Although I normally prefer cages for primates, I agree that Bristol's is better as they are actually given climbing equipment, unlike the are at Noahs. It's also a lot higher.
As I thought with the other photo of this cage - for a basic exibit, this wouldn't be too bad if they just dug out the floor to give the gibbons a bit more height. A few more climbing structures wouldn't go amiss either.
I don't want to put words into Ashley's mouth, but I think it's because in most instances, cages allow for full 3D movement for primates. They can usually access every cubic foot of their enclosure. They also do not have the hazard that is a water moat.
Yes it's not ideal from an exhibitory point of view, but from a husbandry aspect and for the animal's needs then they are usually pretty good (Noah's doesn't appear very good though).
Personally, I prefer the open enclosures with the proviso that they are planted and provide plenty of climbing trees/poles/ropes/frames etc. There are a great deal of "naturalistic" enclosures that are just mowed lawns.
Oh, and why include the sarcasm at the end of your post? It's someone's valid opinion...
I didn't want to go into the debate again, the dust has pretty much settled on the last one... Both cages and open enclosures have their benefits and drawbacks and there are both good and bad examples in both categories.
I don't remember seeing them surrounded by water moats in the wild either. And Jimmy, you're right, I'd much rather a decent cage that allows the to use the entire 3D space they're given as opposed to just the floor and the climbing poles.
I can think of many 'natural moats' in the wild, aka rivers. The congo acts as a nice barrier keeping chimps seperate from bonobos!! The thing that annoys me about you lot is you constantly slag off zoos when really the most of you have no clue how to run one or what is really involved. Kids
I'm 19 in two weeks, when did that qualify me as a kid?
Captivity is captivity, regardless of weather or not it's made with a moat or mesh, and as a personal preference in favour of the primates themselves I'd choose mesh any day. Is there a problem with my opinion?
And do you work in a zoo or something yourself then? Plenty of people in here do and plenty of them know what they're on about.
Im actually a curator of a zoo. I think i know what im on about. Of course everyone is entitle to their own opinions i just wish you all would speak to the keepers at zoos to find out why they have done something the way they have instead of just guessing.
