I have writen to the zoo about this enclosure without receiving an answer. As far as I can understand this is an extremely small island, supposed to satisfy the gorilla troupe . From a Swedish television programme ("Djursjukhuset" - "The Animal Hospital") I learned that it took the reigning silverback ages to even dare to go out on it. This fact was jokingly referred to something like "the coward male gorilla", but of course only goes to prove that this exhibit is woefully bad designed and somewhat of a shame to Kolmården Zoo - one of the two big leading Swedish zoos, and one that - ever from the beginning in 1967(?) - has been a forerunner in terms of animal welfare at zoos.
I learned that it took the reigning silverback ages to even dare to go out on it. This fact was jokingly referred to something like "the coward male gorilla", but of course only goes to prove that this exhibit is woefully bad designed and somewhat of a shame to Kolmården Zoo
Can´t answer your good questions, CZjimmy - I only visited this zoo some forty years ago when I was a kid. But this enclosure has been mentioned several times here at ZooChat and there are aerial pictures etc. I would hazard a guess that the gorillas in this zoo have always had an outdoor enclosure - I believe anything else would have been unthinkable given this zoo´s otherwise so good reputation.
But this new small "island"?!
HELL, most of us here at ZooChat are amateurs - though some of you "amateurs" have almost encyclopedical knowledge about zoos (not me ) - but each and every one of us KNOWS that gorillas will not thrive in open air enclosures like this stupid island.
How hard could it have been for the supposedly "professionals" at Kolmården Zoo to have a canopy put all over this tiny island?
A canopy might improve the exhibit, but having seen it personally myself, I can say that it won't be enough. The island is simply too small for a group of gorillas and not lush enough during the summer for them to get some privacy from the visitors and each other.
