These ape habitats worked a lot better for me on my 2nd visit than on my 1st visit because on my 1st visit every single chimp and gorilla was passed out which really disturbed me. On my 2nd visit all the apes were up and foraging, with the gorillas even engaging in a play-fight. I think they were all sound asleep my first visit due to the heat. Instead of rating these ape exhibits as poor, I would rate them as average.
I think that in terms of size the chimpanzee and gorilla habitats at the Miami Metrozoo work okay, but there definitely could be more enrichment items, climbing structures, and hiding opportunities in both enclosures. I'd agree that they are simply average ape exhibits, and the one that is the weakest would be the orangutan enclosure and its lack of both climbing structures and orangs...haha. The good news is that the zoo has a pair of terrific and extremely large gibbon habitats, with loads of climbing branches for those primates.
I agree, although it is always a good sign to see animals actively using their exhibits. It was quite amusing to see a huge silver back gorilla chase a juvenile around this large enclosure though and to hear him vocalize!
