Best Gorilla Exhibit in the US?

elefante

elefante

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
What do people think is the best gorilla exhibit in the US? One of the best ones I saw recently was at the Henry Doorly Zoo. There were several different areas that had gorillas inside and outside. Lots of glass that allowed people to sort of interact with them. I did see a few that were alone and wondered why. I did not like the one at the Hogle Zoo. The two gorillas were separate. The female seemed very depressed. The male was asleep in a barren indoor enclosure.
 
I'm afraid this thread will only start another Bronx debate but I would love to answer some of your questions. The female you saw at Hogle was Muke and you must have seen her right before her death, I heard she was separated from the male. She was euthanized in March due to ailing health.

About the Omaha gorilla exhibits: as you may know two silverbacks cannot be in the same group unless they are related or have known each other for a very long time. Omaha, unfortunately, has 10 male gorillas and so they decided to let a few of them live solitarily.
 
I have not been to Bronx yet? I've been to Indianapolis, St. Louis, Cleveland, Brookfield and of course Lincoln Park Zoo and out of these 5, and I may be prejudiced, I like
Lincoln Park Zoo the best. LPZ's gorilla exhibit is my standard. In fact, I love our exhibit and spend the most time there. I can see Jojo's and Kwan's troops up close. I haven't been to Milwaukee County in 8 years and don't remember if they have gorillas?
 
Bronx is clearly #1 in many minds as Congo Gorilla Forest is simply spectacular, but San Diego, Woodland Park, Lincoln Park and Zoo Atlanta would be contenders for any kind of "top 5 gorilla exhibits" list for North America. The two zoos with the most gorillas are Atlanta and Bronx (almost 20 each), with probably Columbus in third place.
 
Zoo Atlanta has the 2nd largest group of Gorillas - over 25 - and they are in 5 separate social groupings. They have lots of green space and 3 of the Silverbacks are separate from the main family group, but they can see and smell each other. Not all 25 are out in the habitat at the same time. Some of the older Gorillas are very frail and rarely seen out in the habitat but again, they are not isolated and close enough to see and smell the others.
 
elefante said:
What do people think is the best gorilla exhibit in the US? One of the best ones I saw recently was at the Henry Doorly Zoo. There were several different areas that had gorillas inside and outside. Lots of glass that allowed people to sort of interact with them. I did see a few that were alone and wondered why. I did not like the one at the Hogle Zoo. The two gorillas were separate. The female seemed very depressed. The male was asleep in a barren indoor enclosure.
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I'm curious. When did you visit Hogle?
 
Yes, San Diego is also excellent and let's not forget Woodland Park (Seattle), the first truly naturalistic gorilla exhibit in the states. When I read their former director's book, I was very surprised at how many directors at other zoos mocked the idea and told him it wouldn't work. I guess it pays to go against the flow sometimes.
 
Gorilla Populations

@clm1950 - Atlanta does not have more than 25 gorillas, but they do have the largest collection.

Here is a list of current gorilla pops in the US:

Atlanta - 10.11
Bronx - 4.13
Columbus - 5.10
Omaha - 11.3
Lincoln - 4.8
San Diego - 7.5
Seattle - 3.8
 
Bronx is obviously the best, and I personally think it is the best exhibit in the United States. I love Lincoln Park's exhibit, as well as Seattle and San Diego. I think Atlanta's exhibit is just a little above average, but it must be quite a site to see around 20 gorillas! Louisville hasn't been mentioned yet, but it is easily in the top 10 gorilla exhibit in America. Cleveland's gorilla exhibit gets my vote for the worst.
 
I assume Bronx and Disney are the top 2 based on pics, but won't say for sure since I haven't been.

Although it's just a bachelor group, I'd add KC to the top 5-10 discussion.
 
I visited the Hogle Zoo in March, so it must have been right before she was euthanized. She just looked so depressed and unhealthy. I guess that explains why. I remember seeing so many silverbacks in Omaha but it still seems cruel to house them alone. Is it just due to space and not being able to find others? They did seem better off than Muke though. They could see each other. I did see two silverbacks in an enclosure with one female who got into a little scuffle. Amazing to see the power on them though. One slammed against the glass and it made a lot of noise.

I have not been to the Bronx Zoo but have seen the exhibit on the boob tube. I have seen pictures of Atlanta's. That one is quite the turnaround from the way Willie B was kept before.
 
Muke and Tino were almost always housed together untill Muke passed. Hogle is in line to receive additional male gorilla(s) to accompany Tino. A new Great Ape complex is also in their master plan.

But back on track, Hogle is NOT in the running for best gorilla exhibit.

My personal favorite one is actually the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
 
BlackRhino said:
Bronx is obviously the best, and I personally think it is the best exhibit in the United States. I love Lincoln Park's exhibit, as well as Seattle and San Diego. I think Atlanta's exhibit is just a little above average, but it must be quite a site to see around 20 gorillas! Louisville hasn't been mentioned yet, but it is easily in the top 10 gorilla exhibit in America. Cleveland's gorilla exhibit gets my vote for the worst.
Click to expand...

I was very disappointed by Cleveland's gorilla exhibit. Very disappointed. A little off-topic, I thought the Primate House was kind of bizarre w/ the aquarium and big cats. But, then, I went to Cleveland for their rhino exhibit and I'm very much looking forward to going again when Elephant Crossing opens. But, I would not recommend Cleveland for gorillas.
 
@ elefante - It might surprise you but I have seen many cases where solitary silverbacks do very well alone. It's obviously not natural but zoos have found ways to make animals happy while defying the laws of nature (ie - bachelor groups).
 
I would like to see Hogle get a great ape habitat. That zoo has potential. The photos from Dallas look nice.
 
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