This was the chimp exhibit space now replaced by Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountain. Not originally designed for chimps, this space once housed various other species of monkeys and possibly Aoudad. The tree limbs and waterfall were added years later. For a short time, it also served as a mixed chimpanzee/gelada baboon exhibit.
thank god I did not design it - it really was one of the worst exhibits for almost any animal they put in there. It had two small shade shelters and a waterfall. Old dry moat was covered in a rubber waterproofing and made into a pond for the waterfall. It was a terrible exhibit due to no landscaping and artificial rock everywhere which got very hot on the feet - I guess that kept the animals up in the dead tree props. The artist who designed this was Julian George (my mentor) who was a great designer of water features and hotel type rock formations - we did some great swimming pools in hotels all over the world, but he was a terrible zoo designer - really did not know anything about the animals. I am glad it is now something else. Haven't seen it yet but hope to soon!
I would have thought putting Chimpanzees in with anything other than Lions [joke, but they could at least stand up for themselves] was a recipe for short, nasty, bloody disaster.....
Probably stayed there out of fear, though I don't remember any incidents. I don't think they were exhibited together for more than 1 or 2 years. If even that long.
