays (and in a caravan park at present) I'm having trouble uploading it.
I remember when the gorilla exhibit was finished, they had spent a lot of discussion regarding the new back wall and whether the gorillas could climb out or not. The then director was convinced that even a rock climber would not be able to do it - so they got a rock climber to try, with media present of course. It didn't take him long to get up and over.
I remember when the gorilla exhibit was finished, they had spent a lot of discussion regarding the new back wall and whether the gorillas could climb out or not.
So it really seems this whole exhibit was rebuilt for the Gorillas. If so it clears up a misconception I've had for a long time- sorry Baldur, I told you wrong information here. Is this exhibit still sponsored by 'MacDonalds'?- they had big signs out when I saw it (MacDonald's Gorilla Forest).
I can see that the back wall, though not high, has a proper overhang so preventing Gorillas escaping. What they are good at is finding a corner where two walls meet which they can use as a purchase to help them climb upwards. I've never heard of an escape from this enclosure though.
I think there's also a hotwire run across the inside of the wall about a foot down from the top. And there hasn't been an escape from this enclosure, apart from a single rock climber.
