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.
There have been escapes from one or two similar enclosures in the States- either by the Gorillas finding corners or 'invisible' ledges to climb up, or where vegetation was allowed to grow down over the wall, allowing them to jump up and get a handhold. There was one curious case a while back in one zoo where one of three Gorillas in an exhibit climbed out and then went back in again shortly after- they weren't entirely sure which one had escaped...
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?
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 remember seeing that doco as well, from what I can remember they said they were not sedated at all. Kibabu's crate was placed in the centre of all the other crates so all of his family could see him, I remember seeing them trying to load each Gorllia in each of the crates most went in ok but Kibabu kepted one leg outside the crate so no one could shut him in, they were wondering how to get him to go in when he surprised evryone when he just walked in by himself.
There have been escapes from one or two similar enclosures in the States- either by the Gorillas finding corners or 'invisible' ledges to climb up, or where vegetation was allowed to grow down over the wall, allowing them to jump up and get a handhold. There was one curious case a while back in one zoo where one of three Gorillas in an exhibit climbed out and then went back in again shortly after- they weren't entirely sure which one had escaped...
