ZOO Antwerpen - Ape House (Siamang)

The outdoor exhibit siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) by the Ape House in ZOO Antwerpen. Aesthetically it is not very pleasing but the climbing space is well utilized.

The Ape House was built in 1959 in typical 50’es style with moated outdoor exhibits and originally housed bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. In 1986 the whole house was renovated and the moats removed to be replaced by covered outdoor exhibits.

ZOO Antwerpen, July 2011.

@Toddy: What are your views in regards to Antwerp Zoo? I have read that the zoo is fairly small at 11.5 hectares (less than 30 acres) yet packed with intriguing, historic structures. It is certainly an urban zoo, seemingly surrounded by residential neighbourhoods, and full of interesting animals. It appears that there are many decent exhibits but some outdated ones and very few truly memorable habitats. Allen Nyhuis, co-author of "America's Best Zoos", thought that the zoo was historic and yet full of average, standard exhibits. In the book "What Zoos Can Do" the author Anthony Sheridan only gave high ranking numbers to the meerkat, penguin and komodo dragon enclosures, while many other exhibits for famous zoo animals were actually given poor ratings. Antwerp Zoo is regarded as a great zoo due to its historic nature, but does it have anything truly outstanding?

@snowleopard: I am VERY positive on ZOO Antwerpen. It is indeed quite a small zoo completely surrounded by buildings but over the last few years they have been buying neighbouring land and knocking down houses to build new exhibits.

ZOO Antwerpen is the 8th oldest zoo in the world (1834) and is a Mekka for any zoo-enthusiast with an interest in zoo history. If you come to Antwerpen looking for huge immersion exhibits, slabs of mock rock and the likes you will leave disappointed.

The zoo has, however, some of the most beautiful gardens in Europe and a look and feeling that simply cannot be recreated in a new zoo. The trees are old and well established and so are many of the exhibits.

Antwerpen has also been developing at a racing pace over the last few years renovating as many of their exhibits as they possibly can. There are also some VERY nice exhibits rivalling most others in Europe such as Hippotopia, Spectacled bear/coatis, lions, Reptile House, Vriesland (penguins) and if you are interested in breeding groups of rare species: The Okapi and Congo Peafowl Breeding Centre.

If you ever come to Europe I would call ZOO Antwerpen a must-see.