These Orangs are always very active and seem to be happy.Although there is no outdoor access which I would prefer overall I dont think its a bad exhibit.
The visitor viewing area is infinitely better in Cleveland than at Brookfield Zoo as the orangs in Chicago are distant orange blobs, if seen at all. For the apes I would also suggest that the Cleveland exhibit is better for allowing a lot more natural sunlight into the exhibit, even though in my opinion both exhibits are combined with many others in a long list of substandard orangutan enclosures. I am looking forward to seeing the Indianapolis Zoo's future orangutan exhibit but I have serious doubts about it as it seems as if no zoo animal is more difficult to house than these arboreal apes.
No doubt about it its Cleveland.We visit the orangs in Cleveland just about once a week and they are almost always active climbing throughout their exhibit and interacting at the glass with the public.While in Chicago I don't believe we have even seen a orangutan in 5 or six of our most recent visits.We have often said that other than its lack of outdoor access Cleveland's orangutan exhibit is better than it appears in photos as there is more vertical space than it appears to be.
I do not think the viewing for orangutans at Brookfield Zoo is that bad when I saw a male their and I could clearly see his skin flaps on his face. And every time I go to see the orangutans I see them. Sometimes you have to wait for a couple of seconds and they will be walking around from the back of the exhibit.
Why do they have the spot lights on if the bio dome is clear it shouldn't need them surely? don't they overheat on hot days or are they thermostatically controlled?
