It is one of 3 identical "exhibits." In years past, 2 housed chimps, one orangs. Today I believe all 3 have been linked and house one aging group of chimps. Still awful beyond belief.
Yes, four older Chimps live in this grotto and one adjacent to it. There was a third that was closed earlier in the year because of some unstable structure. That said the grotto pictured no longer looks like this. the structure has had wooden platforms added to create places to sit/lay. There has also been much vegetation landscaping done.
Would be nice if Zoo's own PR would take the time to update and inform, would be a productive use of their time. There are often too many unknowns and misconceptions, especially about the SFZOO.
Puts the poorer Ape exhibits in the UK (Twycross, Blackpool etc) in a somewhat better light too, as none of them are any worse than this I don't think.
Possibly the worst Ape exhibits I saw in the USA were the old ones at the Oklahoma Zoo- no outdoors, really awful. Probably long gone now.
