Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - Gorilla Indoor Exhibit

PAT said:

It's a shame that zoo visitors will see this and think the gorillas are happy because thier exhibit is natural. .

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There's little risk of this happening...

In "defense" of this exhibit, it is only used as a winter holding area/exhibit.

No defending its ugliness though.

I'm glad to see they aren't in here 24/7 and I'm even gladder that I live two hours away from Melbournes gorilla exhibit.

ashley-h said:

What's wrong with it? You all complain if it has bars or something, and then this zoo doesn't use them and uses mock rock and that and you say they shouldn't be kept in these conditions?

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are you for real? this exhibit is entirely concrete. are you actually saying that you find it acceptable?

phoenix said:

this exhibit is entirely concrete. are you actually saying that you find it acceptable?

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As are 90% of indoor gorilla exhibits, even the indoor area of Howletts are entirely tiled. Anyone seen the inside area of Bronx's gorilla exhibit? Bet it's also made of concrete and probably looks uglier as they didn't bother with the fake logs.

that doesn't answer the question - do YOU think this is acceptable?

I think it is, yes. Although I haven't been there, from what I can see this is no different to any other indoor gorilla area, apart from the added roots of course.
Why do YOU think it's unacceptable?

Phoenix, you do know this has an outdoor enclosure too? I don't think this would be acceptable if this was their only enclosure, but it isn't.

Don't jump down my throat, but im just going to add my opinion

I think this exhibit is acceptable

It has appropriate climbing structures, ample room to move, water, varied terrain and they can move beetween various rooms like this if they please

Its not like this is there only option, they have several outdoor habitats as well

From the looks of it, this is pretty much the same material found in Regenstein Center for the African Apes (which is highly praised by many of you)

And this is miles ahead of Howlett's gorilla enclosure, not even comparable

Zoogoer2000 said:

And this is miles ahead of Howlett's gorilla enclosure, not even comparable

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Oh so close to making a point I can agree with entirely
How do you think this is better? If you're on about the indoors the it's basically the same, it just looks different with the root affect. If you mean it's better than their outdoor area I don't think you'll find one person on this forum who agrees with you lol.

okay firstly - personally, i haven't endorsed any other indoor exhibit.

secondly, it irrelevant how many other zoos have exhibits like this, because i never said any other zoos exhibits were any better and

thirdly, it doesn't much matter if they also have an outdoors exhibit. during nebraska's cold winters this is their only exhibit.

now i haven't seen howlett's either but i from all i've read it is miles above this.

now i haven't been to henry doorly zoo but, so instead of further critique i will say what i think should be standards FOR ALL INDOOR EXHIBITS (and please keep in mind that i am not a fan of indoor exhibits for large species and don't think this is these standards are possible for all species and thus, if its not, i don't think zoos should keep them)

large amounts of space
natural substrates
natural materials, real logs, and real plants if possible
natural light
good ventilation and moving airflow
enrichment
views beyond their exhibit (i actually think this is important for all exhibits)
privacy

does this exhibit all of tick the above?