I like the rocks they were there before the platforms where and are good for the gorillas do get high up and use as vantage points.
In my opinion the Palace of the Apes and the Garden of the Apes is the best gorilla enclosure ive ever seen.
I like the rocks they were there before the platforms where and are good for the gorillas do get high up and use as vantage points.
In my opinion the Palace of the Apes and the Garden of the Apes is the best gorilla enclosure ive ever seen.
Its certainly the best Gorilla enclosure at Howletts or Port Lympne, though as per usual the Gorillas don't spend very much time in the outdoor area- except during the feeding sessions, as seen here. Djala, the silverback,whose rear can be seen here on the right, will quickly head back inside once all the food has been cleared up and the others follow him in ones and two's shortly after.
As far as the rockpile is concerned- I can see there is a baby on it in the photo but I've never seen a Gorilla on it otherwise. This is the only PL Gorilla enclosure with a rockpile. They have now built large wooden fort-like structures as well but again I have not seen them being used. I think it could be improved further with the addition of more natural logs and dead trees instead of the artificial equipment, and fast growing live trees and bamboo added for shade and cover. But it is still a good enclosure as it is.
I have seen some of the younger gorillas climbing on the rockpile and on the wooden frame (which was constructed by the Royal Engineers or was it another regiment?).
The gorillas, even Djala, do use their outdoor enclosure quite a lot in high summer when all sorts of tasty vegetation has grown up: so I am sure Pertinax's suggestions are good ones.
The apes seem happy with the enclosure , as usual Howletts puts the animals before the general public. They have the largest breeding groups of Gorillas in the world and have evidently had the most success with this species in captivity. Aesthetics , unfortunately im not an art critic it isnt an enclosure which resembles an animals natrual habitat which is impressive for me its how happy the animals within it which is truly worth seeing.
Each time a new enclosure is built at Howletts or Port Lympne they seem to add some new innovation. In this case I think it was the rockpile and the whole outdoor enclosure(Garden of the Apes) tacked onto the Palace of the Apes. None of the Gorilla groups at Howletts have access to open areas like this. Sometimes these structural innovations seem rather curious- as with the 'loft' in the original bachelor house- and are not much used by the occupants but they(management) don't know that until they try it.
I believe 'Palace of the Apes' was planned as the last major Gorilla enclosure at either place- at least for the immediate future.
I think it would be excellent if the garden was given to a hoofstock species and a bridge built linking POTA to the lush woodland opposite. This would create a fantastic open enclosure the gorillas would feel more secure in, and with the lush greenery of Port Lymnpe's woods wouldn't be far off a rainforest. Like a larger version of their open Colobus/De Brazza's enclosure.
