Best Bonobo enclosure in Germany

Best Bonobo enclosure in Germany?


  • Total voters
    22
  • Poll closed .

felis silvestris

Well-Known Member
This is just a bit of fun to judge the general consensus on the best enclosure for Bonobos in Germany. I have added a few photos from the gallery to make it easier for members to compare the different exhibits. If anyone wants to make an argument for a particular enclosure, please feel free to do so. Also, I would encourage people to list the enclosures in order of what they think is best.

Berlin

full


full


Frankfurt

full


full


Cologne

full


full


Leipzig

full


full


Wilhelma

full


full


Wuppertal

full


full


Photo credits to @lintworm @snowleopard @Maguari @Swedish Zoo Fan @Toddy
 

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Well, I would definitely eliminate Berlin because the outdoor cage is small and unattractive, which sums up the interior environment as well. Wuppertal also doesn't have a great deal of space for its Bonobos, with a disappointing indoor zone.

I have not visited Wilhelma (impressive outdoors, perhaps not as noteworthy indoors) or Leipzig, which I suspect could be the best of the lot, but both Cologne and Frankfurt have excellent Bonobo facilities. The indoor area at Frankfurt is world-class.
 
For me this is between Frankfurt and the Wilhelma. Leipzig has an impressive outdoor exhibit, but only a single indoor and a single outdoor enclosure, so isn't really up to standard anymore. Wilhelma has the better outdoor enclosures with much greater height, but indoors is quite brutalistic, though effective. Frankfurt is more impressive indoors, but not too exciting outdoors. Overall I like the Wilhelma enclosure slightly better, but the difference is small.
 
I totally agree with Lintworm on Wilhelma as the first choice.
I've seen all 6 German bonobo facilities (although Frankfurt's indoor section was closed last year) and both Wilhelma outside enclosures are very good: densely planted, with high climbing opportunities, running water streams and more than enough hiding places.
Does have Frankfurt more than one indoor enclosure?
 
I personally voted for Leipzig due to the enclosure seeming to have more shade. However realistically you should look for an enclosure that is large has lot's of shade and vegetation, multiple entrances and exits, multiple indoor rooms, some live substrates indoor instead of only concrete and finally is netted. I realize that Leipzig isn't netted but it seemed to be the best to me. I personally have only visited Wuppertal and Cologne. But I would love to visit them all so people might convince me to change my vote.
To add as a fun fact Wuppertal will expand it's enclosure in the future in favor of Bonobos and stop holding Gorillas and Orangutans adding their enclosure to the Bonobos. Cologne however will stop holding them, although their enclosure was good.
 
Score update. Wilhelma are leading with double of Pongoland's votes in second. All of these enclosures appear to be decent (Apart from Wuppertal and Berlin?) compared to the lower par for Chimps.
 
Poll closed. Congratulations to Wilhelma for having the Best Bonobo enclosure in Germany. The interesting style of the indoor areas and great outdoors gave them a solid win, their first so far, and probably not the last.

Wilhelma: 59.1%
Leipzig: 22.7%
Cologne: 9.1%
Frankfurt: 9.1%
 
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