Look how extraordinarily lush this exhibit is! Having a troop of gorillas able to exist within an environment that is close to what they would encounter in nature is amazing, and more zoos are creating vast jungles on an acre or more of land that allows the apes to disappear with ease into the foliage. I've seen fabulous gorilla exhibits at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Bronx Zoo, Woodland Park, etc, and in all of those circumstances one of the biggest thrills is seeing the parting of bushes and a full-grown gorilla emerge from the shadows. No wonder research studies have shown that visitors have a much deeper respect for nature after seeing such wondrous habitats recreated on the grounds of their local zoo. Melbourne Zoo completed a study before and after they designed their highly impressive gorilla complex 20 years ago, and the response was overwhelming. Zoo visitors had more respect and knowledge of gorillas after the creation of the new habitat, and these days this enclosure at Dallas Zoo is becoming almost normal. It is actually now quite difficult to locate gorilla exhibits that aren't full of trees, bushes and lush with thick green grass.
This is still one of the best exhibits I've ever seen. You're right on it being well grown in. It would be more so it the gorillas would stop breaking the trees.
I take it that what you're saying about naturalistic habitats is a coy swipe at the Howlett's style cages.
@jbnbsn99: I actually was not taking a "coy swipe at Howlett's style cages", but since you mention it those types of metal boxes are practically extinct around the world anyway. Yay! But I truly am excited to see if I can head out on another massive road trip this summer and thus visit the Dallas Zoo. Giants of the Savanna will be open and that zoo's African exhibits are supposedly some of the best in existence. This photo shows a natural environment that is breathtaking, and that is certainly how most gorillas are exhibited in the modern zoo world.
