I've never seen any Gorillas at Howletts(or port Lympne) play much with the things in the cages- because of the larger groups they seem to interact mostly with each other. I have occassionally seen youngsters chase each other down the slides. Probably the best thing is seeing them climbing up into the roof for the feeding sessions.
Something must have worn the old paint off; it was red and yellow, but quite shabby, in my photo of this cage last year, which is in the Gallery. Of course it could have been the weather
The youngsters brachiate occasionally - but their main toys are the other gorillas and the straw. It can be spectacular when they use the slide, but I agree they only do so occasionally.
Yes, this enclosure really makes me appreciate the grandeur and the marvelous adaptations to the African rain forest environment of the lowland gorilla..NOT!!
How sad to see these animals in an ugly cage. Degrading and depressing.
And how sad that so many people think this style of presentation is not only adequate, but is even superior to the now 30-year old tradition of naturalistic spaces pioneered at Seattle.
Yes, this enclosure really makes me appreciate the grandeur and the marvelous adaptations to the African rain forest environment of the lowland gorilla..NOT!!
How sad to see these animals in an ugly cage. Degrading and depressing.
And how sad that so many people think this style of presentation is not only adequate, but is even superior to the now 30-year old tradition of naturalistic spaces pioneered at Seattle.
If you want to see the marvellous adaptions of the lowland gorilla to its african rainforest habitat , maybe you should consider visiting the congo instead of bashing the aspinall parks without ever having been there.
I make judgements on my own first hand experience and having seen both the Seattle zoo and the aspinall parks , the aspinall parks i rate far higher. Im not an art critic reduarki its the happiness of the animals not a huge fake natrual habitat which impresses me....;
Yes, this enclosure really makes me appreciate the grandeur and the marvelous adaptations to the African rain forest environment of the lowland gorilla..NOT!!
How sad to see these animals in an ugly cage. Degrading and depressing.
And how sad that so many people think this style of presentation is not only adequate, but is even superior to the now 30-year old tradition of naturalistic spaces pioneered at Seattle.
Or it could be said how said that people think a gorilla captive born or WC. Is going to be more enriched in a "naturalistic" exhibit so common in USA. I have seen many of the US naturalistic exhibits. The amount of enrichment offered is miniscule compared to what is offered in this picture.
It seems some US posters want to feel secure in knowing that the exhibit appeals to their emotions. NOT the gorillas needs! That is trully what is sad.
The gorilla enclosures are superioir to many 'naturalistic' enclosures, here gorillas feel secure and form family bonds as they would in the wild. Here, in these cages. gorillas are the most natural in all zoos. not to mention the enrichment opportunities available to the gorillas, which are usually non existant (or barely existant) in other zoos.
and the result of these cages -> babies! and lots of them, making the groups here probably the most sucessful breeding groups in the world
I used to think the Howletts cages, while clearly catering for the animals needs, were ugly and outdated in comparison to the open grass/tree type enclosures found in so many zooos nowadays and that the latter were probably preferable.
But over the years I've come to appreciate just how much as these cages do cater for the animals' needs so much more than most more open-style exhibits. There is really nowhere else where the Gorillas can utilise almost the whole space available to them. When you see the Howletts groups climbing up into the roof areas at feeding times, and moving along the roof climbing apparatus, you realise just how much is lacking in many other enclosures. The Howletts cages effectively allow them two levels of movement- ground level, and roof level.
At Port Lympne where they also have large open areas, they choose to stay largely in the 'cages' because they obviously feel more secure in them.
If the gorrilas didn't like them why are they one of the best breeders of them in the UK (i think im right in saying that), its just doesn't look like a $4 billion enclosure at Seattle but its works just as fine, it probably give the gorillas more climbing space.
