The size of the viewing windows is hugely impressive, as at some zoos the visitor area is simply too small and it is a battle to worm oneself into a decent position to see great apes. I'm glad that London Zoo took into account busy summer days when they built these windows.
Probably because the Gorillas have to come close to the glass at this point to go in and out as their entrance door is just to the left of the photo and close to the glass. Along the other windows they don't use the perimeter much at all as they stay in the central area mostly.
I am just guessing but having seen how they use the enclosure I would think that's the reason. So if this barrier continues in front of the indoor area they have already had to lose the concept of people being able to get right up to the glass windows of the indoor area as they were able to previously. It may be just as well as when they get a new male,if he is 'fiesty' he's likely to whack the glass hard in response to people being too close, and could break it over time. I know panes of glass have been cracked in other zoos where gorillas have such close visual contact with no barrier, particularly where vertical, not sloping, plates of glass are used, as at ZSL.
I am just guessing but having seen how they use the enclosure I would think that's the reason. So if this barrier continues in front of the indoor area they have already had to lose the concept of people being able to get right up to the glass windows as they were able to previously. If, when they get a new male, he is 'fiesty' it is just as well as he's likely to whack the glass hard in response to people being too close, and could break it over time. I know panes of glass have been cracked in other zoos where gorillas have such close visual contact.
It does continue in front of the indoor windows and you can tell London have made an effort to increase the Gorilla's privacy. One of nayer's photos shows the internal wooden screens which i mentioned and in my opinion, these additions have improved the exhibit as much as the longer grass and extra climbing trees have.
