Givskud Zoo - Gorilla enclosure

Some lowland gorillas in a tiny portion of their huge outdoor enclosure in Givskud Zoo, Denmark.The cave provides shade and privacy for the gorillas. I would call this one of the best gorilla exhibits in Europe.
August 2007

I can never quite figure out how this enclosure is constructed, although I have seen it featured on Danish television so much! The fence that you see in the background, for instance - is that hotwire? If so, is there another fence or wall or something behind those trees and bushes?

Anyway, it can never be emphasized to much, that the move of the gorillas to this enclosure was a blessing. They used to live in what is now only the third "room" of the indoor chimp exhibit at Copenhagen Zoo. Danish TV, very good when it comes to making tv-programmes about Danish zoos, showed a heartbreakingly wonderful series about this move!

@Dan: Yes, the hotwire in the back is the only thing keeping the gorillas in along the rear of the enclosure.

That's brave, is there any more of a barrier on the public viewing side?
Have they ever had any escapes?

@ashley-h: Actually, on second thought, I seem to remember them installing a second hotwire fence behind the first one after Samson's escape. Not sure though... Between the visitors and gorillas is a water moat.

Yes, a few years back Givskud Zoo had some gorillas from a German zoos visiting. Can't remember which one, but possibly Duisburg? They were staying in the second gorilla enclosure while their own exhibit was being renovated. The first thing the male did outside was crossing the water moat and espaping out to the car park near the gorilla enclosure. He hid in a toilet building and was captured without anybody getting hurt.