I don't think it is bad from the visitor perspective. I think there must be many kids who really enjoy climbing up the rope netting to view the gorillas. I was very tempted myself until I saw a sign banning adults. I did enjoy the multi-level viewing though and some of the viewing windows are quite discrete from what I remember so less intrusive.
Best Gorilla enclosure in Benelux
- Thread starter britishzoofan
- Start date
Indeed!
I'm actually really surprised Ouwehands is last on so many lists. Maybe as @Andrew Swales put it's down to aesthetics, and Gorilla Adventure has it's limitations there. The glare on the glass is horrible and the viewing is not particularly good, both indoors and outdoors. I get that, even though I'm personally not that easily put off by it.
I like the Ouwehands enclosure from an animal welfare perspective. The Netherland experiences a temperate climate, one in which weather that gorilla's don't like is rather frequent. While the enormous island of Apenheul is impressive, once the temperature goes down in winter the gorillas need to accept much lesser accomodation. But not in Ouwehands. With the large indoor enclosure, which includes live plants, deep mulch and tons of enrichment, the gorillas do very well here in winter. The outdoor enclosure also has it's advantages, as more than any other enclosure I have seen it stimulates the gorillas to climb, to use the impressive mulscles they're famous for. The cage construction also allows for extra climbing frames and very precise feeding from above, which lessens the chance that conflicts arise in the all-male bachelor group. Again filled with enrichment and deep substrate, along with corners to hide from both the public and each other alike, the outdoor enclosure is rather good from an animal welfare perspective. It could be bigger of course, but so could all gorilla enclosures.
Is this inherently better than Burgers's, Gaiazoo's or Apenheul's enclosure? Not really. But at least I think the enclosure should ge more recognition than it currently gets.
I was unaware until I saw the photos that Ouwehands had a covered enclosure like this for their gorillas. Evidently have followed the Howletts model rather than the usual open-island exhibits. Much better for the gorillas of course for all the reasons you say. I was quite suprised when I visited Apenheul at how small and basic their indoor accomodation was, and I think it is the same even today. The outdoors is great in summer of course but these Ouwehands enclosures both indoors and out are really a lot more functional for the animals. This one seems very much the exception to the usual style of design.
It shouldn't be surprising that the followed the Aspinall model, as all their Gorillas came from there
Yes they did, didn't they. In which case Aspinalls probably advised on the design type, possibly even to the extent of making it a proviso of getting animals from them- they have done that in the past I believe. The difference is the indoors look much better than anything in Kent.It shouldn't be surprising that the followed the Aspinall model, as all their Gorillas came from there
Poll closed. Congratulations to Apenheul on winning the vote for Best Gorilla enclosure in Benelux. This is the collections second poll win following on from the Orang-utan poll and it is probably safe to say they have the premier enclosure for apes in the region. The rest of the vote was spread out between various other collections.
Apenheul: 68.0%
Pairi Daiza: 8.0%
Gaia: 8.0%
Ouwehands: 8.0%
Burgers: 4.0%
Beekse Bergen: 4.0%
Apenheul: 68.0%
Pairi Daiza: 8.0%
Gaia: 8.0%
Ouwehands: 8.0%
Burgers: 4.0%
Beekse Bergen: 4.0%