Port Lympne's Gorilla Pavillion - Showing one side of the Pavillion the Overhead Passage way is towards the Right and can just be seen.This enclsoure holds one of the bachelor groups. It is a truly magnificant structure.
Port Lympne's Gorilla Pavillion - Showing one side of the Pavillion the Overhead Passage way is towards the Right and can just be seen.This enclosure holds one of the bachelor groups. It is a truly magnificant structure.
An exhibit that features a rubber tire hanging from a rope falls far short of any reasonable definition of "magnificent." While this may be just fine as a living space for the gorillas, it is a dis-service to their species to be displayed in surroundings so totally unrepresentative of their natural rainforest habitat.
What's the problem with the tyres? The Gorillas love playing with them, as they do with the deep litter, and I think that's more important than them have an enclosure which meerly looks better.
I strongly disagree. Zoos should be teaching people about the interconnectedness of animals and habitats. Displaying them in glorified hamster mazes or horse corrals implies they are no different from pets or domestic livestock. As a behind-the-scenes management area, tires and tall cages are fine. But zoos exist PRIMARILY as educational facilities to get people to care about saving animals IN NATURE. Exhibits like this do not support that message.
I strongly disagree. Zoos should be teaching people about the interconnectedness of animals and habitats. Displaying them in glorified hamster mazes or horse corrals implies they are no different from pets or domestic livestock. As a behind-the-scenes management area, tires and tall cages are fine. But zoos exist PRIMARILY as educational facilities to get people to care about saving animals IN NATURE. Exhibits like this do not support that message.
Have you ever visited Howlettes? A place that has in my opinion inspired and educated more people on gorillas, than anywhere else in the world.
In a perfect world l would agree with you. We do not live in a perfect world. So l belive your comments are nieve and uneducated as to what is best for gorillas.
A exhibit that looks natural is usually totally concrete and resin and very often without a great deal of enrichment.
What you call "Displaying them in glorified hamster mazes " is actually ideal for young gorillas.
Besides, the Gorillas in London and Bristol for example live in much more natural habitats, and I don't believe they're anywhere near as happy as the Howletts ones.
You can't sacrifice animal welfare over what looks pretty for the visitors.
This is actually a great example of aesthetic vs. functional design.
The educational role of zoos should be important, and "naturalistic exhibits" with various immersion elements can really help to re-create a image of the orginal habitat in the visitor's mind. However, there are, as we all know, various examples of zoo exhibits where the needs of its animal inhabitants are neglected in favour of a charming "naturalistic" look. And we also all know how many exhibits miss the "naturalistic" look by at least a mile...as they want to be functional at the same time.
The enclosure on the picture is the other extreme, where serviceability and functionality rule, and human aesthetics are subordinate. The gorillas seem to enjoy themselves there...
Whether you favour one or another or the (often impossible) golden mean-that's up to you.
For one thing Gorillas Really Need a roof over their head this exhibit has it. The 1-2 foot Hay floor surves as a fantastic Foraging ground.Gorillas love to play so you have the tires,slides and all the climbing bars.These Gorillas are in zoos because they need protecting we cannot give them the exact conditions they would have in the wild its impossible so we do what we can,give them what they like and need.In my opinion this and the Palace of the Apes is exactly it.
It may be unrealistuc but if the Gorillas really like it why is it so bad?
Regards
I agree with Ashley-H Animal Welfare is MUCH more important then what the visitors think looks nice.
