This huge cement block looks like something Stalin used to erect for his Russian constituents. It also reminds me of the giant urinals for orangutans at Dudley Zoo in the United Kingdom, although those enclosures have far more climbing structures than this ugly version of a twisted Stonehenge. However, this exhibit does educate the public because it sends the message that this is how NOT to showcase a magnificent wild animal.
This huge cement block looks like something Stalin used to erect for his Russian constituents. It also reminds me of the giant urinals for orangutans at Dudley Zoo in the United Kingdom, although those enclosures have far more climbing structures than this ugly version of a twisted Stonehenge. However, this exhibit does educate the public because it sends the message that this is how NOT to showcase a magnificent wild animal.
Yes, the orangutans have two outdoor exhibits accessible for them. I have already uploaded a photo of the other exhibit.
It is certainly not a very pretty or spacious exhibit for orangutans. It is decent for its inhabitants and that is about it. The future plan for this building is for it to become an educational building for school classes etc. The orangutans will recieve a new home in a large rainforest building.
Settle down folks, as I know that some ZooChatters will excuse a god-awful exhibit as long as it is okay for the animals. Each to their own opinion mates, and I love to read about how such enclosures will face a fleet of bulldozers in the future.
It is great to learn that the orangutans will eventually leave this concrete bunker monstrosity, but for the time being if World War III ever breaks out then the red apes will be safe in their inpenetrable fortress as it will take a hell of a lot of explosives to destroy the ugly slabs of cement that represent this Indonesian rainforest. Ha!
Settle down folks, as I know that some ZooChatters will excuse a god-awful exhibit as long as it is okay for the animals. Each to their own opinion mates, and I love to read about how such enclosures will face a fleet of bulldozers in the future.
But Toddy specifically says that the building won't be demolished, but reused as an education centre. If it's a sturdy building, why spend money demolishing it when it can be put to good use?
It is great to learn that the orangutans will eventually leave this concrete bunker monstrosity, but for the time being if World War III ever breaks out then the red apes will be safe in their inpenetrable fortress as it will take a hell of a lot of explosives to destroy the ugly slabs of cement that represent this Indonesian rainforest. Ha!
Sorry to start with a 'but' again, but the ugly slabs of cement don't represent the Indonesian rainforest. At all. How could they? That's not the exhibit design 'culture' that this exhibit resulted from. This is the old issue of exhibits being criticised for not achieving something it is obviously not intended to achieve.
I do, however, agree that I'm glad the orangs are to be rehomed.
Toddy - thanks for the clarification - the other exhibit looks an improvement on this one at least.
Sorry to start with a 'but' again, but the ugly slabs of cement don't represent the Indonesian rainforest. At all. How could they? That's not the exhibit design 'culture' that this exhibit resulted from. This is the old issue of exhibits being criticised for not achieving something it is obviously not intended to achieve.
Those are very wise words Maguari and after posting on this forum for some time I have a feeling that you and I have share some common views on zoos.
I enjoy good immersion exhibits very much but I don't think that they are the only sollution. I don't like the idea that all zoos should look exactly the same, which I think that you also wrote it in another post somewhere on the forum.
@Maguari: my dream of a fleet of bulldozers has gone up in flames. It is a wonderful thing when outdated zoo exhibits are turned into entirely different structures, and so hopefully the new education centre will be a success. I know that the Adelaide Zoo in South Australia had a horrendously outdated set of ape grottoes when I visited in 2007, but now there is also an education centre in their place (the "Envirodome") which is supposedly excellent.
Good point about my "Indonesian rainforest" joke, but I was really just teasing with that comment. I know that the era when this orang bunker was erected was much different from present day, but I'm still not sure what century it was created in.
It is a wonderful thing when outdated zoo exhibits are turned into entirely different structures, and so hopefully the new education centre will be a success.
As far as I have heard the indoor part of this structure is to be an education center while the outdoor exhibits for the orangs will be completely remodelled and turned into a new petting zoo.
