I think we will have to disagree on that one reduakari, I quite liked the exhibit. It may not be a total immersion exhibit, but for what it is and what it does it was great.
It looks like a very nice exhibit to me too. Obviously it isn't nearly as lush as a rainforest, but its large and has plenty of climbing structures. Definatly one of the better chimp exhibits in North America.
It looks like a very nice exhibit to me too. Obviously it isn't nearly as lush as a rainforest, but its large and has plenty of climbing structures. Definatly one of the better chimp exhibits in North America.
My disappointment comes from the fact that the design team and zoo director were responsible much of the brilliance of Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the original concept was truly an African Forest.
What got built is sparse, dominated by huge walls of artificial rock, mostly NOT a forest (or housing forest animals for that matter), and has poorly-managed sightlines (the backdrop of the main chimp view is a multi-story hospital with constant medical helicopter traffic). I agree the chimps have a nice large space with lots to climb on, but for $50 million and given the players, I was hoping for much more.
My disappointment comes from the fact that the design team and zoo director were responsible much of the brilliance of Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the original concept was truly an African Forest.
What got built is sparse, dominated by huge walls of artificial rock, mostly NOT a forest (or housing forest animals for that matter), and has poorly-managed sightlines (the backdrop of the main chimp view is a multi-story hospital with constant medical helicopter traffic). I agree the chimps have a nice large space with lots to climb on, but for $50 million and given the players, I was hoping for much more.
Trowaman wrote a review of this exhibit in which he raved about it and even said it was slightly better than the chimps in the Wilds of Africa in Dallas which is one of the best we have ever been to.We are also big fans of the Great Apes of Harambee in Detroit and based on the few pics we have seen of the African Forest it doesn't look horrible but am not sure it compares to Dallas or Detroit.Would like to visit Houston again to check it out for ourselves and are very excited that hippos are included in the next phase of the African forest.
Trowaman wrote a review of this exhibit in which he raved about it and even said it was slightly better than the chimps in the Wilds of Africa in Dallas which is one of the best we have ever been to.We are also big fans of the Great Apes of Harambee in Detroit and based on the few pics we have seen of the African Forest it doesn't look horrible but am not sure it compares to Dallas or Detroit.Would like to visit Houston again to check it out for ourselves and are very excited that hippos are included in the next phase of the African forest.
IMO, Kansas City, Busch Gardens and Dallas are better. I've never liked Detroit much. Don't get me wrong--Houston's chimp exhibit is one of the best, but fails to live up to my expectations based on all the things it had going for it (budget, design team, experience of zoo team, and......hype).
IMO, Kansas City, Busch Gardens and Dallas are better. I've never liked Detroit much. Don't get me wrong--Houston's chimp exhibit is one of the best, but fails to live up to my expectations based on all the things it had going for it (budget, design team, experience of zoo team, and......hype).
Good call on Busch Gardens we always seem to forget about it being that they are not a traditional zoo,but they have some amazing exhibits.Haven't been to KC but have heard there African area is awesome.
