There's no dying the gorilla exhibit lacks vegetation, beside above the exhibit which the gorillas don't have access to. So either the gorillas found a way back the hotwire, or their keepers gave them some nice enrichment.
These gorillas would be A LOT better off in a cage with bars then in this fake-rock mess. In a cage, they could use the third dimension and climb. The fake rock is useless to them. All they can here is to sit on the floor and wish they would live elsewhere. And it does not look naturalistic at all. Or did I miss something about a species of cave gorillas? I thought they live in the rainforest.
Really, your attitude of this "at least looking naturalistic and not having bars" is a reason why many zoos build completely inadequade enclosures just to please the visitor`s eyes and as a consequence, the animals suffer.
All im saying is you need to realize this exhibit was built in 1981 and the standards were different, also Buffalo does not have the money like the bigger zoos do to just completely remodel the exhibit. I am in no way saying this is a good enough exhibit but it still is better than a dismal cage with bars, and there are plans to renovate.
That is an excellent point as Seattle's exhibit is still regarded as one of the better gorilla habitats in an American zoo, and in 1980 San Francisco opened its one-acre outdoor habitat so Buffalo's all-indoor subterranean cave was arguably outdated the year that it was built! This sounds extremely simplistic but in truth I really think that Buffalo should send their gorillas to a zoo with a much larger, outdoor jungle habitat. Places such as Dallas, Riverbanks, North Carolina, etc, don't have very many gorillas and gorgeous, massive exhibits so there is a strong possibility that they could accommodate Buffalo's troop and rescue them from their atrocious cave. I've heard rumors of the zoo redeveloping this enclosure but it hasn't happened for 30 years and there is absolutely zero sign of it happening for at least another decade. The entrance, the elephant paddock and the awful bear pits are first in line and the zoo has zero dollars so the gorillas will have to keep on mining in their tunnel.
@snowleopard: I would not agree that this exhibit is the most awful exhibit for a mammal at an AZA accredited zoo, but I know you have high standards for primates. I would not suggest you ever go to the Erie Zoo then. Their gorilla exhibit is even smaller than this and they've had a gorilla all alone for the past few years. Although she has access to an outside yard, an advantage over Buffalo Zoo, she never goes out there.
Although I agree this exhibit is designed more for visitors, with many viewing windows, than the inhabitants, the gorillas still get enrichment each day. Even in their back holding area, PBS is constantly played so the gorillas can watch TV.
Say the gorillas were moved and they decided to keep the exhibit for another animal. Do you think any type of animal would be appropriate for it?
@blospz: I'll probably visit Erie Zoo next summer on my summer road trip...but thanks for the warning! As to what could replace the hapless gorillas, with a pool added then otters could be put in there or any mammal that is much smaller than the world's largest ape could survive amongst all of that crude rockwork as long as there was the continuation of hotwire ringed around the top of the gunite.
If many major zoos send away their elephants to better facilities then why not gorillas? The multiple outstanding great ape habitats that have popped up all over America have plenty of space for a few more gorillas, and instead of sitting in a cave watching television the apes could lead more enriching lives. I'm predicting that Buffalo will be sending away its 2 elephants within the next few years, but with the notion of building better bear exhibits I still feel as if this zoo has potential. Being in a northern climate it only makes sense to shift focus from gorillas and elephants to grizzly and polar bears, and the zoo's master plan has already stated that the bear pits are in need of redevelopment.
@ snowleopard: Very interesting to hear Erie Zoo may be on your itinerary. I can pretty much predict the exhibits you are going to hate, but you've already seen photos of the orangutan exhibit so that also won't be a surprise. And after seeing their polar bear bit, perhaps Buffalo Zoo won't look so bad! However, I do think you will appreciate it be a small family oriented zoo. Having children now, I think you'll probably like their children zoo the most. And even though the orangutans don't have an exhibit you approve off, you and your kids may enjoy them as they interact with visitors constantly.
It will be curious to see what will become of the elephants at the Buffalo Zoo in a few years. With their next projects being the new entrance and Arctic exhibit, it doesn't leave a lot of room to expand the elephant yard. The girls have moved before so if they did it in a couple years before they get too old and disturb them, maybe they could send them somewhere near like the Rosamond Gifford Zoo or African Lion Safari. As for the gorillas, I honestly think they are here to stay. With the new baby, they are marketing all around her. There are billboards all over the city of the gorilla mother holding her with the statement, "Have you come visited the baby yet?" I have hopes for the zoo. I think it may take quite awhile, but I think they will eventually have more better exhibits than bad ones in the future.
@ zooplantman: I completely agree your suggestion and hope some people follow it. My partner and I adopted the tamandua last Christmas. And I think I'll be attending their Animal Art Expo. and help support them that way as well.
